Assumption Quote by Robert Neelly Bellah
“Hinduism, Confucianism, and Buddhism are huge traditions of enormous importance, and they aren't monotheistic. Again, this reflects the fact that our preconceptions about what religion is are so influenced by Protestantism - either real Protestantism or the secularized Protestantism that dominates our culture - and its assumption that beliefs are the most important thing.”
About This Quote
Source Book: 1979, Religion in Human Evolution, Robert N. Bellah
Major Eastern traditions are non‑monotheistic, reflecting Protestant‑centric biases in defining religion.
In simple terms: Eastern religions aren’t monotheistic; our view is Protestant‑biased.
Key Takeaway
Recognize cultural bias in religious definitions.
Themes
religion
culture
bias
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- interfaith dialogue
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
comparative religion
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does Protestantism shape our view of religion?
- What alternative frameworks could we use?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex traditions.
![“We're [humans] running great risks of doing things that will not be good for us. The cost can be very high indeed if we reach the point where we can't adapt to our own increasingly rapid adaptations. We run the risk of early extinction. So this certainly isn't a triumphalist story, but it is…” quote by Robert Neelly Bellah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d8/robert-neelly-bellah-25104_adaptation_we-re-humans-running-great-risks-of-doin_1819566.jpg)
