--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not God that is worshipped but the…" description: "\"It is not God that is worshipped but the group or authority that claims to speak in His name. Sin becomes disobedience to authority not violation of in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan-22795_atheism_it-is-not-god-that-is-worshipped-but-the_3120584.png" --- # It is not God that is worshipped but the group or… ![“It is not God that is worshipped but the group or authority that claims to speak in His name. Sin becomes disobedience to authority not violation of integrity.” quote by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan-22795_atheism_it-is-not-god-that-is-worshipped-but-the_3120584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan-22795_atheism_it-is-not-god-that-is-worshipped-but-the_3120584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b69/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan-22795_atheism_it-is-not-god-that-is-worshipped-but-the_3120584.png) > “It is not God that is worshipped but the group or authority that claims to speak in His name. Sin becomes disobedience to authority not violation of integrity.” [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Worship often targets institutions claiming divine authority, turning sin into disobedience to power rather than personal moral failure. **In simple terms:** People worship groups, not God, making sin a rebellion against authority. Key Takeaway Question authority’s claim to divine voice. Themes faith authority morality Mood thoughtful critical Type theoretical inspirational When to use this quote - religious practice - social movements - personal ethics Key Concepts theology political philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals discern true spiritual intent? - What role does personal integrity play in faith? A Different Perspective Authority can be misused to justify oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedience/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Violation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violation/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not God that is worshipped but the authority that claims to speak in His name. Sin becomes disobedience to authority not violation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/it-is-not-god-that-is-worshipped-but-the-authority-that-claims-to/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Dont blame others to justify your sin of disobedience! We should remember, God will never accept our service after our disobedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-blame-others-to-justify-your-sin-of-disobedience-we-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God is worshipped only inpictures, images, idols.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/god-is-worshipped-only-inpictures-images-idols/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [“Oh, how He longs for our love. Though many profess God in the public place, God is only worshipped and adored truly by those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gimour/oh-how-he-longs-for-our-love-though-many-profess-god-in-the-public/) [Eric Gimour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gimour/) > [It is not enough for us to be where God is worshipped, if we do not ourselves worship him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/it-is-not-enough-for-us-to-be-where-god-is-worshipped-if-we-do-not/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“They asked you the name of the god you worshipped and you replied, "Myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-sparks/they-asked-you-the-name-of-the-god-you-worshipped-and-you-replied/) [Amber Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-sparks/) > [God is to be worshipped as the one beloved, dearer than everything in this and next life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/god-is-to-be-worshipped-as-the-one-beloved-dearer-than-everything-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [To speak of sin without grace is to minimize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, and the hope of shalom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/to-speak-of-sin-without-grace-is-to-minimize-the-resurrection-of/) [Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/) > [We tend to speak of sin in very personal and individual terms. Jeremiah does not downplay that, but he also sees how a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-j-h-wright/we-tend-to-speak-of-sin-in-very-personal-and-individual-terms/) [Christopher J. H. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-j-h-wright/) > [There may be some sins of which a man cannot speak, but there is no sin which the blood of Christ cannot wash away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-may-be-some-sins-of-which-a-man-cannot-speak-but-there-is-no/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [You'll never be able to speak against sin if you're entertained by it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muncee/you-ll-never-be-able-to-speak-against-sin-if-you-re-entertained-by-it/) John Muncee > [The Old Testament teems with prophecies of the Messiah, but nowhere is it intimated that that Messiah is to stand as a God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-brown/the-old-testament-teems-with-prophecies-of-the-messiah-but-nowhere-is/) [Olympia Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-brown/) > [“When God is worshipped in them in spirit and truth, they become the outworks of heaven and as it were its gates. As in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/when-god-is-worshipped-in-them-in-spirit-and-truth-they-become-the/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Philosophers and common heathen believed one God, to whom all things were referred; but under this God they worshipped many inferior and subservient gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stillingfleet/philosophers-and-common-heathen-believed-one-god-to-whom-all-things/) [Benjamin Stillingfleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stillingfleet/) > [It is not God that is worshipped but the authority that claims to speak in His name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-god-that-is-worshipped-but-the-authority-that-claims-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan > [Religion is behavior and not mere belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/religion-is-behavior-and-not-mere-belief/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Hinduism is not just a faith. It is the union of reason and intuition that can not be defined but is only to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/hinduism-is-not-just-a-faith-it-is-the-union-of-reason-and-intuition/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Man is a paradoxical being - the constant glory and scandal of this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/man-is-a-paradoxical-being-the-constant-glory-and-scandal-of-this/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [True religion is a revolutionary force: it is an inveterate enemy of oppression, privilege, and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/true-religion-is-a-revolutionary-force-it-is-an-inveterate-enemy-of/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [His essential nature is sat-chit-ananda: (Sat) Absolute Being - He encompasses everything because there is nothing outside of him; (Chit) Absolute Consciousness - He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/his-essential-nature-is-sat-chit-ananda-sat-absolute-being-he/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [When we think we know we cease to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/when-we-think-we-know-we-cease-to-learn/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [The true teachers are those who help us think for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/the-true-teachers-are-those-who-help-us-think-for-ourselves/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [God is the Soul of all souls - The Supreme Soul - The Supreme Consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/god-is-the-soul-of-all-souls-the-supreme-soul-the-supreme/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [God lives, feels and suffers in every one of us, and in course of time, His attributes, knowledge, beauty and love will be revealed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/god-lives-feels-and-suffers-in-every-one-of-us-and-in-course-of-time/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if 5 September is observed as Teachers' Day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/instead-of-celebrating-my-birthday-it-would-be-my-proud-privilege-if/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Homeopathy did not merely seek to cure a disease but treated a disease as a sign of disorder of the whole human organism. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/homeopathy-did-not-merely-seek-to-cure-a-disease-but-treated-a/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [The ultimate self is free from sin, free from old age, free from death and grief, free from hunger and thirst, which desires nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/the-ultimate-self-is-free-from-sin-free-from-old-age-free-from-death/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Samskrit has moulded the minds of our people to the extent to which they themselves are not conscious. Samskrit literature is national in one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/samskrit-has-moulded-the-minds-of-our-people-to-the-extent-to-which/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [Into the bosom of the one great sea Flow streams that come from the hills on every side, Their names are various as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/into-the-bosom-of-the-one-great-sea-flow-streams-that-come-from-the/) [Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarvepalli-radhakrishnan/) > [The word Atman (Soul) means the "breath of life". 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