Cases Quote by Simon Blackburn
“The gods we make in our own image are tribal gods. They tell you how very, very little you should tolerate outsiders, who are less favoured of the Lord. Amazingly, there are no recorded cases of the holy man going up the mountain and finding that it's the others who are right. It always turns out that God wants unbelievers to suffer, and what could be more noble than to help him a little? When religion rules, toleration disappears, for you cannot cherish the verdict of death to the infidels, yet also tolerate those who disagree - for those are the very same infidels.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gods of the Spirit, Simon Blackburn, 1995
Human beings create deities reflecting their own biases, leading to exclusionary attitudes toward outsiders.
In simple terms: People make gods that mirror their own prejudice.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge self‑created biases.
Themes
religion
prejudice
identity
power
exclusion
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
social
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- interfaith dialogue
- community building
- policy making
- education
Key Concepts
theology
social psychology
in‑group bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your personal beliefs shape your view of others?
- Can you imagine a deity that embraces all?
A Different Perspective
Such gods may also justify oppression, not just exclusion.
![“[As in the case of] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not work.” quote by Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/sam-branson-36458_alcohol_as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-il_8703.jpg)
