Believe Quote by Sam Harris
“The problem is not that religious people are stupid. It's not that religious fundamentalists are stupid. I happen to think that you can be so well educated that you can build a nuclear bomb, and still get--and still believe that you will get the 72 virgins in paradise--that is the problem. The problem is that--religion--because it has been sheltered from criticism as it has been--allows people--perfectly sane, perfectly intelligent people--to believe en masse, what only idiots or lunatics could believe in isolation.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The End of Faith, 2004
Highly educated people can still believe irrationally in religious promises, showing religion's resistance to criticism.
In simple terms: Intelligence doesn't stop irrational belief.
Key Takeaway
Critically examine deeply held beliefs.
Themes
faith
irrationality
education
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
debate
When to use this quote
- political debate
- science education
- policy making
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can rational discourse address deeply held faith?
- What role should education play in belief formation?
A Different Perspective
Criticism may be dismissed as disrespect.
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
