One of the peculiar sins of the twentieth century which we've
One of the peculiar sins of the twentieth century which we've developed to a very high level is the sin of credulity. It has been said that when human beings stop believing in God they believe in nothing. The truth is much worse: they believe in anything.
Hear the piercing words of Malcolm Muggeridge, a prophet-like voice in an age of noise: “One of the peculiar sins of the twentieth century which we've developed to a very high level is the sin of credulity. It has been said that when human beings stop believing in God they believe in nothing. The truth is much worse: they believe in anything.” This is no idle lament but a thunderclap of warning. He declares that the danger of unbelief is not emptiness, but reckless openness—when the anchor of truth is cast away, the ship of the soul does not rest in calm seas, but is swept into every storm of falsehood.
The ancients knew that man is not content with nothingness. The human heart is a vessel that longs to be filled—with meaning, with belief, with something greater than itself. If it is not filled with the eternal, it will be filled with idols. The Israelites, when Moses lingered upon Sinai, did not endure in noble doubt; they built a golden calf and bowed to it. So too in every age: if men abandon the truth, they do not become skeptics alone—they become worshipers of shadows.
Consider the twentieth century, of which Muggeridge spoke. When faith in God was cast aside in many lands, men did not rest in clear reason. Instead, they believed in ideologies of blood and iron. Millions gave their trust to tyrants, chanting the names of Hitler and Stalin as if they were saviors. These were not men believing in “nothing,” but in anything—and the result was ruin, war, and death on a scale the world had never seen. Their credulity, their willingness to embrace lies as though they were salvation, was the peculiar sin that Muggeridge condemned.
And yet, even in gentler times, the same pattern holds. When the heart turns from God, it runs toward false gods of another kind—consumerism, wealth, fame, pleasure. Men and women who scorn faith find themselves chasing horoscopes, conspiracies, pseudoscience, and empty promises. They become credulous, not discerning; desperate to believe, not in truth, but in whatever flatters their desires. Thus, the warning is not only for kings and nations, but for every soul.
Why is this so? Because truth demands humility, discipline, and surrender, but anything requires none of these. It is easier to believe a lie that comforts than a truth that convicts. The sin of credulity is not merely ignorance; it is the willful refusal to test and discern, the laziness that accepts glitter for gold and shadow for light. It is a corruption of the sacred hunger for belief, turned toward folly instead of wisdom.
The lesson, then, is urgent: guard your heart and mind. Do not cast aside the eternal in the hope of freedom, for you will not find freedom but chains. Do not despise faith as if it were weakness, for without it you may become prey to weaker things. Test every word, measure every doctrine, question every promise. Seek the truth diligently, and cling to it even when it is hard, lest you be swept into the sea of anything.
So let this teaching be written in your soul: when men cease to believe in the Highest, they do not believe in nothing—they believe in anything. Therefore, anchor yourself in what is eternal, in what has stood against centuries of doubt and scorn. Fill your vessel with the waters of truth, so that no shadow, no tyrant, no false promise may claim you. For only in the steadfast pursuit of the eternal will your mind be free, your soul be steady, and your life rise above the peculiar sin of credulity.
BTBui Thao
I find Muggeridge’s reflection on the loss of belief in God and the rise of credulity to be a powerful critique of modern society. It seems that without a strong anchor, like faith or philosophical grounding, people can easily latch onto anything that promises certainty or purpose. But how do we address this without resorting to authoritarian beliefs or rigid dogmas? Is it possible to foster belief in something meaningful without falling into the trap of blind faith?
TPDuong Thi Phuong
Muggeridge’s words on credulity make me think about the dangers of not questioning the things we’re told. In an age where misinformation is rampant, how do we navigate the line between belief and skepticism? It’s easy to see how, when people lose faith in traditional systems or values, they turn to more extreme or fantastical beliefs. How can we protect ourselves from this without becoming cynical or closed off to genuine truths?
TTtrang thuy
This quote really makes me pause and think about how easily we’re influenced by what we’re told, especially in a world where information is so readily available. When people lose their sense of purpose or structure, they often replace it with something else—whether it’s a movement, an ideology, or just a quick fix. But how do we find a balance between open-mindedness and critical thinking, so we don’t fall into the trap of believing anything?
TNBui hoang thai Ngoc
Muggeridge’s take on the dangers of credulity really hits home. It’s not just about not believing in God, but the idea that in the absence of structure, people are more vulnerable to believing anything that promises certainty. What happens when we stop questioning our beliefs and let them be defined by others? I wonder how we can cultivate a society that values critical thinking and discernment over accepting anything without question.
HVThi Hoa Vo
This quote makes me think about how society has shifted from belief in something structured, like religion or philosophy, to a more fragmented, anything-goes mindset. It’s unsettling to think that when we abandon one belief system, we often latch onto another, without considering whether it’s based on truth or just a new form of manipulation. How do we develop a healthy skepticism that helps us avoid falling into this trap of credulity?