--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Divine was expansive, but religion…" description: "\"The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive. Religion attempted to reduce the Divine to a knowable quantity with which mortals might efficient..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg" --- # The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive… ![“The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive. Religion attempted to reduce the Divine to a knowable quantity with which mortals might efficiently deal, to pigeonhole it once and for all so that we never had to reevaluate it. With hammers of cant and spikes of dogma, we crucified and…” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg) > “The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive. Religion attempted to reduce the Divine to a knowable quantity with which mortals might efficiently deal, to pigeonhole it once and for all so that we never had to reevaluate it. With hammers of cant and spikes of dogma, we crucified and crucified again, trying to nail to our stationary altars the migratory light of the world.” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion tries to simplify the divine, but that limits understanding **In simple terms:** Simplifying the divine limits understanding Key Takeaway Question rigid doctrines, seek broader insight Themes philosophy religion critique Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - theological study - personal meditation - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Metaphor dogma spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of belief feel limiting? - How can you embrace mystery? A Different Perspective Dogmatic certainty can stifle growth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [Expansive Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expansive-religion-4924613/) [Hammers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hammers/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Light of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-the-world/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Nails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nails/) [Quantity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantity/) [Reduce Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduce-divine-4924615/) [Reductive Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reductive-religion-4924612/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Attempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-attempted-4924614/) [Religion Reductive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-reductive-4924611/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The Bible says that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. On the job, in the grocery store,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-bible-says-that-christians-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-and-the/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Remember—the light of the world will never be diminished, so long as you are brave enough to carry the flame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-soule/remember-the-light-of-the-world-will-never-be-diminished-so-long-as/) [Leslie Soule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-soule/) > [“We go from one darkness to another and in between, the hidden light of the world, of knowledge. We open our eyes and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/we-go-from-one-darkness-to-another-and-in-between-the-hidden-light-of/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [“When we sing “The Light of the world is Jesus,” there should be a glow on our faces that would make the world believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/when-we-sing-the-light-of-the-world-is-jesus-there-should-be-a-glow/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [The book of Revelation says that we no longer need the sun or the moon, for Christ is the light of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/the-book-of-revelation-says-that-we-no-longer-need-the-sun-or-the/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [Often you can see power lines running alongside the street. Unless current is flowing through them, there is no light. The power line is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/often-you-can-see-power-lines-running-alongside-the-street-unless/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We the Christians may not save the souls of unbelievers because only Jesus Christ does that but we are the bridge by which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/we-the-christians-may-not-save-the-souls-of-unbelievers-because-only/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Reading and understanding the Bible involves lots and lots of interpretation. Not just in light of the world and culture around us, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/reading-and-understanding-the-bible-involves-lots-and-lots-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [He opened a window in my heart, and the light of the world shined in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/he-opened-a-window-in-my-heart-and-the-light-of-the-world-shined-in/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“You are the light of the world. Shine brightly. Smile beautifully! Rejoice daily!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-m-mcgraw/you-are-the-light-of-the-world-shine-brightly-smile-beautifully/) [Brenda M. McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-m-mcgraw/) > [“Some of you need a lesson in humility. While your arrogance may give you a sense of power, it may serve you better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-son-m-lee-2/some-of-you-need-a-lesson-in-humility-while-your-arrogance-may-give/) [J 'son M. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-son-m-lee-2/) > [Mary means enlightener, because She brought forth the Light of the world. In the Syriac tongue, Mary signifies Lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidore-of-seville/mary-means-enlightener-because-she-brought-forth-the-light-of-the/) [Isidore of Seville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidore-of-seville/) > [“Run to and fro everywhere, holy fires, beautiful fires; for you are the light of the world, nor are you put under a bushel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/run-to-and-fro-everywhere-holy-fires-beautiful-fires-for-you-are-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [ “Stay on Course Let your eyes look right on \[with fixed purpose\], and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/stay-on-course-let-your-eyes-look-right-on-with-fixed-purpose-and-let/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“I had a dream about you. You were a lone candle on a barren vanilla cake, and I was the mighty breath sent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-had-a-dream-about-you-you-were-a-lone-candle-on-a-barren-vanilla/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't really resent being on the red carpet as much as I do having to deal with the paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-really-resent-being-on-the-red-carpet-as-much-as-i-do-having/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I deal with the obvious. I present, reiterate, and glorify the obvious - because the obvious is what people need to be told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/i-deal-with-the-obvious-i-present-reiterate-and-glorify-the-obvious/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [But when you have to deal with notes, and to be able to make a full definition of what a sound is - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-brown/but-when-you-have-to-deal-with-notes-and-to-be-able-to-make-a-full/) [Dennis Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-brown/) [Browse all 7,121 Deals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive. Religion attempted to reduce the Divine to a knowable quantity with which mortals might efficiently deal, to pigeonhole it once and for all so that we never had to reevaluate it. With hammers of cant and spikes of dogma, we crucified and crucified again, trying to nail to our stationary altars the migratory light of the world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-was-reductive-religion/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-was-reductive-religion/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/tom-robbins-169_deals_the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-wa_1403429.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Divine was expansive, but religion was reductive. Religion attempted to reduce the Divine to a knowable…” — Tom Robbins", "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": "Tom Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Divine was expansive, but religion...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-was-reductive-religion/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-divine-was-expansive-but-religion-was-reductive-religion/#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 } } ] } ```