--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conventional, organized religion, in its…" description: "\"“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg" --- # Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent… ![“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizations are degenerate parodies of forgotten religions.” quote by Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg) > ““Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizations are degenerate parodies of forgotten religions.”” [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that mainstream organized religion and modern occult groups both distort true spiritual experience, becoming hollow imitations rather than authentic practices. **In simple terms:** Both mainstream religion and occult groups are shallow copies of real spirituality. Key Takeaway Seek authentic, personal spiritual experience. Themes spirituality authenticity critique religion occult Mood critical contemplative Type philosophical critical reflective When to use this quote - personal meditation - community worship - academic study of religion - creative spiritual practice Key Concepts symbolism cultural decay psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - What defines a genuine religious experience? - How can one discern authenticity in spiritual practices? A Different Perspective The critique may overlook positive aspects and community support found in organized religion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decadence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence/) [Occult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occult/) [Occultism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occultism/) [Organized religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organized-religion/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-experience/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Zeena-schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeena-schreck/) ## Related quotes > [To seek Truth is automatically a calling for the innate dissident and the subversive; how many are willing to give up safety and security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/to-seek-truth-is-automatically-a-calling-for-the-innate-dissident-and/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Many secular observers and spiritual practitioners alike mistake mystical chanting as a kind of anthropological curiosity or interesting musical diversion from secular mainstream entertainment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/many-secular-observers-and-spiritual-practitioners-alike-mistake/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“We all have vices, visible and invisible. Some we deliberately keep secret. Others we don’t even realize or we refuse to admit we have…Vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/we-all-have-vices-visible-and-invisible-some-we-deliberately-keep/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Conservatism is far from what I’m aiming at in proclaiming the establishment of a Sethian left-hand path tradition in the West as one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conservatism-is-far-from-what-i-m-aiming-at-in-proclaiming-the/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“One of the biggest dangers on the left-hand path, according to Zeena, is that the initiate often adheres to the need of ‘maintaining his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/one-of-the-biggest-dangers-on-the-left-hand-path-according-to-zeena/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Zeena believes that the breaking of taboos creates access to blocked energy that is let loose in a forceful way. The left-hand path is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-believes-that-the-breaking-of-taboos-creates-access-to-blocked/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Kundalini means, according to Zeena ‘She Who is Hidden,’ and points to the dormant goddess in every human being’s body. While the kundalini force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/kundalini-means-according-to-zeena-she-who-is-hidden-and-points-to/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [ “Most humans who have been reared with the creature comforts of the spiritually vacuous industrialized Western world will cease their search \[for Truth\] at… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/most-humans-who-have-been-reared-with-the-creature-comforts-of-the/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“There are Tantrics who deliberately seek to do more active forms of renunciation, so transgression of social norms and breaking of taboo, and breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/there-are-tantrics-who-deliberately-seek-to-do-more-active-forms-of/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Zeena Schreck is a Berlin-based interdisciplinary artist, author, musician/composer, tantric teacher, mystic, animal rights activist, and counter-culture icon known by her mononymous artist name,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-schreck-is-a-berlin-based-interdisciplinary-artist-author/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“If you have strength of character, you can use that as fuel to not only be a survivor but to transcend simply being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/if-you-have-strength-of-character-you-can-use-that-as-fuel-to-not/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“A certain amount of native skill and training can allow many individuals to be fairly successful magicians, achieving a surprisingly high ratio of positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/a-certain-amount-of-native-skill-and-training-can-allow-many/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“One example of an uniquely Sethian approach towards initiation is for the initiate to regard his or her own life with the same urgency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/one-example-of-an-uniquely-sethian-approach-towards-initiation-is-for/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Zeena Schreck believes that the right-hand path and the left-hand path have traditionally had the same end goal; it is only the method that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-schreck-believes-that-the-right-hand-path-and-the-left-hand/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“What’s wrong with being naked?” --Zeena Schreck on AMLA to Christian Minister Jerry Johnston”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/what-s-wrong-with-being-naked-zeena-schreck-on-amla-to-christian/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) ## More by Zeena Schreck > [“Many secular observers and spiritual practitioners alike mistake mystical chanting as a kind of anthropological curiosity or interesting musical diversion from secular mainstream entertainment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/many-secular-observers-and-spiritual-practitioners-alike-mistake/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Zeena Schreck believes that the right-hand path and the left-hand path have traditionally had the same end goal; it is only the method that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-schreck-believes-that-the-right-hand-path-and-the-left-hand/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [After you've seen behind the facade of a stage set you can't take the play seriously any more. In other words, you can't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/after-you-ve-seen-behind-the-facade-of-a-stage-set-you-can-t-take-the/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [A unifying factor between the different traditions and lineages of Tantra, is that it is feminine in nature. It acknowledges the feminine as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/a-unifying-factor-between-the-different-traditions-and-lineages-of/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [Sex is like an atom bomb. A potent weapon which fascinates and frightens. We're afraid to let it loose, yet we all have our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/sex-is-like-an-atom-bomb-a-potent-weapon-which-fascinates-and/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [Environmentalists and secular humanists insist that humans will destroy the planet. Corporate capitalists and many religious fundamentalists have no regard for wildlife and nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/environmentalists-and-secular-humanists-insist-that-humans-will/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [To the non-initiate, whose experience of sexuality and bodily pleasure may be distorted by negative cultural conditioning, the introduction of sexuality into a sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/to-the-non-initiate-whose-experience-of-sexuality-and-bodily-pleasure/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [Nothing could be easier than disturbing a status quo instituted by others; the real work of the sinister current is to break the rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/nothing-could-be-easier-than-disturbing-a-status-quo-instituted-by/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [Always remember, wherever you are, whether near or far, you had a mother who really, really loved you. The original mother. Once you've found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/always-remember-wherever-you-are-whether-near-or-far-you-had-a-mother/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“One example of an uniquely Sethian approach towards initiation is for the initiate to regard his or her own life with the same urgency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/one-example-of-an-uniquely-sethian-approach-towards-initiation-is-for/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“A certain amount of native skill and training can allow many individuals to be fairly successful magicians, achieving a surprisingly high ratio of positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/a-certain-amount-of-native-skill-and-training-can-allow-many/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [The core practice of magic is: The execution of a willed intent to create change in the material world, which either defies, hastens or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/the-core-practice-of-magic-is-the-execution-of-a-willed-intent-to/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“If you have strength of character, you can use that as fuel to not only be a survivor but to transcend simply being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/if-you-have-strength-of-character-you-can-use-that-as-fuel-to-not/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [When all that’s left of us is the pure untainted consciousness without form, we’ll know what it means when the last human breath expires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/when-all-that-s-left-of-us-is-the-pure-untainted-consciousness/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [“Zeena Schreck is a Berlin-based interdisciplinary artist, author, musician/composer, tantric teacher, mystic, animal rights activist, and counter-culture icon known by her mononymous artist name,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/zeena-schreck-is-a-berlin-based-interdisciplinary-artist-author/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) [Explore all 56 Zeena Schreck quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) ## More Decadence quotes > [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [“Like symbolism, decadence puts forth the idea that the function of literature is to evoke impressions and 'correspondences', rather than to realistically depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asti-hustvedt/like-symbolism-decadence-puts-forth-the-idea-that-the-function-of/) [Asti Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asti-hustvedt/) > [I think Illium can take care of himself.” “Not if he keeps flirting with you.” A fine, almost elegant tendril of heat, champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/i-think-illium-can-take-care-of-himself-not-if-he-keeps-flirting-with/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“(Decadent style) is ingenious, complicated, learned, full of shades of meaning and research, always pushing further the limits of language... forcing itself to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/decadent-style-is-ingenious-complicated-learned-full-of-shades-of/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/after-two-years-absence-she-finally-returned-to-chilly-europe-a/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/misgovernment-is-of-four-kinds-often-in-combination-they-are-1/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Fundamentalists believe that we don't believe in anything. In their view of the world, they are in possession of absolute certainties, while we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/fundamentalists-believe-that-we-don-t-believe-in-anything-in-their/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The attraction of horror is a mental, or even an intellectual, excitement, but the fascination of the repulsive, so noticeable incontemporary writing, can spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/the-attraction-of-horror-is-a-mental-or-even-an-intellectual/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [“He saw a chamber, broad and low, designed, in its every rich stain of picture and slumberous hanging, to appeal to the sensuous. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-capes/he-saw-a-chamber-broad-and-low-designed-in-its-every-rich-stain-of/) [Bernard Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-capes/) > [The history of prevailing status quos shows decay and decadence infecting the opulent materialism of the Haves. The spiritual life of the Haves is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-history-of-prevailing-status-quos-shows-decay-and-decadence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want my children to be bold,free,self-reliant and capable of changing the phase of that portion of the earth where they live. They may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amun-djoleto/i-want-my-children-to-be-bold-free-self-reliant-and-capable-of/) Amun Djoleto > [“Evolution has no foresight. Complex machinery develops its own agendas. Brains — cheat. Feedback loops evolve to promote stable heartbeats and then stumble upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-watts/evolution-has-no-foresight-complex-machinery-develops-its-own-agendas/) [Peter Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-watts/) > [Decadence is a difficult word to use since it has become little more than a term of abuse applied by critics to anything they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/decadence-is-a-difficult-word-to-use-since-it-has-become-little-more/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Browse all 204 Decadence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizations are degenerate parodies of forgotten religions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zeena Schreck" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decadence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/zeena-schreck-12024_decadence_conventional-organized-religion-in-its-m_177313.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious…” — Zeena Schreck", "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": "Zeena Schreck", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Conventional, organized religion, in its most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/#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 } } ] } ```