--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A widespread assumption, which nearly…" description: "\"“A widespread assumption, which nearly everybody in our society accepts – the non-religious included – is that religious faith is especially vulnerable..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/richard-dawkins-115_religion_a-widespread-assumption-which-nearly-eve_3220808.jpg" --- # A widespread assumption, which nearly everybody in our… ![“A widespread assumption, which nearly everybody in our society accepts – the non-religious included – is that religious faith is especially vulnerable to offence and should be protected by an abnormally thick wall of respect, in a different class from the respect that any human being should pay to…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/richard-dawkins-115_religion_a-widespread-assumption-which-nearly-eve_3220808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/richard-dawkins-115_religion_a-widespread-assumption-which-nearly-eve_3220808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/richard-dawkins-115_religion_a-widespread-assumption-which-nearly-eve_3220808.jpg) > ““A widespread assumption, which nearly everybody in our society accepts – the non-religious included – is that religious faith is especially vulnerable to offence and should be protected by an abnormally thick wall of respect, in a different class from the respect that any human being should pay to any other.”” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many people think faith must be shielded from criticism more than any other belief. **In simple terms:** Faith is often given special protection from critique. Key Takeaway Question why faith is treated differently. Themes religion free speech respect societal norms Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - public debates - academic discussions - media commentary - interfaith dialogues Key Concepts pluralism censorship ethical tolerance Questions to Reflect On - Should all beliefs be equally open to criticism? - How does special protection affect dialogue? A Different Perspective Some argue that all ideas deserve equal scrutiny, not just faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Included Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/included-religious-2204312/) [Offence Protected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offence-protected-6054123/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-faith/) [Religious Included](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-included-6054124/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Widespread Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/widespread-assumption-4124091/) ## Related quotes > [“included: no religious doctrine or practice can be authentic if it does not lead to practical compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/included-no-religious-doctrine-or-practice-can-be-authentic-if-it/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“There is a widespread assumption that simply because my generation of women has the good fortune to live in a world touched by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/there-is-a-widespread-assumption-that-simply-because-my-generation-of-2/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [“Contrary to a widespread assumption that has crept back into Anglo-American political jargon, few derive pleasure from handouts:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/contrary-to-a-widespread-assumption-that-has-crept-back-into-anglo-2/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [The whole point of religious faith, its strength and chief glory, is that it does not depend on rational justification. 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Religious faith discourages independent thought, it's divisive and it's dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-time-has-come-for-people-of-reason-to-say-enough-is-enough/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Only religious faith is a strong enough force to motivate such utter madness in otherwise sane and decent people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/only-religious-faith-is-a-strong-enough-force-to-motivate-such-utter/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“As long as we accept the principle that religious faith must be respected simply because it is religious faith, it is hard to withhold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/as-long-as-we-accept-the-principle-that-religious-faith-must-be-2/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As long as we accept the principle that religious faith must be respected simply because it is religious faith, it is hard to withhold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/as-long-as-we-accept-the-principle-that-religious-faith-must-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. 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