The hallmark of intelligence is not whether one believes in God or not, but the quality of the processes that underlie one’s beliefs.
Alister E. McgrathRead
The 20th century gave rise to one of the greatest and most distressing paradoxes of human history: that the greatest intolerance and violence of that century were practiced by those who believed that religion caused intolerance and violence.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the paradox that individuals who denounced religion for causing violence and intolerance often engaged in similar behaviors themselves.
Alister E. McGrath's quote captures a profound irony of the 20th century, highlighting a disturbing trend where those who criticized religion for inciting violence and intolerance participated in acts of intolerance and violence themselves. This paradox serves as a cautionary reminder that the intentions behind beliefs can become twisted, leading to outcomes that contradict the values they claim to uphold, therefore emphasizing the complex relationship between ideology and human behavior.
Themes
ParadoxIntoleranceViolenceReligion20Th Century
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the historical impact of religion on society.
More from Alister E. Mcgrath
All quotes →To reenchant nature is not merely to gain a new perspective for its integrity and well-being; it is to throw open the doors to a deeper level of existence.
Alister E. McgrathRead
Similar quotes
Maher Arar's case stands as a sad example of how we have been too willing to sacrifice our core principles to overarching government power in the name of security, when doing so only undermines the principles we stand for and makes us less safe.
Patrick LeahyRead
Many people find bald, unvarnished truths so disturbing, they prefer to ram their heads in the sand and start dreaming at the first sign of scientific reality.
Charlie BrookerRead
Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.
Karl MarxRead
The Word is living, being, spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity. This Word manifests itself in every creature.
Hildegard Of BingenRead
God has allowed some magical reversal to occur, so that you see the scorpion pit as an object of desire, and all the beautiful expanse around it as dangerous and swarming with snakes.
RumiRead
Religion is a search for transcendence. But transcendence isn't necessarily sited in an external god, which can be a very unspiritual, unreligious concept.
Karen ArmstrongRead