--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you combine this sacred text with…" description: "\"“When you combine this sacred text with the belief that one’s group alone has a unique revelation, then you can say to others, “With all due respect, m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/robert-alley-77231_bible_when-you-combine-this-sacred-text-with-t_1996720.jpg" --- # When you combine this sacred text with the belief that… ![“When you combine this sacred text with the belief that one’s group alone has a unique revelation, then you can say to others, “With all due respect, my good friends, God does not hear your prayers because you do not believe as I do.” Why do they say that? Because they combine an infallible book…” quote by Robert Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/robert-alley-77231_bible_when-you-combine-this-sacred-text-with-t_1996720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/robert-alley-77231_bible_when-you-combine-this-sacred-text-with-t_1996720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b41/robert-alley-77231_bible_when-you-combine-this-sacred-text-with-t_1996720.jpg) > ““When you combine this sacred text with the belief that one’s group alone has a unique revelation, then you can say to others, “With all due respect, my good friends, God does not hear your prayers because you do not believe as I do.” Why do they say that? Because they combine an infallible book with unique revelation and think they have become God’s chosen people. They want us to believe that they alone are God’s and know how to interpret the Bible, since God cannot speak for herself. These presumptions of sacred text and unique revelation combine to create an arrogance of faith that is arguably the most destructive force in the world. It has gone on for centuries and it continues.”” [Robert Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-alley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that combining an unquestionable scripture with claims of exclusive revelation creates a dangerous arrogance that fuels division and oppression. **In simple terms:** Mixing holy texts with exclusive claims breeds arrogance and harm. Key Takeaway Beware of exclusive religious claims. Themes religion dogma arrogance Mood concerned reflective Type analytical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - education - policy making Key Concepts exclusivity interpretation power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies promote inclusive spiritual discourse? - What safeguards prevent religious exclusivity? A Different Perspective Such attitudes can lead to intolerance and conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance-faith-3490627/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Good friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friend/) [Good friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friends/) [Presumptions Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumptions-sacred-3490628/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Revelation Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation-say-1047837/) [Revelation Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation-think-2540132/) [Sacred Text](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred-text-1803342/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever you describe to another person is also a revelation of who you are and who you think you are. You can not describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatever-you-describe-to-another-person-is-also-a-revelation-of-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a faith-healer commands God to perform a miracle, in the absence of a prayer that says, 'Thy will be done,' it is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-everett-koop/when-a-faith-healer-commands-god-to-perform-a-miracle-in-the-absence/) [C. Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/) > [“AMBROSE: Do not rely on your own efforts but on the grace of Christ. "You are," says the apostle, "saved by grace. 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A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [There's a lovely Hasidic story of a rabbi who always told his people that if they studied the Torah, it would put Scripture on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/there-s-a-lovely-hasidic-story-of-a-rabbi-who-always-told-his-people/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“The problem with the Bible, the Qur'an, the Torah - or any sacred text - as an authority is that so much depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-vardy/the-problem-with-the-bible-the-qur-an-the-torah-or-any-sacred-text-as/) [Peter Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-vardy/) > [The movie 'Rock 'n' Roll High School' was a sacred text in my household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-movie-rock-n-roll-high-school-was-a-sacred-text-in-my-household/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Long before the first line of Scripture was penned on papyrus scroll, the Word, unwritten, existed as the mind of God. Before the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-du-toit/long-before-the-first-line-of-scripture-was-penned-on-papyrus-scroll/) [François Du Toit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-du-toit/) > [“Scripture trains us to listen to and learn from stories of all kinds, inside the sacred text and outside, and to discern patterns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/scripture-trains-us-to-listen-to-and-learn-from-stories-of-all-kinds/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) ## More by Robert Alley > [“We are the better because of a constitution that goes beyond the spirit of the men who wrote it. Most often, in contrast, Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-alley/we-are-the-better-because-of-a-constitution-that-goes-beyond-the/) [Robert Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-alley/) > [“The Bible is not absurd for the people who wrote it; it becomes absurd when people in our day insist on taking it literally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-alley/the-bible-is-not-absurd-for-the-people-who-wrote-it-it-becomes-absurd/) [Robert Alley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-alley/) [Explore all 3 Robert Alley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-alley/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. 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The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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