---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past, secularists sought to…"
description: "\"In the past, secularists sought to challenge dogma by the use of rational argument, claiming, for example, that miracles described in the Bible are sci..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg"
---

#  In the past, secularists sought to challenge dogma by the…

![“In the past, secularists sought to challenge dogma by the use of rational argument, claiming, for example, that miracles described in the Bible are scientifically impossible.” quote by Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg)

> “In the past, secularists sought to challenge dogma by the use of rational argument, claiming, for example, that miracles described in the Bible are scientifically impossible.”

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Secularists used rational debate to contest religious claims, arguing miracles defy scientific explanation.

**In simple terms:** Rational argument challenges religious miracles.

Key Takeaway

Use reason to evaluate extraordinary claims.

Themes

skepticism religion reason debate

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical controversial

When to use this quote

- academic discussions
- public debates
- education
- policy making

Key Concepts

philosophy science faith

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you assess claims that conflict with scientific understanding?
- Can reason alone resolve faith‑based disputes?

A Different Perspective

Rational arguments may not change deeply held beliefs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Challenge Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge-dogma-540826/) [Claiming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claiming/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [For example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/for-example/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [In the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-the-past/) [Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Secularists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-secularists-540827/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Rational Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational-argument-540825/) [Scientifically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientifically/) [Secularists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secularists/) [Secularists Sought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secularists-sought-540828/) [Sought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sought/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/)

## Related quotes

> [It’s a similar feeling from being in a community of punk rockers as a teenager and the feeling I still get today when I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-a-similar-feeling-from-being-in-a-community-of-punk-rockers-as-a/)

[Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/)

> [For unnumbered centuries of human history the wilderness has given way. The priority of industry has become dogma. Are we as yet sufficiently enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/for-unnumbered-centuries-of-human-history-the-wilderness-has-given/)

[Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/)

> [Turkey is immersed in a profound social and political conflict between secularists, who have been in power since the republic was founded, and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/turkey-is-immersed-in-a-profound-social-and-political-conflict/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [“For emotion is the enemy of rational argument.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-levitt/for-emotion-is-the-enemy-of-rational-argument/)

[Steven D. Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-levitt/)

> [“A plug for the quantitative sciences: The reality is, most humans manage to feed, clothe, and amuse themselves, and yet are not able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/a-plug-for-the-quantitative-sciences-the-reality-is-most-humans/)

[Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/)

> [“Presenting a rational argument to a person who has forsaken the use of reason is like asking a vegetarian to eat a cheeseburger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/presenting-a-rational-argument-to-a-person-who-has-forsaken-the-use/)

[Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/)

> [A person who knows all the answers, has an opinion on everything, has a certainty backed up by rational argument, has very little possibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/a-person-who-knows-all-the-answers-has-an-opinion-on-everything-has-a/)

[Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/)

> [It is commonly said that if rational argument is so seldom the cause of conviction, philosophical apologists must largely be wasting their shot. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/it-is-commonly-said-that-if-rational-argument-is-so-seldom-the-cause/)

[Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/)

> [“What seems to be proved may not be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/what-seems-to-be-proved-may-not-be-embraced-but-what-no-one-shows-the/)

[Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/)

> [The claim is also sometimes made that science is as arbitrary or irrational as all other claims to knowledge, or that reason itself is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-claim-is-also-sometimes-made-that-science-is-as-arbitrary-or/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alister-e-mcgrath/rational-argument-does-not-create-belief-but-it-maintains-a-climate/)

[Alister E. McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alister-e-mcgrath/)

> [“Tribalism was an irrational position, and it was impossible to defeat an irrational position with a rational argument.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/tribalism-was-an-irrational-position-and-it-was-impossible-to-defeat/)

[James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/)

> [The argument for collectivism is simple if false; it is an immediate emotional argument. The argument for individualism is subtle and sophisticated; it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-argument-for-collectivism-is-simple-if-false-it-is-an-immediate/)

[Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/)

> [“Men are not open to truth or reason. They cannot be reached by a rational argument. The mind is powerless against them. Yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/men-are-not-open-to-truth-or-reason-they-cannot-be-reached-by-a/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [Rational argument can be defeated by refusing to argue rationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/rational-argument-can-be-defeated-by-refusing-to-argue-rationally/)

[Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/)

## More by Stephen Kinzer

> [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Because Iran understands Afghanistan far better than Americans do, making Iran a partner in a long-term effort to transform Afghan agriculture makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/because-iran-understands-afghanistan-far-better-than-americans-do/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Land ownership in Guatemala is more unequal than anywhere else in Latin America. Roughly 90 percent of Guatemalan farms are too small to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/land-ownership-in-guatemala-is-more-unequal-than-anywhere-else-in/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Honduras is strongly anti-Communist, maintains no diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, and has provided vital support for United States-backed rebels fighting to overthrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/honduras-is-strongly-anti-communist-maintains-no-diplomatic-relations/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Any country that grants asylum to Snowden risks retaliation from the United States, including diplomatic isolation and costly trade sanctions. Several don't seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/any-country-that-grants-asylum-to-snowden-risks-retaliation-from-the/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Mayors of New York are almost automatically national figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/mayors-of-new-york-are-almost-automatically-national-figures/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Human Rights Watch wants Rwandans to be able to speak freely about their ethnic hatreds, and to allow political parties connected with the defeated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/human-rights-watch-wants-rwandans-to-be-able-to-speak-freely-about/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [“Acheson immediately understood the urgency of this message. He summoned Ambassador Franks and told him that the United States resolutely opposed “the use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/acheson-immediately-understood-the-urgency-of-this-message-he/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [During the 1980s, international interest in the Nicaraguan war was intense. No conflict since the Spanish civil war had provoked such passion around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-1980s-international-interest-in-the-nicaraguan-war-was/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [As long as Iran believes that its security will be increased by having a nuclear program, it's going to pursue its program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/as-long-as-iran-believes-that-its-security-will-be-increased-by/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Countries that control water are likely to be the big winners of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/countries-that-control-water-are-likely-to-be-the-big-winners-of-the/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [“It is a great tool of dictators and tyrants, who want to get masses of people to do what they want, to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-a-great-tool-of-dictators-and-tyrants-who-want-to-get-masses-of/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [No offense to Iceland, but Latin America is where the fugitive leaker Edward Snowden should settle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/no-offense-to-iceland-but-latin-america-is-where-the-fugitive-leaker/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [Castro has lived almost his entire life as a clandestine revolutionary. To such figures, truth is always malleable, always subservient to political goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/castro-has-lived-almost-his-entire-life-as-a-clandestine/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

> [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/)

[Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

[Explore all 163 Stephen Kinzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/)

## More Argument quotes

> [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/)

[Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/)

> [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/)

[John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/)

> [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/)

[Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/)

> [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/)

[Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/)

> [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/)

[Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/)

> [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/)

[Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/)

> [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/)

[John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/)

[Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In the past, secularists sought to challenge dogma by the use of rational argument, claiming, for example, that miracles described in the Bible are scientifically impossible.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Kinzer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challenge-dogma-by-the-use-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Argument"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challenge-dogma-by-the-use-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0e/stephen-kinzer-2514_argument_in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challe_1637783.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the past, secularists sought to challenge dogma by the use of rational argument, claiming, for example…” — Stephen Kinzer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephen Kinzer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In the past, secularists sought to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challenge-dogma-by-the-use-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/in-the-past-secularists-sought-to-challenge-dogma-by-the-use-of/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
