Dangerous Quote by Richard Dawkins
“My point is not that religion itself is the motivation for wars, murders and terrorist attacks, but that religion is the principal label, and the most dangerous one, by which a "they" as opposed to a "we" can be identified at all.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Del Delusion, 2006
Argues religion serves as a divisive label, enabling “us vs them” conflict beyond its doctrines.
In simple terms: Religion labels groups, fuels division.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared humanity beyond labels.
Themes
religion
conflict
identity
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- interfaith dialogue
- media narratives
Key Concepts
group psychology
in‑group/out‑group bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do labels shape prejudice?
- Can common values bridge divides?
A Different Perspective
Not all religious identity cause conflict.
![“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/caa/richard-dawkins-115_chapters_jesus-was-not-content-to-derive-his-ethi_1062044.jpg)
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