--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's all religion is -- some principle…" description: "\"That's all religion is -- some principle you believe in . . . man has accomplished far more miracles than the God he invented. What a tragedy it is to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/rod-steiger-17430_accomplished_that-s-all-religion-is-some-principle-yo_849699.jpg" --- # That's all religion is -- some principle you believe in… ![“That's all religion is -- some principle you believe in . . . man has accomplished far more miracles than the God he invented. What a tragedy it is to invent a God and then suffer to keep him King.” quote by Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/rod-steiger-17430_accomplished_that-s-all-religion-is-some-principle-yo_849699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/rod-steiger-17430_accomplished_that-s-all-religion-is-some-principle-yo_849699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd9/rod-steiger-17430_accomplished_that-s-all-religion-is-some-principle-yo_849699.jpg) > “That's all religion is -- some principle you believe in . . . man has accomplished far more miracles than the God he invented. What a tragedy it is to invent a God and then suffer to keep him King.” [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion is a human-made belief system; people achieve more without invoking a deity, making the invention of God a tragic constraint. **In simple terms:** Religion may limit human potential. Key Takeaway Question the role of belief in progress. Themes faith humanism philosophy existentialism criticism Mood skeptical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - personal growth - ethical decision making - creative problem solving Key Concepts Atheism mythmaking human agency Questions to Reflect On - What would replace religion’s social function? - Is belief always limiting? A Different Perspective May overlook comfort and community religion provides. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy/) ## Related quotes > [“If human beings had really tried to invent a god, we would never have invented the God of Christianity. He’s just too terrifying. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hahn/if-human-beings-had-really-tried-to-invent-a-god-we-would-never-have/) [Scott Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hahn/) > [Freedom of religion is a principle that is central to our Nation's Declaration of Independence. Congress has taken this positive step to protect our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-lewis/freedom-of-religion-is-a-principle-that-is-central-to-our-nation-s/) [Ron Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-lewis/) > [O Heavenly Father, convert my religion from a name to a principle! Bring all my thoughts and movements into an habitual reference to Thee!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/o-heavenly-father-convert-my-religion-from-a-name-to-a-principle/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [Man is a greater miracle than any god he ever invented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/man-is-a-greater-miracle-than-any-god-he-ever-invented/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) > [We don't only invent God; we also discover God. Looking at the creation, we strive to deduce the nature of the creator. We take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/we-don-t-only-invent-god-we-also-discover-god-looking-at-the-creation/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) > [If God did not exist, we should have to invent him. If God did exist, we should have to abolish Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/if-god-did-not-exist-we-should-have-to-invent-him-if-god-did-exist-we/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [If mankind were born tomorrow it would divide into groups; each would scramble to invent their one and only god, and set about butchering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/if-mankind-were-born-tomorrow-it-would-divide-into-groups-each-would/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“All religions of a spiritual nature are inventions of man. 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Did God invent us or did we invent God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-izzard/there-was-no-religion-in-my-life-growing-up-did-god-invent-us-or-did/) [Eddie Izzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-izzard/) > [“You never believed in God, Doc, did you? You said if God created man in His image, why couldn't man invent a God that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabih-alameddine/you-never-believed-in-god-doc-did-you-you-said-if-god-created-man-in/) [Rabih Alameddine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabih-alameddine/) > [Why would the disciples invent a God whose holiness was more terrifying than the forces of nature that provoked them to invent a god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-would-the-disciples-invent-a-god-whose-holiness-was-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who say that they have never experienced miracles do not recognize that their friends are wonderful miracles from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/people-who-say-that-they-have-never-experienced-miracles-do-not/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Miracles are God's coups d'etat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/miracles-are-god-s-coups-d-etat/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) ## More by Rod Steiger > [If you see the picture when things get exciting, he chews faster. When he really gets shocked, everything stops, including the chewing. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/if-you-see-the-picture-when-things-get-exciting-he-chews-faster-when/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) > [I'm not so sure that younger people today really appreciate the enormous bravery that went into the creation and production of that film, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/i-m-not-so-sure-that-younger-people-today-really-appreciate-the/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) > [Respecting differences is very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/respecting-differences-is-very-difficult/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) > [The first thing that your should do when you win an Oscar is thank God. 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And then I grabbed her and kissed her again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/we-came-around-the-corner-i-kissed-her-and-after-i-kissed-her-she/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) > [And the reason I really appreciated this is because after the picture came out, I was invited by the American Psychiatric Association to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/and-the-reason-i-really-appreciated-this-is-because-after-the-picture/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) > [We come. We go. And in between we try to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-steiger/we-come-we-go-and-in-between-we-try-to-understand/) [Rod Steiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) [Explore all 37 Rod Steiger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-steiger/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. 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