“Whoever seeks to set one religion against another seeks to destroy all religion.”
- January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945
- American
- Politician
- [Achievements]
- As president of the United States, he promoted economic recovery from the Great Depression with the New Deal policy
- He led the Allied powers to victory in World War II
- [Criticism]
- His hard-line policy toward Japan triggered the attack on Pearl Harbor
- He pushed for the forced internment policy of Japanese Americans due to racist feelings toward the Japanese
- He promoted the Manhattan Project, a plan to develop the atomic bomb
Quote
“Whoever seeks to set one religion against another seeks to destroy all religion.”
Explanation
In this quote, Franklin D. Roosevelt emphasizes the destructive nature of using religion as a tool for division or conflict. Roosevelt is asserting that when people or groups attempt to pit one religion against another—whether for political, ideological, or social reasons—they undermine the core values of all religions. Religions, at their heart, are meant to promote peace, compassion, and understanding, and any effort to create hostility between them contradicts their essential teachings. Roosevelt’s words reflect his belief in the importance of religious tolerance and unity in a diverse society.
This statement also speaks to Roosevelt’s broader vision of social harmony. As a leader of a nation founded on pluralism and religious freedom, he understood that promoting peace and collaboration between different faiths was essential for maintaining a stable, democratic society. By seeking to divide religions or foment religious conflict, one erodes the moral foundation of society and fosters divisions that ultimately harm the social fabric.
In the modern world, this quote continues to resonate in a time where religious intolerance and sectarian violence remain significant global issues. Whether in the context of interfaith conflict, extremism, or religious persecution, Roosevelt’s words remind us of the importance of fostering understanding and respect among different religious communities. True religious freedom thrives in an environment where individuals are allowed to worship freely without inciting division or hatred between different faiths. Roosevelt’s message encourages the promotion of peaceful coexistence and the rejection of efforts that use religion as a means to divide rather than unite.
