--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There seems, however, to be a problem…" description: "\"“There seems, however, to be a problem with some of our more cherished beliefs about the world: they are leading us, inexorably, to kill one another. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/sam-harris-457_faith_there-seems-however-to-be-a-problem-with_2493723.jpg" --- # There seems, however, to be a problem with some of our… ![“There seems, however, to be a problem with some of our more cherished beliefs about the world: they are leading us, inexorably, to kill one another. A glance at history, or at the pages of any newspaper, reveals that ideas which divide one group of human beings from another, only to unite them in…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/sam-harris-457_faith_there-seems-however-to-be-a-problem-with_2493723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/sam-harris-457_faith_there-seems-however-to-be-a-problem-with_2493723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c9/sam-harris-457_faith_there-seems-however-to-be-a-problem-with_2493723.jpg) > ““There seems, however, to be a problem with some of our more cherished beliefs about the world: they are leading us, inexorably, to kill one another. A glance at history, or at the pages of any newspaper, reveals that ideas which divide one group of human beings from another, only to unite them in slaughter, generally have their roots in religion. it seems that if our species ever eradicates itself through war, it will not be because it was written in the stars but because it was written in our books; it is what we do with words like "God" and "paradise" and "sin" in the present that will determine our future.”” [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that religious ideas often divide people, leading to conflict and war, and that our future depends on how we reinterpret such concepts. **In simple terms:** Religious ideas can cause division and war. Key Takeaway Reexamine harmful beliefs. Themes religion conflict human nature war language Mood critical reflective concerned Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - political discourse - interfaith dialogue - education curricula - media analysis Key Concepts divisive ideology group identity moral narratives Questions to Reflect On - How can we transform religious language to promote unity? - What non‑religious frameworks can replace divisive narratives? A Different Perspective Religions also inspire peace and cooperation, not only violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings Unite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-unite-992627/) [Beliefs World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-world-670633/) [Cherished Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cherished-beliefs-333308/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ideas Divide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-divide-819119/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-species-992626/) [Written in the stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-in-the-stars/) ## Related quotes > [ “How is it that, in this one area of our lives \[religion\], we have convinced ourselves that our beliefs about the world can float… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/how-is-it-that-in-this-one-area-of-our-lives-religion-we-have/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Too many politicians are shifting the critical themes of our national conversations from a 'big ideas' American Brand Platform to narrowly focused, polarizing sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-siegel/too-many-politicians-are-shifting-the-critical-themes-of-our-national/) [Alan Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-siegel/) > [“Communism is an aggressive religion of the species.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/communism-is-an-aggressive-religion-of-the-species/) [Fulton J. 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Just the nature of our world is constant revision, constant...negation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/schools-of-science-and-physics-replacing-each-other-at-a-faster-and/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“There were so many beliefs which we had about the world, which then influenced everything, everything, about how we saw the world and interacted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-scott-mcleod/there-were-so-many-beliefs-which-we-had-about-the-world-which-then/) [T. Scott McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-scott-mcleod/) > [Most of us suffer from a kind of myopia. We see only the things that fit in with our beliefs about the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-macgregor/most-of-us-suffer-from-a-kind-of-myopia-we-see-only-the-things-that/) [T. J. 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For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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