---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If by religion we are to understand…"
description: "\"If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation on that hypothesis is just, \"that this would..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg"
---

#  If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in…

![“If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation on that hypothesis is just, &quot;that this would be the best of worlds if there were no religion in it.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg)

> “If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation on that hypothesis is just, "that this would be the best of worlds if there were no religion in it.”

[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.

Religious sects conflict, suggesting a world without religion might be ideal, yet the hypothesis is simplistic and ignores human complexity.

**In simple terms:** Religion causes division; peace may need more than its absence.

Key Takeaway

Consider the role of belief systems in society.

Themes

religion conflict philosophy human nature

Mood

critical inquisitive analytical

Type

philosophical debate

When to use this quote

- political discourse
- interfaith dialogue
- social policy
- cultural criticism

Key Concepts

pluralism ethical frameworks

Questions to Reflect On

- Can moral order exist without religion?
- What alternatives foster unity?

A Different Perspective

Eliminating religion alone won’t solve deeper societal issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [Dogmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogmas/) [Exclamation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exclamation/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [If custom is to avail for proof of soundness, we too, surely, may advance our prevailing custom; and if they reject this, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/if-custom-is-to-avail-for-proof-of-soundness-we-too-surely-may/)

[Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/)

> [“EQUAL RIGHTS and FREE DISCUSSION will be fearlessly advocated and maintained. Sectarian dogmas or tenets will be investigated and compared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abner-cole/equal-rights-and-free-discussion-will-be-fearlessly-advocated-and/)

Abner Cole

> [“I write nothing for publication, and last of all things should it be on the subject of religion. On the dogmas of religion as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-write-nothing-for-publication-and-last-of-all-things-should-it-be/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [On the dogmas of religion, as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind, from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarrelling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/on-the-dogmas-of-religion-as-distinguished-from-moral-principles-all/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [It is a fact of history and of current events that human beings exaggerate, misinterpret, or wrongly remember events. They have also fabricated pious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/it-is-a-fact-of-history-and-of-current-events-that-human-beings/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [By religion, then, I understand a propitiation or conciliation of powers superior to man which are believed to direct and control the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/by-religion-then-i-understand-a-propitiation-or-conciliation-of-2/)

[James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/)

> [It is up to God to reveal a religion, but up to us to understand and realise it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdolkarim-soroush/it-is-up-to-god-to-reveal-a-religion-but-up-to-us-to-understand-and/)

[Abdolkarim Soroush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdolkarim-soroush/)

> [The Christian Religion as I understand it is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-christian-religion-as-i-understand-it-is-the-best/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“Though he could not honestly believe in some invisible, mythical god, he could understand religion now. He could understand that it was a security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curran/though-he-could-not-honestly-believe-in-some-invisible-mythical-god/)

[Tim Curran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curran/)

> [On a personal note, myself, I find religion - I can understand it, I can understand why we have it, as a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/on-a-personal-note-myself-i-find-religion-i-can-understand-it-i-can-2/)

[James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/)

> [On a personal note, myself, I find religion - I can understand it, I can understand why we have it, as a kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-callis/on-a-personal-note-myself-i-find-religion-i-can-understand-it-i-can/)

[James Callis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-callis/)

> [To elevate abstract doctrines and dogmas over living, breathing, embodied experiences of God's love and grace, then, is going the wrong direction. It's taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/to-elevate-abstract-doctrines-and-dogmas-over-living-breathing/)

[Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/)

> [The man who has successfully solved the problem of his relations with the two worlds of data and symbols is a man who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-man-who-has-successfully-solved-the-problem-of-his-relations-with/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [“I still think that, in a way, I can't get past half my childhood dogmas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-still-think-that-in-a-way-i-can-t-get-past-half-my-childhood-dogmas/)

[J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/)

## 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 Agree quotes

> [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/)

> [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/)

[Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/)

> [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/)

[Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/)

> [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/)

[Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [Never be afraid of doing the thing you know in your heart is right, even if others don't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-be-afraid-of-doing-the-thing-you-know-in-your-heart-is-right/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [ I will not agree to have this bill \[to repeal DADT \] go forward, because our economy is in the tank. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-will-not-agree-to-have-this-bill-to-repeal-dadt-go-forward-because/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [“I tend to agree with that little devil more and more these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-casey/i-tend-to-agree-with-that-little-devil-more-and-more-these-days/)

[Elle Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-casey/)

> [People might not agree with me, but I think a woman should have a feminine shape, something you can get your hands on. You,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/people-might-not-agree-with-me-but-i-think-a-woman-should-have-a/)

[Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/)

[Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/)

> [We're never all going to agree with each other. We have to learn to value the diversity. It's one of the presumable principles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/we-re-never-all-going-to-agree-with-each-other-we-have-to-learn-to/)

[Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/)

> [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/)

[Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/)

Browse all 3,079 Agree quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation on that hypothesis is just, \"that this would be the best of worlds if there were no religion in it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Jefferson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sectarian-dogmas-in-which-no-two/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agree"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sectarian-dogmas-in-which-no-two/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/606/thomas-jefferson-43_agree_if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sect_559440.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If by religion we are to understand sectarian dogmas, in which no two of them agree, then your exclamation…” — Thomas Jefferson",
                "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": "Thomas Jefferson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If by religion we are to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sectarian-dogmas-in-which-no-two/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-by-religion-we-are-to-understand-sectarian-dogmas-in-which-no-two/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
