--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason…" description: "\"Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/salman-rushdie-153_art_religion-a-mediaeval-form-of-unreason-wh_2143688.jpg" --- # Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with… ![“Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today. I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to…” quote by Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/salman-rushdie-153_art_religion-a-mediaeval-form-of-unreason-wh_2143688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/salman-rushdie-153_art_religion-a-mediaeval-form-of-unreason-wh_2143688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/salman-rushdie-153_art_religion-a-mediaeval-form-of-unreason-wh_2143688.jpg) > “Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today. I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity. 'Respect for religion' has become a code phrase meaning 'fear of religion.' Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.” [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When religion merges with modern weapons, it becomes a danger to freedom; satire defends liberty against oppressive dogma. **In simple terms:** Religion + weapons = threat; satire protects freedom. Key Takeaway Support free expression and critique. Themes freedom satire religion politics Mood critical defiant Type political philosophical When to use this quote - public discourse - artistic expression - policy debate Key Concepts authoritarianism civil liberties media criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can satire effectively challenge power without inciting violence? - What responsibilities do creators have when critiquing religion? A Different Perspective Satire can be misinterpreted or provoke backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Charlie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charlie/) [Charlie hebdo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charlie-hebdo/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Dishonesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonesty/) [Disrespect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disrespect/) [Fear Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-religion-2314248/) [Fearless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearless/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedoms Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedoms-religious-3418500/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hebdo Defend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hebdo-defend-3415628/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Mutation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutation/) [Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris/) [Phrases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phrases/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-totalitarianism-2095295/) [Respect Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-religion-403960/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarianism/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Weaponry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaponry/) ## Related quotes > [Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/religion-a-mediaeval-form-of-unreason-when-combined-with-modern-2/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-stand-with-charlie-hebdo-as-we-all-must-to-defend-the-art-of-satire-2/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-stand-with-charlie-hebdo-as-we-all-must-to-defend-the-art-of-satire/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Respect for religion' has become a code phrase meaning 'fear of religion'. Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/respect-for-religion-has-become-a-code-phrase-meaning-fear-of/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The spirit of religious totalitarianism is abroad in the world; it is in the very air we breathe today in this land. Everywhere are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-johnson/the-spirit-of-religious-totalitarianism-is-abroad-in-the-world-it-is/) [Sonia Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-johnson/) > [Where there is fear there is no religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-fear-there-is-no-religion/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The first virtue of a young man today - that is, for the next fifty years perhaps, as long as we live in fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-virtue-of-a-young-man-today-that-is-for-the-next-fifty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The wicked fear the good, because the good are a constant reproach to their consciences. The ungodly like religion in the same way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-wicked-fear-the-good-because-the-good-are-a-constant-reproach-to/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/if-you-reject-the-food-ignore-the-customs-fear-the-religion-and-avoid/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [Human life began in flight and fear. Religion rose from rituals of propitiation, spells to lull the punishing elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/human-life-began-in-flight-and-fear-religion-rose-from-rituals-of/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I fear it's because religion is man's attempt to reach God, and when he feels he has succeeded, he cannot abide anyone else's claim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/i-fear-it-s-because-religion-is-man-s-attempt-to-reach-god-and-when/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [“In speaking of the fear of religion, I don’t mean to refer to the entirely reasonable hostility toward certain established religions and religious institutions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/in-speaking-of-the-fear-of-religion-i-don-t-mean-to-refer-to-the/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [Fear is religion, courage is science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/fear-is-religion-courage-is-science/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I take Charb's point, but at some point has Charlie Hebdo been trying to have it both ways because some of what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/i-take-charb-s-point-but-at-some-point-has-charlie-hebdo-been-trying/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [51% of the French people - who are not very religious - were thinking that what "Charlie Hebdo" did was unwise. They aren't asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/51-of-the-french-people-who-are-not-very-religious-were-thinking-that/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) ## More by Salman Rushdie > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [It's a terrible thing that your life turns into a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/it-s-a-terrible-thing-that-your-life-turns-into-a-good-story/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Sometimes by a woodland stream he watched the water rush over the pebbled bed, its tiny modulations of bounce and flow. A woman's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-by-a-woodland-stream-he-watched-the-water-rush-over-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I want to write novels. I want to write stories. I want to do the stuff that I became a writer to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-want-to-write-novels-i-want-to-write-stories-i-want-to-do-the-stuff/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If you want to be a serious writer, then you have to write what there is to write about. If you're going to pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-you-want-to-be-a-serious-writer-then-you-have-to-write-what-there/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Después de exigir mi marcha, ya no posees jurisdicción en lo concerniente a mi salud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/despu-s-de-exigir-mi-marcha-ya-no-posees-jurisdicci-n-en-lo/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If there is a choice between absolute safety and freedom, then freedom must always prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-there-is-a-choice-between-absolute-safety-and-freedom-then-freedom/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'm not a prophet, but I always thought it was natural for dictatorships to fall. I remember in 1989, two months before the fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-not-a-prophet-but-i-always-thought-it-was-natural-for/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'd wanted to create a storm so that I could become more famous and richer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-d-wanted-to-create-a-storm-so-that-i-could-become-more-famous-and/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Who what am I? My answer: I am the sum total of everything that went before me, of all I have been seen done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/who-what-am-i-my-answer-i-am-the-sum-total-of-everything-that-went/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“...proving once again that there was no escape from recurrence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/proving-once-again-that-there-was-no-escape-from-recurrence/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“information, in a stream-of-consciousness soliloquy that revealed the extent to which he had internalised the adversarial fragmentation of American culture and made it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/information-in-a-stream-of-consciousness-soliloquy-that-revealed-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [A little bit of one story joins onto an idea from another, and hey presto, . . . not old tales but new ones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/a-little-bit-of-one-story-joins-onto-an-idea-from-another-and-hey/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I'm a novelist. Fortunately I don't have to rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-a-novelist-fortunately-i-don-t-have-to-rule-the-world/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The First Amendment defends all forms of speech including hate speech, which is why groups like Ku Klux Klan are allowed to utter their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-first-amendment-defends-all-forms-of-speech-including-hate-speech/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) [Explore all 1,087 Salman Rushdie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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