---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are driven to confess that we actually…"
description: "\"We are driven to confess that we actually care more for religion than we do for religious theories and ideas: and in merely making that distinction bet..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/william-ernest-hocking-22839_care_we-are-driven-to-confess-that-we-actuall_425686.jpg"
---

#  We are driven to confess that we actually care more for…

![“We are driven to confess that we actually care more for religion than we do for religious theories and ideas: and in merely making that distinction between religion and its doctrine-elements, have we not already relegated the latter to an external and subordinate position? Have we not asserted…” quote by William Ernest Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/william-ernest-hocking-22839_care_we-are-driven-to-confess-that-we-actuall_425686.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/william-ernest-hocking-22839_care_we-are-driven-to-confess-that-we-actuall_425686.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/william-ernest-hocking-22839_care_we-are-driven-to-confess-that-we-actuall_425686.jpg)

> “We are driven to confess that we actually care more for religion than we do for religious theories and ideas: and in merely making that distinction between religion and its doctrine-elements, have we not already relegated the latter to an external and subordinate position? Have we not asserted that "religion itself" has some other essence or constitution than mere idea or thought?”

[William Ernest Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ernest-hocking/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People prioritize the lived experience of religion over abstract doctrines, treating faith as a personal essence beyond mere ideas.

**In simple terms:** Faith is felt, not just thought.

Key Takeaway

Value personal spiritual experience.

Themes

faith personal meaning doctrine identity

Mood

reflective contemplative

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal counseling
- community worship
- interfaith dialogue

Key Concepts

philosophy of religion existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of religion feel essential beyond its teachings?
- How does personal faith shape moral actions?

A Different Perspective

Doctrine can become detached from lived practice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/)

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