Against religion Quote by Thomas Jefferson
“The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Correspondence, 1795 (hypothetical)
The quote absurdly links divine birth myths with mythological creation, suggesting all origin stories are fantastical.
In simple terms: All creation myths are fanciful stories.
Key Takeaway
Question the literal truth of origin narratives.
Themes
mythology
religion
skepticism
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- theological debate
- education
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
mythic archetypes
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What role do myths play in shaping identity?
- Can myth coexist with scientific understanding?
A Different Perspective
Literal belief can be culturally entrenched, limiting critical thought.
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
![“The rebellious mood of the country during those [60th] years allowed me to plug right back into my old hatreds. I could scream and holler, as I did on the albums, against religion, government, big business - all those assholes and their values. That hatred was very real.” quote by George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/158/george-carlin-155_against-religion_the-rebellious-mood-of-the-country-durin_384671.jpg)
