In religion and politics, people's belief's and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.
Question with boldness even the existence of a god.
History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.
I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.
In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.
Let us with Caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.
Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can exist apart from religious principle.
The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.
I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do, because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
Naturally, the common people don't want war ... but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.
The Bible has noble poetry in it... and some good morals and a wealth of obscenity, and upwards of a thousand lies.
or simply:
