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About this quote

What does it mean?
Russell notes that the Gospels contain no praise for intelligence.
In plain terms
The Gospels don’t commend intellect.
What can you take from it?
Religious texts may undervalue rationality.

Where it applies

  • theological study
  • literary analysis

Putting it to work

  • examine texts for hidden biases

Questions to consider

  • What does this imply about historical attitudes to reason?
  • How do modern believers reconcile faith and intellect?

Another view

Interpretations of the Gospels vary widely.

More from Bertrand Russell

  1. Science is what you know, philosophy is what you don't know.

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  2. The saviors of the world, society's last hope.

    Permalink to quote #204
  3. Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence; it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.

    Permalink to quote #201

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