Christian Quote by Thomas Szasz
“For Jews, the Messiah has never come; for Christians, He has come but once; for modern man, He appears and disappears with increasing rapidity. The saviors of modern man, the "scientists" who promise salvation through the "discoveries" of ethology and sociology, psychology and psychiatry, and all the other bogus religions, issue forth periodically, as if selected by some Messiah-of-the-Month Club.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Myth of Mental Illness, Thomas Szasz, 1961
The quote critiques how each era creates its own savior figure, replacing traditional messianic expectations with scientific disciplines that promise solutions but often become fleeting ideologies.
In simple terms: Modern societies replace religious messiahs with scientific "saviors" that appear and fade quickly.
Key Takeaway
Question the authority of contemporary "saviors" and seek enduring values.
Themes
religion
science
modernity
disillusionment
Mood
skeptical
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
commentary
critical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- healthcare policy
- personal belief systems
- media narratives
Key Concepts
Messianism
secularization
ideology
credibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria should we use to evaluate modern "saviors"?
- How do we balance scientific progress with spiritual needs?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on science can ignore ethical complexities and human experience.
