Credo quia absurdum est

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Credo quia absurdum est (Lat., ‘I believe because it is absurd’). A saying frequently used to mock the ‘credulity’ or dogmatic irrationality of religious believers. The saying is sometimes attributed to Tertullian, though his nearest statement has a different nuance: ‘Et mortuus est Dei Filius; prorsus credibile, quia ineptum est’ (in paraphrase, so paradoxical is it to say that the Son of God has died that it would have to be a matter of belief). Such a saying does not preclude the recognition of rational support or reasons making evident what has evoked the statement: cf. ANSELM. It appears also in the form, ‘credo quia impossibile est’.