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About this quote

What does it mean?
Santayana suggests religious truth is not binary but relative to their quality and impact.
In plain terms
Religions should be judged by how good they are, not if they are factually correct.
What can you take from it?
Evaluate beliefs by their outcomes rather than their literal truth claims.

Where it applies

  • interfaith dialogue
  • personal belief systems
  • theological debate

Putting it to work

  • assessing religious teachings
  • comparing spiritual paths
  • evaluating doctrine

Questions to consider

  • How do you measure the value of a belief system?
  • Does truth matter less than benefit?

Another view

This view may downplay the importance of factual accuracy in religious claims.

More from George Santayana

  1. Only the dead have seen an end to war. (Incorrectly attributed to Plato by General Douglas MacArthur)

    Permalink to quote #57
  2. Sanity is madness put to good uses.

    Permalink to quote #59
  3. Never build your emotional life on the weaknesses of others.

    Permalink to quote #56

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