What do you guys think about this quote....?

Question

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."

For those that want to know who said it, it was this wise guy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger

Answer 1

its very appropriate both now n thru out history

Answer 2

I think that this quote is an opinion based on someones own idea, not a definition, of the term wise. A common person could be a wise ruler as well. People of all three categories both believe and disbelieve in every religion. My opinion would state that religion is regarded as false not by the wise, but by the fool hearted.

Answer 3

"(the one true) religion is regarded by the actually wise as true, by those that think they are wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."

the rulers I did not change. Many politicians will use religion as a facade, just to try to win votes. they do not actually believe what they say, they just say it to try to get the people to do what they want...


And as for the common people in earlier times.... Most commoners had little or no religious ties strictly because the only ones that could read or write, were the rich.... This is even why schools are around today is so that all people can read and write in order to study religion.

Amen to the first answer to this question.!

Answer 4

Toronto,
What do you guys think about this quote....?

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."

THAT'S AMAZING! I have another quote! What do you think of this:
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Now this isn't a blanket "Religion" statement, but it is Christianity. It supersedes rulers, and wise people. It overcomes falseness, and pride.

I so love my God, who only keeps those who He chooses.

You see, rulers have had a terrible time with Christianity. They defy wrongness when they can, in favor to to the will of a Heavenly ruler. That confounds those who attempt to control them.

But is you are going to talk about 'religion' in general, like Catholicism, I would agree with you. They tried to keep the Bible out of the hands of the people for centuries, but were unable. It's the Bible, the inspired word of God, that kept the minds of some men free.

So 'religion' is a curse. But Christ, therein lies freedom!


EDIT: By the way, I couldn't help noticing that he was born at about the time of Jesus. I guess he didn't know, and if only he was in Israel on vacation or something! BIG, BIG bummer!

Answer 5

Historically very true. If you look in history, the common people any time turned to religion time and time again to explain that which they could not, or would not, understand. The wise, while they did not openly contradict religion, often bent the rules and were mavericks in the eyes of the faith. And the rulers... that IS what religion is for. Religion is, in the hands of the powerful, nothing more than a crude but effective mind control technique. Spanish inquisition anyone? The Crusades? Power trips by powerful people and rulers exploiting the faith of the common people of the time

Answer 6

I'd say it was a conglomeration of attitudes, manifested by agnostic or atheistic beliefs, in support of what they view as the methodology of belief in God.
Primarily because it promotes man as the head of knowledge, as your quote suggests in a backwards way. While this is a common fallacy among those unlearned and uneducated individuals who wish to promote themselves and their self absorbed and self imposed understanding and knowledge on the rest of humanity, it does not change the facts of reality.
Those being that even the most basic precepts of human creation, the mechanisms by which we operate and live are unexplainable by human science, except in the most basic forms...the fact that the VAST majority of human knowledge cannot explain most of life on this planet...well, tell me where those wise are, and I'll show you a group of rulers who are manipulating a lot of information they know nothing about.

Answer 7

This is what the word of God says:


19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[a]

20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:19-21 (New International Version)


18Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"[a]; 20and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."[b]

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (New International Version)

Answer 8

Religion is man made. Godliness is a vital spiritual relationship with God. So I think (about that quote) that common people tend to follow the ways of man. Truly wise people (wisdom according to God's word) know that man's ways and teachings fall apart and they follow God and his wisdom (his word). Rulers who can see this truth can use that knowledge for good or bad.

That's why I pray for the leaders of our country and countries around the world - that we may lead a quiet and peacable life in all godliness and honesty

I Timothy 2:1-5 " I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Answer 9

I dislike it.
Many wise men have been religious. I personally don't like organized religions.
Rulers use religion in the Middle East, not in Capitalist countries like ours. If people say it is so, bs. When somebody knocks on my door and orders me to go to church, then I will get worried.

Not all common people are religous either, many are. I find this quote to be mainly flawed and untrue.

Answer 10

I can't argue with that.

Let's take the 2004 election and 2006 mid-term elections into consideration. Strangely enough, the gay marriage issue was brought up only around these times, due to how strongly people were for (or against) it. Most were against, and conservatives used this to their advantage. Of course, this is only one of several issues, but it was an issue of morality, and in the Christian faith of all religions. It just so happens that our country is mostly Christian, and when was this issue brought up? Around election time. Coincidence?

Answer 11

I think I would like to know who's quote you are using in this question. The quote has a remarkable ring of truth in it....but who dared quote such a truthful statement?