No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Shaw observes that people interpret religious texts to fit their own beliefs rather than accepting literal meanings.
- In plain terms
- People read the Bible to confirm what they already think, not to learn what it says.
- What can you take from it?
- Be aware of your biases when interpreting texts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you read texts to confirm or challenge your views?
- How does bias affect religious interpretation?
Another view
It dismisses sincere attempts at textual understanding.
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