--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science ha seradicated smallpox, can…" description: "\"Science ha seradicated smallpox, can immunise against most previously deadly viruses, can kill most previously deadly bacteria. Theology has done nothi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/richard-dawkins-115_bacteria_science-ha-seradicated-smallpox-can-immu_1992055.jpg" --- # Science ha seradicated smallpox, can immunise against most… ![“Science ha seradicated smallpox, can immunise against most previously deadly viruses, can kill most previously deadly bacteria. Theology has done nothing but talk of pestilence as the wages of sin.” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/richard-dawkins-115_bacteria_science-ha-seradicated-smallpox-can-immu_1992055.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/richard-dawkins-115_bacteria_science-ha-seradicated-smallpox-can-immu_1992055.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/richard-dawkins-115_bacteria_science-ha-seradicated-smallpox-can-immu_1992055.jpg) > “Science ha seradicated smallpox, can immunise against most previously deadly viruses, can kill most previously deadly bacteria. Theology has done nothing but talk of pestilence as the wages of sin.” [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. Contrasts scientific triumphs over disease with theology's focus on sin‑related pestilence, critiquing religious explanations for illness **In simple terms:** Science cures disease; theology often blames sin for illness Key Takeaway Prioritize scientific solutions over doctrinal blame Themes science vs religion public health skepticism Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - vaccination campaigns - public health policy - science education - religious discourse Key Concepts epidemiology theology philosophy of science Questions to Reflect On - How can faith support scientific health initiatives? - What role should religion play in public health messaging? A Different Perspective Religious perspectives can inspire ethical health practices; not purely negative ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bacteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) [Bacteria Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria-theology-3459377/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Pestilence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pestilence/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Seradicated Smallpox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seradicated-smallpox-3459378/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Smallpox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smallpox/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Viruses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viruses/) [Viruses Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viruses-kill-3459379/) [Wages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wages/) ## Related quotes > [Science has eradicated smallpox, can immunise against most previously deadly viruses, can kill most previously deadly bacteria. Theology has done nothing but talk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/science-has-eradicated-smallpox-can-immunise-against-most-previously/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is fashionable to wax apocalyptic about the threat to humanity posed by the AIDS virus, "mad cow" disease, and many others, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-is-fashionable-to-wax-apocalyptic-about-the-threat-to-humanity/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I do think the Roman Catholic religion is a disease of the mind which has a particular epidemiology similar to that of a virus...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-do-think-the-roman-catholic-religion-is-a-disease-of-the-mind-which/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Faith is one of the world's great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/faith-is-one-of-the-world-s-great-evils-comparable-to-the-smallpox/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Look at life from our perspective, and you eukaryotes will soon cease giving yourselves such airs. You bipedal apes, you stump-tailed tree-shrews, you desiccated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/look-at-life-from-our-perspective-and-you-eukaryotes-will-soon-cease/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [For the first half of geological time our ancestors were bacteria. Most creatures still are bacteria, and each one of our trillions of cells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/for-the-first-half-of-geological-time-our-ancestors-were-bacteria/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Very close cousins like humans and chimps have almost all their genes in common. Slightly less close cousins like humans and monkeys still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/very-close-cousins-like-humans-and-chimps-have-almost-all-their-genes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“It is feared that it may be the smallpox, sir," replied Porthos... 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Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-c-doherty/) > [One great reason why men practice generosity so little in the world, is, their finding so little there: generosity is catching; and if so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/one-great-reason-why-men-practice-generosity-so-little-in-the-world/) [Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/) > [“When James Larrick and his colleagues studied the still relatively isolated Waorani Indians of Ecuador, they found no evidence of hypertension, heart disease, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/when-james-larrick-and-his-colleagues-studied-the-still-relatively/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) > [My general theory since 1971 has been that the word is literally a virus, and that it has not been recognized as such because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/my-general-theory-since-1971-has-been-that-the-word-is-literally-a/) [William S. 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And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The fundamentalist Kurt Wise proclaims that all the evidence in the universe would not change his mind. 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And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [What's going to happen when I die? I may be buried, or I may be cremated, I may give my body to science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-s-going-to-happen-when-i-die-i-may-be-buried-or-i-may-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. 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