QuoteProject
Just to the extent that the Bible was appealed to in matters of science, science was retarded; and just to the extent that science has been appealed to in matters of religion, religion has advanced - so that now the object of intelligent religionists is to adopt a creed that will bear the test and criticism of science.
Robert Green Ingersoll
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the relationship between science and religion, suggesting that both can positively influence each other when approached intelligently.

Robert Green Ingersoll's quote reflects on the historical interplay between science and religion, highlighting how reliance on the Bible for scientific matters has hindered scientific progress, while the incorporation of scientific scrutiny into religious beliefs has led to their evolution. The quote advocates for a harmonious relationship where religious beliefs adapt to withstand the criticism of scientific inquiry, promoting a more rational and enlightened approach to faith.

Themes

ScienceReligionBeliefTruthEnlightenment

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about the role of faith in modern society, one could quote Ingersoll to highlight the importance of scientific integrity.

More from Robert Green Ingersoll

I will follow my logic, no matter where it goes, after it has consulted with my heart. If you ever come to a conclusion without calling the heart in, you will come to a bad conclusion.
Robert Green IngersollRead
If the guardians of society, the protectors of 'young persons,' could have had their way, we should have known nothing of Byron or Shelley. The voices that thrill the world would now be silent.
Robert Green IngersollRead
The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, but a fraud and a curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by a musket is hardly worth making.
Robert Green IngersollRead
There is no slavery but ignorance.
Robert Green IngersollRead
In all ages the people have honored those who dishonored them. They have worshiped their destroyers; they have canonized the most gigantic liars, and buried the great thieves in marble and gold. Under the loftiest monuments sleeps the dust of murder.
Robert Green IngersollRead
I believe that there is something far nobler than loyalty to any particular man. Loyalty to the truth as we perceive it - loyalty to our duty as we know it - loyalty to the ideals of our brain and heart - is, to my mind, far greater and far nobler than loyalty to the life of any particular man or God. . . .
Robert Green IngersollRead

Similar quotes

Detainees were not allowed to talk to each other, but we enjoyed looking at each other. The punishment for talking was hanging the detainee by his hands with the feet barely touching the ground.
Mohamedou Ould SlahiRead
The search for the symbolic value of phonemes, each taken as a whole, runs the risk of giving rise to ambiguous and trivial interpretations because phonemes are complex entities, bundles of different distinctive features.
Roman JakobsonRead
One can disintegrate the world by means of very strong light. For weak eyes the world becomes solid, for still weaker eyes it seems to develop fists, for eyes weaker still it becomes shamefaced and smashes anyone who dares to gaze upon it.
Franz KafkaRead
What being a socialist means is... that you hold out... a vision of society where poverty is absolutely unnecessary, where international relations are not based on greed... but on cooperation... where human beings can own the means of production and work together rather than having to work as semi-slaves to other people who can hire and fire.
Bernie SandersRead
It's personal freedom, not hundred dollar bills that lights the soul's cigar.
Tom RobbinsRead
In coming to understand anything we are rejecting the facts as they are for us in favour of the facts as they are.
C. S. LewisRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.