A few years ago, a priest working in a slum section of a European city was asked why he was doing it, and replied, 'So that the rumor of God may not completely disappear.
Peter L. BergerRead
Even if one is interested only in one's own society, which is one's prerogative, one can understand that society much better by comparing it with others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding one's own society can be enriched by comparing it to others.
Peter L. Berger emphasizes the importance of comparative analysis in understanding one's own society. By studying different societies, individuals can gain insights into their own cultural, social, and political contexts, thereby broadening their perspective and enhancing their comprehension of societal dynamics.
Themes
SocietyComparisonUnderstandingCulturePerspective
In practice
Example use cases
During a sociology seminar, one could use this quote to discuss the value of cross-cultural comparisons.
More from Peter L. Berger
All quotes βHe who sups with the devil had better have a long spoon. The devilry of modernity has its own magic: The [believer] who sups with it will find his spoon getting shorter and shorter--until that last supper in which he is left alone at the table, with no spoon at all and with an empty plate. The devil, one may guess, will by then have gone away to more interesting company.
Peter L. BergerRead
Religion is the human attitude towards a sacred order that includes within it all being-human or otherwise-i.e., belief in a cosmos, the meaning of which both includes and transcends man.
Peter L. BergerRead
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