--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once again, the point of this discussion…" description: "\"“Once again, the point of this discussion is not to accuse Christians of endorsing torture and persecution. Of course most devout Christians today are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/steven-pinker-526_christianity_once-again-the-point-of-this-discussion_1061218.jpg" --- # Once again, the point of this discussion is not to accuse… ![“Once again, the point of this discussion is not to accuse Christians of endorsing torture and persecution. Of course most devout Christians today are thoroughly tolerant and humane people. Even those who thunder from televised pulpits do not call for burning heretics alive or hoisting Jews on the…” quote by Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/steven-pinker-526_christianity_once-again-the-point-of-this-discussion_1061218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/steven-pinker-526_christianity_once-again-the-point-of-this-discussion_1061218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/steven-pinker-526_christianity_once-again-the-point-of-this-discussion_1061218.jpg) > ““Once again, the point of this discussion is not to accuse Christians of endorsing torture and persecution. Of course most devout Christians today are thoroughly tolerant and humane people. Even those who thunder from televised pulpits do not call for burning heretics alive or hoisting Jews on the strappado. The question is why they don’t, given that their beliefs imply that it would serve the greater good. The answer is that people in the West today compartmentalize their religious ideology. When they affirm their faith in houses of worship, they profess beliefs that have barely changed in two thousand years. But when it comes to their actions, they respect modern norms of nonviolence and toleration, a benevolent hypocrisy for which we should all be grateful.”” [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western Christians separate ancient religious doctrines from contemporary ethical norms, creating a benign hypocrisy. **In simple terms:** Christians separate old beliefs from modern morals. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and address the gap between belief and action. Themes religion ethics modernity Mood critical analytical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - public policy - interfaith dialogue - education curricula Key Concepts cognitive dissonance moral compartmentalization Questions to Reflect On - Why do people maintain contradictory beliefs? - Can true tolerance coexist with doctrinal fidelity? A Different Perspective This compartmentalization may undermine authentic moral conviction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians Endorsing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-endorsing-2592255/) [Christians Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-today-462089/) [Devout Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devout-christians-2592256/) [Endorsing Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endorsing-torture-2592257/) [Greater good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-good/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Torture Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture-persecution-2592258/) ## Related quotes > [One great way to mess with devout Christians and atheists would be if Jesus came back and said, By the way, you know I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/one-great-way-to-mess-with-devout-christians-and-atheists-would-be-if/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Some devout Christians are among the most fervent advocates of the death penalty, contradicting Jesus Christ and justifying their belief on an erroneous interpretation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/some-devout-christians-are-among-the-most-fervent-advocates-of-the/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [The success of the West, including the rise of science, rested entirely on religious foundations, and the people who brought it about were devout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/the-success-of-the-west-including-the-rise-of-science-rested-entirely/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Many devout Christians accepted that unbiblical cosmology, opting for a detached spirituality (a heavenly-mindedness with a questionable earthly use) and an escapist eschatology (leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/many-devout-christians-accepted-that-unbiblical-cosmology-opting-for/) [N.T. 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