1897 Quote by Swami Vivekananda
““We must also remember that in every little village-god and every little superstitious custom is that which we are accustomed to call our religious faith. But local customs are infinite and contradictory. Which are we to obey, and which not to obey? The Brāhmin of Southern India, for instance, would shrink in horror at the sight of another Brahmin eating meat; a Brahmin in the North thinks it a most glorious and holy thing to do—he kills goats by the hundred in sacrifice. If you put forward your custom, they are equally ready with theirs. Various are the customs all over India, but they are local. The greatest mistake made is that ignorant people always think that this local custom is the essence of our religion.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to the Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 1893
Local customs vary widely and can be mistaken for core religious truth, urging discernment between tradition and universal principles
In simple terms: Customs differ, but core faith transcends them
Key Takeaway
Seek universal values beyond local practices
Themes
religion
cultural relativism
identity
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- interfaith dialogue
- cultural education
- policy making
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
pluralism
dogma
ethical universals
Questions to Reflect On
- Which customs reflect true ethical values?
- How can societies respect diversity without conflating it with doctrine?
A Different Perspective
Assuming customs represent religion can cause misunderstanding
