--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man really believes that God once…" description: "\"If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/robert-green-ingersoll-361_babe_if-a-man-really-believes-that-god-once-u_763225.jpg" --- # If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery… ![“If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake; that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been…” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/robert-green-ingersoll-361_babe_if-a-man-really-believes-that-god-once-u_763225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/robert-green-ingersoll-361_babe_if-a-man-really-believes-that-god-once-u_763225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/robert-green-ingersoll-361_babe_if-a-man-really-believes-that-god-once-u_763225.jpg) > “If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake; that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been bad. This belief built the dungeons of the Inquisition. This belief made the Puritan murder the Quaker.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Holding intolerant, violent, or punitive religious beliefs leads to moral corruption and historical atrocities. **In simple terms:** Intolerant beliefs cause harm. Key Takeaway Reject harmful doctrines. Themes religion intolerance morality Mood reflective somber Type ethical historical When to use this quote - social justice - interfaith dialogue - personal belief systems Key Concepts historical oppression theology Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to adopt harmful doctrines? - How can societies heal from belief‑driven violence? A Different Perspective Such beliefs can be deeply entrenched and resistant to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Dungeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dungeons/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Inquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquisition/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Polygamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polygamy/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Puritan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puritan/) [Quaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quaker/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Unbelievers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelievers/) ## Related quotes > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [Our Quakers love us. We're big with the Quakers. It's all about cleanliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyan-douglas/our-quakers-love-us-we-re-big-with-the-quakers-it-s-all-about/) [Kyan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyan-douglas/) > [I am still looking for the modern equivalent of those Quakers who ran successful businesses, made money because they offered honest products and treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/i-am-still-looking-for-the-modern-equivalent-of-those-quakers-who-ran/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [Congress, our leaders, voted against a proposal to have a national seven day waiting period to buy a gun. I don't want to sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-tingle/congress-our-leaders-voted-against-a-proposal-to-have-a-national/) Jimmy Tingle > [“QUAKER: Since God maintains direct accessibility with every human life and offers instant and uncomplicated guidance, the intervention of priests and ministers is unnecessary.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/quaker-since-god-maintains-direct-accessibility-with-every-human-life/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [My List of Virtues contain'd at first but twelve: But a Quaker Friend having kindly inform'd me that I was generally thought proud; that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/my-list-of-virtues-contain-d-at-first-but-twelve-but-a-quaker-friend/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I was influenced by my children's education in Quaker schools in the Philadelphia area. I experienced a spiritual awakening and became a Christian, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-berenstain/i-was-influenced-by-my-children-s-education-in-quaker-schools-in-the/) [Mike Berenstain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-berenstain/) > [Could the peaceable principle of the Quakers be universally established, arms and the art of war would be wholly extirpated: But we live not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/could-the-peaceable-principle-of-the-quakers-be-universally/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I was maybe 5 or 6, and my grandmother would begin sitting me in the Quaker meeting house. I asked my grandmother, 'What am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/i-was-maybe-5-or-6-and-my-grandmother-would-begin-sitting-me-in-the/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [All that you seek is already within you. In Hinduism it is called the Atman, in Buddhism the pure Buddha-Mind. Christ said, 'the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/all-that-you-seek-is-already-within-you-in-hinduism-it-is-called-the/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [All writers who can claim to be called 'living' must be political in a sense. They must have what the Quakers call a concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-jameson/all-writers-who-can-claim-to-be-called-living-must-be-political-in-a/) [Storm Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-jameson/) > [There is no way to find yourself until you discover how utterly to lose yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-jones/there-is-no-way-to-find-yourself-until-you-discover-how-utterly-to/) [Rufus Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-jones/) > [Out here you better have a gun, and a gun in the wagon ain't good for nothin'. I believe what the old Quaker said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/out-here-you-better-have-a-gun-and-a-gun-in-the-wagon-ain-t-good-for/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [As the Quakers say, "When you pray, move your feet."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-butterworth/as-the-quakers-say-when-you-pray-move-your-feet/) [Eric Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-butterworth/) > [By background I'm both a Quaker and a Yorkshireman, which I like to call double jeopardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-grantham/by-background-i-m-both-a-quaker-and-a-yorkshireman-which-i-like-to/) [Jeremy Grantham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-grantham/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More Babe quotes > [ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOU DID ME WRONG SO GUESS WAT BABE??FUKK YU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-you-did-me-wrong-so-guess-wat-babe/) JESSICA > [You two faced threw your teeth u ain't nun but babe daddy go wash your feet go with the girl u so call sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrykee/you-two-faced-threw-your-teeth-u-ain-t-nun-but-babe-daddy-go-wash/) Cherrykee > [“You’re all mine, babe. Knew it the first time I saw you. Couldn’t give you up if I tried.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-wylde/you-re-all-mine-babe-knew-it-the-first-time-i-saw-you-couldn-t-give/) [Joanna Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-wylde/) > [The home run became glorified with Babe Ruth. Starting with him, batters have been thinking in terms of how far they could hit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rogers-hornsby/the-home-run-became-glorified-with-babe-ruth-starting-with-him/) [Rogers Hornsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rogers-hornsby/) > [You love young ones and babes, I know this. The young will always befriend and admire you...all the young ones of the earth belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/you-love-young-ones-and-babes-i-know-this-the-young-will-always/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I just hate it when my baby try to chill with some other guy..hunny.!.if u really want to chill then please use A.C. not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritzy/i-just-hate-it-when-my-baby-try-to-chill-with-some-other-guy-hunny-if/) [Ritzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritzy/) > [“My heart slammed into my chest when he called her babe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-elliott/my-heart-slammed-into-my-chest-when-he-called-her-babe/) [Kelly Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-elliott/) > [Wine is the drink of the gods, milk the drink of babes, tea the drink of women, and water the drink of beasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-blackie/wine-is-the-drink-of-the-gods-milk-the-drink-of-babes-tea-the-drink/) [John Stuart Blackie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-blackie/) > [I need a man who can call me beautiful with no makeup on, who can be himself around me, who can kiss me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk/i-need-a-man-who-can-call-me-beautiful-with-no-makeup-on-who-can-be/) Idk > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/) [Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/) > [Even as the unborn babe is in the womb of his mother, these five are fixed as his life destiny: his life span, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-as-the-unborn-babe-is-in-the-womb-of-his-mother-these-five-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Babe is one fellow, and I'm another and I could never be exactly like him. I don't try, I just go on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gehrig/the-babe-is-one-fellow-and-i-m-another-and-i-could-never-be-exactly/) [Lou Gehrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gehrig/) > [“Babe, the only times I've been in you have been too fast. The next time I strip you down, I want to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/babe-the-only-times-i-ve-been-in-you-have-been-too-fast-the-next-time/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Cute babe whom I love a lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reynold/cute-babe-whom-i-love-a-lot/) [Reynold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reynold/) Browse all 528 Babe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man really believes that God once upheld slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake; that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been bad. This belief built the dungeons of the Inquisition. 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