Certainty Quote by Yossi Klein Halevi
“But theological change happens though selective quoting. Every religious person does it: You quote those verses that resonate with your own religious insights and ignore or reinterpret those that undermine your certainties. Selective quoting isn't just legitimate, but essential: Religions evolve through shifts in selective quoting.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Forgotten Refugees by Yossi Klein Halevi, 2015
People tend to highlight religious texts that confirm their beliefs while downplaying or reinterpreting contradictory passages, driving doctrinal evolution.
In simple terms: We pick verses that fit our views and ignore those that don’t.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias in how you use scripture.
Themes
religion
interpretation
bias
evolution
selective reading
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal study
- sermons
- interfaith dialogue
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Hermeneutics
cognitive dissonance
cultural adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which passages to emphasize?
- What impact does selective quoting have on faith communities?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on selective verses can distort original teachings.
![“[I]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge in mathematics, in so far as disposed through it we are able to reach certainty in other sciences and truth by the exclusion of error.” quote by Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d13/roger-bacon-15067_able_i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-a_24209.jpg)