Bible Quote by Robert Green Ingersoll
“If a man would follow, today, the teachings of the Old Testament, he would be a criminal. If he would follow strictly the teachings of the New, he would be insane.”
About This Quote
Source speech: Atheism and the Old Testament, 1883
Strict literal adherence to either Old or New Testament leads to extremes; balance and interpretation are needed.
In simple terms: Extreme literalism is problematic.
Key Takeaway
Seek balanced understanding.
Themes
religion
interpretation
extremism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- faith discussions
- ethical debates
- education
Key Concepts
theology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we interpret ancient texts today?
- What balance is needed between law and compassion?
A Different Perspective
Rigid literalism can ignore context.
![“[T]he Old Testament, [...] if considered as a general rule of conduct, would lead to consequences destructive of all principles of humanity and morality.” quote by David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c3a/david-hume-538_bible_t-he-old-testament-if-considered-as-a-ge_3184846.jpg)
