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About this quote

What does it mean?
Religious symbols express events that stand beyond opinion.
In plain terms
Religious facts are not opinions, so they cannot be errors.
What can you take from it?
View religious symbols as statements of fact rather than opinion.

Where it applies

  • religious practice
  • theological discussion
  • spiritual belief

Putting it to work

  • interpreting symbols
  • religious study
  • faith reflection

Questions to consider

  • Is faith beyond opinion?
  • Can belief be proven fact?

Another view

Many view religious claims as opinions or beliefs instead.

More from Ludwig Wittgenstein

  1. Every explanation is after all an hypothesis. (p. 123)

    Permalink to quote #94
  2. Burning in effigy. Kissing the picture of one's beloved... it aims at nothing at all; we just behave this way and then we feel satisfied. (p. 123)

    Permalink to quote #96
  3. Frazer's account of the magical and religious views of mankind is unsatisfactory; it makes these views look like errors. (p. 119)

    Permalink to quote #93

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