--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Altho' I rarely waste time in reading on…" description: "\"“Altho' I rarely waste time in reading on theological subjects, as mangled by our Pseudo-Christians, yet I can readily suppose Basanistos may be amusin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/thomas-jefferson-43_abracadabra_altho-i-rarely-waste-time-in-reading-on_2593208.jpg" --- # Altho' I rarely waste time in reading on theological… ![“Altho' I rarely waste time in reading on theological subjects, as mangled by our Pseudo-Christians, yet I can readily suppose Basanistos may be amusing. Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/thomas-jefferson-43_abracadabra_altho-i-rarely-waste-time-in-reading-on_2593208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/thomas-jefferson-43_abracadabra_altho-i-rarely-waste-time-in-reading-on_2593208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/thomas-jefferson-43_abracadabra_altho-i-rarely-waste-time-in-reading-on_2593208.jpg) > ““Altho' I rarely waste time in reading on theological subjects, as mangled by our Pseudo-Christians, yet I can readily suppose Basanistos may be amusing. Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. If it could be understood it would not answer their purpose. Their security is in their faculty of shedding darkness, like the scuttlefish, thro' the element in which they move, and making it impenetrable to the eye of a pursuing enemy, and there they will skulk. \[ Letter to Francis Adrian Van der Kemp on 30 July 1810 denouncing the Christian doctrine of the Trinity \]”” [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques religious doctrine as unintelligible, urging ridicule as a tool to expose absurdities. **In simple terms:** Ridicule reveals nonsense in vague religious ideas. Key Takeaway Use humor to challenge unclear beliefs. Themes religion skepticism critical thinking Mood skeptical provocative Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - debates - public discourse - education - personal reflection Key Concepts theology logic argumentation Questions to Reflect On - How can critique be both sharp and compassionate? - When is humor ineffective? A Different Perspective Ridicule can alienate sincere believers and hinder constructive dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abracadabra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abracadabra/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Superstition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstition/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trinity/) [Weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon/) ## Related quotes > [Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ridicule-is-the-only-weapon-which-can-be-used-against-unintelligible/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ridicule-is-the-only-weapon-which-can-be-used-against-unintelligible-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“The Ontological Argument shows us that in order for God to be maximally great, He must be morally perfect. Being all loving is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/the-ontological-argument-shows-us-that-in-order-for-god-to-be/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“Christians do not believe that there is one God and three Gods. Nor do we believe that God is one person and three persons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/christians-do-not-believe-that-there-is-one-god-and-three-gods-nor-do/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The hocus-pocus phantasm of a God like another Cerberus, with one body and three heads, had its birth and growth in the blood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-hocus-pocus-phantasm-of-a-god-like-another-cerberus-with-one-body-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ridicule, the weapon of all others most feared by enthusiasts of every description, and which from its predominance over such minds, often checks what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/ridicule-the-weapon-of-all-others-most-feared-by-enthusiasts-of-every/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Ridicule is also a weapon against forces of evil. Really clever, intelligent ridicule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-fiennes/ridicule-is-also-a-weapon-against-forces-of-evil-really-clever/) [Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-fiennes/) > [“God's high freedom in Jesus Christ is His freedom for LOVE. The divine capacity which operates and exhibits itself in that superiority and subordination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/god-s-high-freedom-in-jesus-christ-is-his-freedom-for-love-the-divine/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“God for us, God alongside us, God within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/god-for-us-god-alongside-us-god-within-us/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [ “\[T\]he mystery of the Trinity is the mystery of Holiness: the Glory and the Power of the Trinity is the Glory and Power of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/t-he-mystery-of-the-trinity-is-the-mystery-of-holiness-the-glory-and/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“If the moderns really want a simple religion of love, they must look for it in the Athanasian Creed. The truth is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/if-the-moderns-really-want-a-simple-religion-of-love-they-must-look/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [We treat the Bible, not as if it's a magic book that has to be handled like a piece of abracadabra, make sure it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/we-treat-the-bible-not-as-if-it-s-a-magic-book-that-has-to-be-handled/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [One might point to the great illumination that has resulted from Freud's analysis of the abracadabra of our dreams. No one can any longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/one-might-point-to-the-great-illumination-that-has-resulted-from/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“One single sentence, one frame of film, and abracadabra! the story’s wings would take her to another lost world, another magic realm that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-osborne/one-single-sentence-one-frame-of-film-and-abracadabra-the-story-s/) Neale Osborne > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) ## More by Thomas Jefferson > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/states-and-the-federal-government-are-coordinate-departments-of-one/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Perceiving the order of nature to be that individual happiness shall be inseparable from the practice of virtue, I am willing to hope it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/perceiving-the-order-of-nature-to-be-that-individual-happiness-shall/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence; it is jealousy, and not confidence, which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/free-government-is-founded-in-jealousy-and-not-in-confidence-it-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one-step-what-will-be-the-next/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Knowledge is power...knowled ge is safety...knowle dge is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/knowledge-is-power-knowled-ge-is-safety-knowle-dge-is-happiness/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Nothing but free argument, raillery and even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/nothing-but-free-argument-raillery-and-even-ridicule-will-preserve/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/when-the-people-are-afraid-of-the-government-that-s-tyranny-but-when/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/we-hold-these-truths-to-be-self-evident-that-all-men-are-created/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) [Explore all 2,098 Thomas Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More Abracadabra quotes > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“One single sentence, one frame of film, and abracadabra! the story’s wings would take her to another lost world, another magic realm that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-osborne/one-single-sentence-one-frame-of-film-and-abracadabra-the-story-s/) Neale Osborne > [One might point to the great illumination that has resulted from Freud's analysis of the abracadabra of our dreams. No one can any longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/one-might-point-to-the-great-illumination-that-has-resulted-from/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [We treat the Bible, not as if it's a magic book that has to be handled like a piece of abracadabra, make sure it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/we-treat-the-bible-not-as-if-it-s-a-magic-book-that-has-to-be-handled/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ridicule-is-the-only-weapon-which-can-be-used-against-unintelligible/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/ridicule-is-the-only-weapon-which-can-be-used-against-unintelligible-2/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/now-i-lay-me-down-to-sleep-i-pray-the-lord-my-soul-to-keep/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [The more you earn, the less you keep, And now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/the-more-you-earn-the-less-you-keep-and-now-i-lay-me-down-to-sleep-i/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“Rules of Magic: Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned to you threefold. Fall in love whenever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/rules-of-magic-do-as-you-will-but-harm-no-one-what-you-give-will-be/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Have you ever heard anyone say 'Abracadabra'? Well, some think it means 'I create as I speak.' So it means we create our world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-antieau/have-you-ever-heard-anyone-say-abracadabra-well-some-think-it-means-i/) Kim Antieau > [I wish grace and healing were more abracadabra kind of things. Also, that delicate silver bells would ring to announce grace's arrival. But no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-wish-grace-and-healing-were-more-abracadabra-kind-of-things-also/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Through all the muck of themselves, the times they had unobligated each other, the anger, the permitted absences, the loneliness grown dangerous, she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/through-all-the-muck-of-themselves-the-times-they-had-unobligated/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [In order that the relations between science and the age may be what they ought to be, the world at large must be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jay-youmans/in-order-that-the-relations-between-science-and-the-age-may-be-what/) William Jay Youmans > [“― Abraticezamu! Senha incorreta. ― Abracadabra. Senha incorreta. ― lalala1? ― Oi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filipe-russo/abraticezamu-senha-incorreta-abracadabra-senha-incorreta-lalala1-oi/) [Filipe Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filipe-russo/) > [Abracadabra, I'm up like Viagra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/abracadabra-i-m-up-like-viagra/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) [Browse all 19 Abracadabra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abracadabra/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Altho' I rarely waste time in reading on theological subjects, as mangled by our Pseudo-Christians, yet I can readily suppose Basanistos may be amusing. Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. If it could be understood it would not answer their purpose. Their security is in their faculty of shedding darkness, like the scuttlefish, thro' the element in which they move, and making it impenetrable to the eye of a pursuing enemy, and there they will skulk. 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