--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As priestcraft was always the enemy of…" description: "\"As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/thomas-paine-267_acquisition_as-priestcraft-was-always-the-enemy-of-k_106007.jpg" --- # As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because… ![“As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent with its policy to make the acquisition of knowledge a real sin.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/thomas-paine-267_acquisition_as-priestcraft-was-always-the-enemy-of-k_106007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/thomas-paine-267_acquisition_as-priestcraft-was-always-the-enemy-of-k_106007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dff/thomas-paine-267_acquisition_as-priestcraft-was-always-the-enemy-of-k_106007.jpg) > “As priestcraft was always the enemy of knowledge, because priestcraft supports itself by keeping people in delusion and ignorance, it was consistent with its policy to make the acquisition of knowledge a real sin.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious authority historically discouraged inquiry, labeling learning as sinful to preserve power. **In simple terms:** Priestcraft kept people ignorant to protect itself. Key Takeaway Knowledge threatens institutional control. Themes religion knowledge power censorship Mood critical historical Type political critique philosophical observation When to use this quote - church‑run schools - censorship of books - religious debates on science Key Concepts institutional authority intellectual freedom Practical Applications - promote secular education - protect academic freedom Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms do institutions use to suppress dissent? - Can faith and inquiry coexist? A Different Perspective Not all religious traditions oppose knowledge; many have contributed to scholarship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquisition/) [Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Consistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-consistent-1271804/) [Knowledge Priestcraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-priestcraft-1271802/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Priestcraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priestcraft-149144/) [Priestcraft Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priestcraft-enemy-1271803/) [Priestcraft Supports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priestcraft-supports-1271805/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) ## Related quotes > [The first was a government of priestcraft, the second of conquerors, and the third of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-first-was-a-government-of-priestcraft-the-second-of-conquerors/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The man or country that fights priestcraft and priests is to my mind striking deeper for freedom than can be struck anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/the-man-or-country-that-fights-priestcraft-and-priests-is-to-my-mind/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [Too long has the public mind considered religion to be synonymous with priestcraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-long-has-the-public-mind-considered-religion-to-be-synonymous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The supernatural Christ of the New Testament, the god of orthodox Christianity, is dead. 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