--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The book called the Bible has been voted…" description: "\"The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief of this is called blasphemy\" — Thom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/thomas-paine-267_bible_the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted_11984.png" --- # The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and… ![“The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief of this is called blasphemy” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/thomas-paine-267_bible_the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted_11984.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/thomas-paine-267_bible_the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted_11984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/thomas-paine-267_bible_the-book-called-the-bible-has-been-voted_11984.png) > “The book called the Bible has been voted by men, and decreed by human laws to be the word of God; and the disbelief of this is called blasphemy” [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. The statement critiques the authority that declares a human-authored text divine, highlighting the tension between religious doctrine and secular law. **In simple terms:** Challenges the divine claim of a human‑voted text. Key Takeaway Authority can be contested when based on human consensus. Themes authority religion law secularism skepticism Mood defiant critical inquisitive Type aphilosophical political theological When to use this quote - theological debates - legal disputes over religious texts - academic discussions on secularism - public policy on religious freedom Key Concepts canonization blasphemy human agency divine authority Practical Applications - critical analysis of religious authority - educational curricula on religious history Questions to Reflect On - What implications arise when religious texts are subject to secular law? - How does labeling dissent as blasphemy affect free inquiry? A Different Perspective Some argue that the Bible’s moral teachings transcend its human origins, making its divine claim meaningful beyond legal decrees. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Blasphemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blasphemy/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [This crime called blasphemy was invented by priests for the purpose of defending doctrines not able to take care of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-crime-called-blasphemy-was-invented-by-priests-for-the-purpose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As to the book called the bible, it is blasphemy to call it the Word of God. It is a book of lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/as-to-the-book-called-the-bible-it-is-blasphemy-to-call-it-the-word/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The Book of Job and the 19th Psalm, which even the Church admits to be more ancient than the chronological order in which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-book-of-job-and-the-19th-psalm-which-even-the-church-admits-to-be/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“I say to my congregants, "If you believe in God, the best thing you can do for yourself is to suspend your belief for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-church/i-say-to-my-congregants-if-you-believe-in-god-the-best-thing-you-can/) [Forrest Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-church/) > [When I see throughout this book, called the Bible, a history of the grossest vices and a collection of the most paltry and contemptible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/when-i-see-throughout-this-book-called-the-bible-a-history-of-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The book, called the Bible, is filled with passages equally horrible, unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in schools in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-book-called-the-bible-is-filled-with-passages-equally-horrible/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The number one book of the ages was written by a committee, and it was called The Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-mayer/the-number-one-book-of-the-ages-was-written-by-a-committee-and-it-was/) [Louis B. Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-mayer/) > [ To me \[Christianity\] was all nonsense based on that profane compilation of fables called the Bible. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haywood/to-me-christianity-was-all-nonsense-based-on-that-profane-compilation/) [Bill Haywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haywood/) > [At age 14, my belief systems began to change about myself, about God, about humans, about values, and about moral standards. I also began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/at-age-14-my-belief-systems-began-to-change-about-myself-about-god/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/is-it-not-a-species-of-blasphemy-to-call-the-new-testament-revealed/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [People in general know not what wickedness there is in this pretended word of God. Brought up in habits of superstition, they take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/people-in-general-know-not-what-wickedness-there-is-in-this-pretended/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“What is it the Bible teaches us? — repine, cruelty, and murder. What is it the Testament teaches us? — to believe that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-repine-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-is-it-the-bible-teaches-us-raping-cruelty-and-murder-what-is-it/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-of-freedom-must-like-men/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“It has been the practice of all Christian commentators on the Bible, and of all Christian priests and preachers, to impose the Bible on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/it-has-been-the-practice-of-all-christian-commentators-on-the-bible/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Wisdom is not the purchase of a day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/wisdom-is-not-the-purchase-of-a-day/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/our-citizenship-in-the-united-states-is-our-national-character-our/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/suspicion-is-the-companion-of-mean-souls-and-the-bane-of-all-good/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“To pass from the extremes of danger to safety-from the tumult of war to the tranquility of peace, though sweet in contemplation, requires a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-pass-from-the-extremes-of-danger-to-safety-from-the-tumult-of-war/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/he-that-rebels-against-reason-is-a-real-rebel-but-he-that-in-defence/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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