--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having been exposed to a variety of…" description: "\"“Having been exposed to a variety of religious experiences in the foster homes I lived in, being Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, or anything else means a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/wayne-w-dyer-3866_long-ago_having-been-exposed-to-a-variety-of-reli_990964.jpg" --- # Having been exposed to a variety of religious experiences… ![“Having been exposed to a variety of religious experiences in the foster homes I lived in, being Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, or anything else means absolutely nothing to me. I have already formed an opinion that the so-called religious teachings that I’ve been exposed to simply make no sense. So…” quote by Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/wayne-w-dyer-3866_long-ago_having-been-exposed-to-a-variety-of-reli_990964.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/wayne-w-dyer-3866_long-ago_having-been-exposed-to-a-variety-of-reli_990964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/323/wayne-w-dyer-3866_long-ago_having-been-exposed-to-a-variety-of-reli_990964.jpg) > ““Having been exposed to a variety of religious experiences in the foster homes I lived in, being Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, or anything else means absolutely nothing to me. I have already formed an opinion that the so-called religious teachings that I’ve been exposed to simply make no sense. So, I’ve just ignored the Sunday-school message of fear and judgment and paid no attention to any of it. I see no need for all of this craziness in my life, and long ago decided not to participate in it because every time I was required to go to church I ended up feeling worse for the experience—and I want, more than anything, to feel good.”” [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious labels and doctrines are irrelevant when they cause distress; personal peace comes from rejecting fear‑based teachings. **In simple terms:** Religion can be harmful if it creates anxiety. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that nurture joy, not fear. Themes spirituality freedom mental health Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leaving organized religion - finding personal meaning - healing from trauma Key Concepts existentialism critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What values truly guide you? - How can you cultivate meaning without organized religion? A Different Perspective Some may find community in faith despite discomfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foster Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foster-home/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-experience/) ## Related quotes > [“Nature is interested in only two things—to survive and to reproduce one like itself. Anything you superimpose on that, all the cultural input, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/nature-is-interested-in-only-two-things-to-survive-and-to-reproduce-2/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) > [A religion made up solely of heightened religious experiences would not be a religion at all. ...The major religious traditions address the mysteries (with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-religion-made-up-solely-of-heightened-religious-experiences-would/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“Religious beliefs are sometimes based not on testimony by others but on religious experiences of the believer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sinnott-armstrong/religious-beliefs-are-sometimes-based-not-on-testimony-by-others-but/) [Walter Sinnott-Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sinnott-armstrong/) > [Religious experiences which are as real as life to some may be incomprehensible to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/religious-experiences-which-are-as-real-as-life-to-some-may-be/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [“There are, then, three sorts of religious experiences. The ancient rites, which are essentially propitiatory. The mysteries, which purge the soul and allow us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-are-then-three-sorts-of-religious-experiences-the-ancient-rites/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“Let's Look at Subjective Religious Experiences This Way: What if ten thousand people went up to a mountain top, saw something, and then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-loftus/let-s-look-at-subjective-religious-experiences-this-way-what-if-ten/) John W. Loftus > [“Religious experiences also occur only when emotions run high and only to those who were predisposed to believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-sinnott-armstrong/religious-experiences-also-occur-only-when-emotions-run-high-and-only/) [Walter Sinnott-Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-sinnott-armstrong/) > [My greatest experiences in the theatre and the most religious experiences in my life - of which going to the opera is one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/my-greatest-experiences-in-the-theatre-and-the-most-religious/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I know many people who believe in a god, and I expected to find him on my way to the South Pole if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-arnesen/i-know-many-people-who-believe-in-a-god-and-i-expected-to-find-him-on/) Liv Arnesen > [Religious experiences are real and common, whether or not God exists, and these experiences often make people whole and at peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/religious-experiences-are-real-and-common-whether-or-not-god-exists/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [The fact that people have religious experiences is interesting from the psychological point of view, but it does not in any way imply that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-ayer/the-fact-that-people-have-religious-experiences-is-interesting-from/) [A.J. Ayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-ayer/) > [Father knew me not. All my aspirations in life were a sealed book to him, as much as his peculiar religious experiences were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/father-knew-me-not-all-my-aspirations-in-life-were-a-sealed-book-to/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Looking back through the mists of time, I recall some distinctly religious experiences in my teens--when I was only fourteen years old to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/looking-back-through-the-mists-of-time-i-recall-some-distinctly/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [I just had a thought that perhaps religion is so vibrant here is because of the melting pot aspect to our society. WE have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/i-just-had-a-thought-that-perhaps-religion-is-so-vibrant-here-is/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) ## More by Wayne W. Dyer > [“Rumi observed, “Sell your cleverness and purchase bewilderment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/rumi-observed-sell-your-cleverness-and-purchase-bewilderment/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“By believing passionately in something that does not yet exist we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/by-believing-passionately-in-something-that-does-not-yet-exist-we/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“There is a universe within you—a unified field of all possibilities that you can reach as you become the compassionate witness. Be silent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/there-is-a-universe-within-you-a-unified-field-of-all-possibilities/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Mark Twain: “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds, on the heel that has crushed it.” Indeed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/mark-twain-forgiveness-is-the-fragrance-that-the-violet-sheds-on-the/) [Wayne W. 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Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Your antivictimization stance will involve a great deal more than simply memorizing some assertive techniques and then taking a few risks when other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/your-antivictimization-stance-will-involve-a-great-deal-more-than/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Our Universe is created out of love, kindness, peace, and well-being, so when we’re an energetic match to this awareness and refuse to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/our-universe-is-created-out-of-love-kindness-peace-and-well-being-so/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/circumstances-do-not-make-a-man-they-reveal-him/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Perhaps my favorite quote on forgiveness is from Mark Twain: “Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds, on the heel that has crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/perhaps-my-favorite-quote-on-forgiveness-is-from-mark-twain/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that’s your own self. —ALDOUS HUXLEY”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/there-s-only-one-corner-of-the-universe-you-can-be-certain-of/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“Don't die with the music still in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/don-t-die-with-the-music-still-in-you/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“you’re a member of the human race, not a sub-group. Here, you’re a nation of the world with a global awareness, rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/you-re-a-member-of-the-human-race-not-a-sub-group-here-you-re-a/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) > [“See your own life more clearly today—right here, right now in this moment—by refusing to ignore that which stirs passion and excitement within you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-w-dyer/see-your-own-life-more-clearly-today-right-here-right-now-in-this/) [Wayne W. Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) [Explore all 103 Wayne W. Dyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-w-dyer/) ## More Long ago quotes > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. 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