--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best approach to religious codes that…" description: "\"“The best approach to religious codes that have become rigid and absolute is to acknowledge their arbitrariness and use them, if we use them at all, as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/richard-holloway-26700_absolute_the-best-approach-to-religious-codes-tha_2552215.jpg" --- # The best approach to religious codes that have become… ![“The best approach to religious codes that have become rigid and absolute is to acknowledge their arbitrariness and use them, if we use them at all, as a private discipline for ordering our own chaos. When they are proclaimed as the bearer of absolute and unchanging truth, defended in the…” quote by Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/richard-holloway-26700_absolute_the-best-approach-to-religious-codes-tha_2552215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/richard-holloway-26700_absolute_the-best-approach-to-religious-codes-tha_2552215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/896/richard-holloway-26700_absolute_the-best-approach-to-religious-codes-tha_2552215.jpg) > ““The best approach to religious codes that have become rigid and absolute is to acknowledge their arbitrariness and use them, if we use them at all, as a private discipline for ordering our own chaos. When they are proclaimed as the bearer of absolute and unchanging truth, defended in the traditional way, they enslave the human spirit rather than protect it from its own excesses. Jesus' vision burned through the external systems to the anxious human heart that lay beneath them and called for its transformation into a perfection of love.”” [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognize religious rules as human constructs, using them privately to manage personal chaos rather than as absolute truths that dominate freedom. **In simple terms:** Treat faith as a personal guide, not a rigid law. Key Takeaway Use religion to organize self, not to control others. Themes religion personal freedom spiritual discipline Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - spiritual practice - community dialogue Key Concepts Arbitrariness humanism love transformation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal faith with communal respect? - What practices help transform rigid belief into compassionate love? A Different Perspective Rigid doctrines can stifle growth and exclude diverse perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) [Approach Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-religious-1531412/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Human heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-heart/) [Human spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-spirit/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious Codes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-codes-1531410/) [Rigid Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigid-absolute-1531411/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Unchanging Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unchanging-truth-1253580/) ## Related quotes > [“Need unchanging truth to trust? Try God's. His truth never wavers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/need-unchanging-truth-to-trust-try-god-s-his-truth-never-wavers/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Only when we realize that there is no eternal, unchanging truth or absolute truth can we arouse in ourselves a sense of intellectual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/only-when-we-realize-that-there-is-no-eternal-unchanging-truth-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [“Absolute knowledge is an all-inclusive knowledge. If it is to be absolute, it cannot leave anything outside itself, not even error. It includes error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juli-n-mar-as/absolute-knowledge-is-an-all-inclusive-knowledge-if-it-is-to-be/) [Julián Marías](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juli-n-mar-as/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. Space is born when the Being accepts emptiness, the Nonbeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/as-we-see-it-space-is-possible-only-when-the-primordial-being/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Energy is the world-born phenomenon, the world that puts itself in motion and flies into space by receiving space into itself. From this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/energy-is-the-world-born-phenomenon-the-world-that-puts-itself-in/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“The necessity of nothingness does not create anything. The real value and meaning of the Being are not in its necessity but in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-necessity-of-nothingness-does-not-create-anything-the-real-value/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Richard Holloway > [The wrong question to ask of a myth is whether it is true or false. The right question is whether it is living or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/the-wrong-question-to-ask-of-a-myth-is-whether-it-is-true-or-false/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [God is waiting eagerly to respond with new strength to each little act of self-control, small disciplines of prayer, feeble searching after him. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/god-is-waiting-eagerly-to-respond-with-new-strength-to-each-little/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“We know you are going to be enthralled by the mystery of sexuality, which is hardly surprising since it is the energy of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/we-know-you-are-going-to-be-enthralled-by-the-mystery-of-sexuality/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [The institutions that claim to represent God, when they are not ignored altogether, are treated like other human institutions that have to earn their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/the-institutions-that-claim-to-represent-god-when-they-are-not/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“Hannah Arendt scorned this preoccupation with death and proposed a new symbolism that emphasized not the inevitability of our dying, but the actuality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/hannah-arendt-scorned-this-preoccupation-with-death-and-proposed-a/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“We will go on producing myths, ways of explaining ourselves to ourselves but, like everything else about us, they are in constant transition and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/we-will-go-on-producing-myths-ways-of-explaining-ourselves-to/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [The use of God in moral debate is so problematic as to be almost worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/the-use-of-god-in-moral-debate-is-so-problematic-as-to-be-almost/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“All theology is a doomed but necessary attempt to express the inexpressible. God is the elusive mystery we try to capture and convey in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/all-theology-is-a-doomed-but-necessary-attempt-to-express-the/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [Simplicity, clarity, singleness: These are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy as they are also the marks of great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/simplicity-clarity-singleness-these-are-the-attributes-that-give-our/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“Christian theological history is filled with stories of groups who have developed theories of the election of themselves to salvation and the damnation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/christian-theological-history-is-filled-with-stories-of-groups-who/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [When true forgiveness happens it is one of the most astonishing and liberating of the human experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/when-true-forgiveness-happens-it-is-one-of-the-most-astonishing-and/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [There are many strengths in modern society, but one of its weaknesses is the breakdown of many of the old structures and networks that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/there-are-many-strengths-in-modern-society-but-one-of-its-weaknesses/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [When a popular phenomenon reaches the cover of 'Time,' it is already out of fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/when-a-popular-phenomenon-reaches-the-cover-of-time-it-is-already-out/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“One of the most important elements in the evolution of human institutions is the emergence of the difficult customer within the system itself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/one-of-the-most-important-elements-in-the-evolution-of-human/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [“Truth is rarely simple and seldom obvious, which is why mature institutions recognise the importance of conflict and disagreement. Christianity was born in conflict,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/truth-is-rarely-simple-and-seldom-obvious-which-is-why-mature/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) [Explore all 21 Richard Holloway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) ## More Absolute quotes > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“The necessity of nothingness does not create anything. The real value and meaning of the Being are not in its necessity but in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/the-necessity-of-nothingness-does-not-create-anything-the-real-value/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I can like something. You can like something. It's not an absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-like-something-you-can-like-something-it-s-not-an-absolute/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I - it's simply not for me to evaluate an independent rating agency's processes. But I will say that there was reason to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-it-s-simply-not-for-me-to-evaluate-an-independent-rating-agency-s/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [Absolute morality is the regulation of conduct in such a way that pain shall not be inflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/absolute-morality-is-the-regulation-of-conduct-in-such-a-way-that/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [What is liberty? There is no such thing as absolute liberty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/what-is-liberty-there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-liberty/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [Doing the right thing at all costs is an absolute, and only a sith deals in absolutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/doing-the-right-thing-at-all-costs-is-an-absolute-and-only-a-sith/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [“Energy is the world-born phenomenon, the world that puts itself in motion and flies into space by receiving space into itself. From this point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/energy-is-the-world-born-phenomenon-the-world-that-puts-itself-in/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“As we see it, space is possible only when the primordial Being swallows emptiness. Space is born when the Being accepts emptiness, the Nonbeing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/as-we-see-it-space-is-possible-only-when-the-primordial-being/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute faith can blind you to the consequences of the actions you allow. It can tell you it's okay to drop bombs on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-denton/absolute-faith-can-blind-you-to-the-consequences-of-the-actions-you/) [Andrew Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-denton/) > [“Zero is a gateway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/zero-is-a-gateway/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) [Browse all 631 Absolute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The best approach to religious codes that have become rigid and absolute is to acknowledge their arbitrariness and use them, if we use them at all, as a private discipline for ordering our own chaos. 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