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Chapters Quote by Richard Dawkins

“Jesus was not content to derive his ethics from the scriptures of his upbringing. He explicitly departed from them. [...] Since a principal thesis of this chapter is that we do not, and should not, derive our morals from scripture, Jesus has to be honoured as a model for that very thesis.” quote by Richard Dawkins
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“Jesus was not content to derive his ethics from the scriptures of his upbringing. He explicitly departed from them. [...] Since a principal thesis of this chapter is that we do not, and should not, derive our morals from scripture, Jesus has to be honoured as a model for that very thesis.”

Richard Dawkins

About This Quote

Source Book: The God Delusion, 2006

Jesus chose to base his moral teachings on personal insight rather than inherited scripture.

In simple terms: He modeled independent moral reasoning.

Key Takeaway

Question inherited moral authority.

Themes

ethics religion independence

Mood

reflective challenging

Type

critical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal decisions
  • education
  • public discourse

Key Concepts

moral philosophy critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • What guides your morals?
  • Can ethics be universal without scripture?
A Different Perspective

Rejecting tradition can alienate believers.

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