--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Secularism is a religion, a religion that…" description: "\"Secularism is a religion, a religion that is understood. It has no mysteries, no mumblings, no priests, no ceremonies, no falsehoods, no miracles, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/robert-green-ingersoll-361_ceremony_secularism-is-a-religion-a-religion-that_2526760.png" --- # Secularism is a religion, a religion that is understood… ![“Secularism is a religion, a religion that is understood. It has no mysteries, no mumblings, no priests, no ceremonies, no falsehoods, no miracles, and no persecutions.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/robert-green-ingersoll-361_ceremony_secularism-is-a-religion-a-religion-that_2526760.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/robert-green-ingersoll-361_ceremony_secularism-is-a-religion-a-religion-that_2526760.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/robert-green-ingersoll-361_ceremony_secularism-is-a-religion-a-religion-that_2526760.png) > “Secularism is a religion, a religion that is understood. It has no mysteries, no mumblings, no priests, no ceremonies, no falsehoods, no miracles, and no persecutions.” [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. Secularism is presented as a rational belief system lacking supernatural elements, rituals, or authority figures. **In simple terms:** Secularism is a non‑mystical belief system. Key Takeaway Recognize secularism as a worldview grounded in reason. Themes rationalism belief secularism Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical explanatory When to use this quote - public debate - education - policy making - personal reflection Key Concepts humanism skepticism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does secularism address moral frameworks? - Can secularism provide community? A Different Perspective It may overlook cultural and emotional roles of traditional religion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceremony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Secularism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secularism/) ## Related quotes > [Secularism and Religion are both all about your personal performance. The Gospel is the performance of another applied to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/secularism-and-religion-are-both-all-about-your-personal-performance/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The new source of divisiveness is the assault of secularism on religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/the-new-source-of-divisiveness-is-the-assault-of-secularism-on/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [Religion, as it is understood in the West, does not lead toward progress, and science does not lead toward humanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alija-izetbegovic/religion-as-it-is-understood-in-the-west-does-not-lead-toward/) [Alija Izetbegovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alija-izetbegovic/) > [It wasn't until I started reading the history of religion that I understood that the definition of Christianity has shifted in many different directions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dechristopher/it-wasn-t-until-i-started-reading-the-history-of-religion-that-i/) [Tim DeChristopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dechristopher/) > [I am not so much for the freedom of religion as I am for the religion of freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-am-not-so-much-for-the-freedom-of-religion-as-i-am-for-the-religion/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reasoning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-truths-of-religion-are-never-so-well-understood-as-by-those-who-2/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [First, we must liberate people from religion, as religion is understood and practiced today. Second, we must effect a paradigm shift from religiosity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/first-we-must-liberate-people-from-religion-as-religion-is-understood/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [The truths of religion are never so well understood as by those who have lost the power of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-truths-of-religion-are-never-so-well-understood-as-by-those-who/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Religion, it must be understood, is not faith. Religion is the story of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/religion-it-must-be-understood-is-not-faith-religion-is-the-story-of/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [“Long before it was known to me as a place where my ancestry was even remotely involved, the idea of a state for Jews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/long-before-it-was-known-to-me-as-a-place-where-my-ancestry-was-even/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I believe that pluralistic secularism, in the long run, is a more deadly poison than straightforward persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/i-believe-that-pluralistic-secularism-in-the-long-run-is-a-more/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Most men are followers, and implicitly rely upon the judgment of others. They mistake solemnity for wisdom, and regard a grave countenance as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/most-men-are-followers-and-implicitly-rely-upon-the-judgment-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [At the bottom of religious persecution is the doctrine of self-defence; that is to say, the defence of the soul. If the founder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/at-the-bottom-of-religious-persecution-is-the-doctrine-of-self/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Of course, ministers look upon theaters as rival attractions, and most of their hatred is born of business views. They think people ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/of-course-ministers-look-upon-theaters-as-rival-attractions-and-most/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [To this day I do not know whether the power which has inspired my works is something related to religion, or is indeed religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/to-this-day-i-do-not-know-whether-the-power-which-has-inspired-my/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) ## 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 Ceremony quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It is merely the egoism of the man, who wants to bury a woman like a treasure. All attempts at using vows, contracts, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/it-is-merely-the-egoism-of-the-man-who-wants-to-bury-a-woman-like-a/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [There are ceremonious bows that repel one like a cudgel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/there-are-ceremonious-bows-that-repel-one-like-a-cudgel/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [The cocktail party - as the name itself indicates - was originally invented by dogs. They are simply bottom-sniffings raised to the rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/the-cocktail-party-as-the-name-itself-indicates-was-originally/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [I am unable to distinguish clearly between your religious ceremonies and apparently identical behavior at the sporting and cultural functions you have transmitted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-am-unable-to-distinguish-clearly-between-your-religious-ceremonies/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Singing at the Opening Ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics in 2000 was amazing and, probably the highlight of this decade is the opening of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/singing-at-the-opening-ceremonies-of-the-sydney-olympics-in-2000-was/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [Nostalgia is also a trait of the organizations that I call lodges - everything from corporate cultures to religious sects. Their bonding power often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-james/nostalgia-is-also-a-trait-of-the-organizations-that-i-call-lodges/) [Jennifer James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-james/) > [Over the weekend, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Rebecca Carter married each other during a huge ceremony in Houston. The happy couple is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/over-the-weekend-former-enron-executives-jeffrey-skilling-and-rebecca/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“Japanese tea ceremony,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-berk/japanese-tea-ceremony/) Sheryl Berk > [Truth and ceremony are two things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/truth-and-ceremony-are-two-things/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The trappings of a religious cult tend to fall into candlelit ceremonies and robes and group chanting and singing and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/the-trappings-of-a-religious-cult-tend-to-fall-into-candlelit/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [No known human group... simply throw out its dead without any ritual or ceremony. In stark contrast, no animal practices burial of dead individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodosius-dobzhansky/no-known-human-group-simply-throw-out-its-dead-without-any-ritual-or/) [Theodosius Dobzhansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodosius-dobzhansky/) [Browse all 534 Ceremony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Secularism is a religion, a religion that is understood. 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