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Maurice Merleau-Ponty on Atheism

1908–1961 France

← All quotes by Maurice Merleau-Ponty

2 quotes

Theology recognizes the contingency of human existence only to derive it from a necessary being, that is, to remove it. Theology makes use of philosophical wonder only for the purpose of motivating an affirmation which ends it. Philosophy, on the other hand, arouses us to what is problematic in our own existence and in that of the world, to such a point that we shall never be cured of searching for a solution.

In Praise of Philosophy (1963)

The philosopher ... is well able to understand religion as one of the expressions of the central phenomenon of consciousness. But the example of Socrates reminds us that it is not the same thing, but almost the opposite, to understand religion and to accept it.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Maurice Merleau-Ponty (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.