---
name: "Salman Rushdie on Religion and Criticism"
date: 2026-06-21
link: "https://wordsmith.org/words/pulchritudinous.html"
linkText: "wordsmith.org"
source: "A.Word.A.Day"
topics: [quotes]
tags: [free-speech, religion, courage, awad]
description: "On why ideas, including religions, deserve criticism."
---

> "Respect for religion" has become a code phrase meaning "fear of religion." Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.

— Salman Rushdie, writer (b. 19 June 1947). A.Word.A.Day Thought for Today, on Rushdie's birthday.