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I've never been much smitten by Catholicism. I've never been committed to any religious dogma of any sort. ... For years the Catholics had me on their blacklist. Then along comes some sharp-witted pater and says 'Let's take this lad into the business, instead.' And I've been plagued by Catholic interpretations ever since. ... I've never felt any attraction to Catholicism. Catholicism, I think, does have its attractions. But Protestantism is a wretched kettle of fish.

Ingmar Bergman#31

ReligionCultureIdentityBiasInstitution

About this quote

What does it mean?
He is indifferent to Catholicism, finds Protestantism problematic, and feels targeted by Catholic institutions.
In plain terms
He dislikes both Catholic and Protestant doctrines, feeling persecuted.
What can you take from it?
Recognize personal bias when assessing faiths.

Where it applies

  • interfaith dialogue
  • personal history

Putting it to work

  • research diverse perspectives
  • maintain neutrality

Questions to consider

  • How do personal grievances shape theological views?
  • Can one appreciate a faith without adopting it?

Another view

His statements are heavily colored by personal experience.

More from Ingmar Bergman

  1. To the fanatical believer physical and spiritual suffering is beside the point, compared with salvation. That is why, to him, everything happening around him i…

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  2. As far as I recall, it's a question of the total dissolution of all notions of an other-worldly salvation. During those years this was going on in me all the t…

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  3. I stick to what I know. If I've objected strongly to Christianity, it has been because Christianity is deeply branded by a very virulent humiliation motif. One…

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