Quotes

Peace,
Here are some quotes from 'abroad' that express what we teach.

If Christ were here there is one thing he would not be -- a Christian.
-- Mark Twain, Notebook


I want nothing to do with any religion concerned with keeping the masses satisfied to live in hunger, filth, and ignorance. I want nothing to do with any order, religious or otherwise, which does not teach people that they are capable of becoming happier and more civilized, on this earth, capable of becoming true man, master of his fate and captain of his soul. To attain this I would put priests to work, also, and turn the temples into schools.
-- Jawaharlal Nehru, in Edgar Snow, Journey to the Beginning, from James A. Haught, ed., 2000 Years of

I dont agree with those who think that the conflict is simply between two religions, namely Christianity and Islam.... To me, the key conflict is between irrational blind faith and rational, logical minds.
-- Taslima Nasrin, Interview in Free Inquiry magazine, winter 1998-1999, Vol. 19. No. 1

There is but one thing of real value -- to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.
-- Marcus Aurelius, from W. E. H. Lecky, History of European Morals (Vol I. p. 106); quoted from Joseph Lewis The Ten Commandments (p. 572)

I cannot comprehend how any man can want anything but the truth.
-- Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations

He who has made great moral progress ceases to pray.
-- Immanuel Kant, from Rufus K. Noyes, Views of Religion, quoted from James A. Haught, ed., 2000 Years of Disbelief

You never see animals going through the absurd and often horrible fooleries of magic and religion.... Dogs do not ritually urinate in the hope of persuading heaven to do the same and send down rain. Asses do not bray a liturgy to cloudless skies. Nor do cats attempt, by abstinence from cat's meat, to wheedle the feline spirits into benevolence. Only man behaves with such gratuitous folly. It is the price he has to pay for being intelligent but not, as yet, quite intelligent enough.
-- Aldous Huxley, Texts and Pretexts, "Amor Fati," quoted from The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations

Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
-- Aldous Huxley (attributed: source unknown), quoted from John Stear, No Answers in Genesis

History does not record anywhere or at any time a religion that has any rational basis. Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff, most people do have a religion and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it.
-- Robert A. Heinlein: Lazarus Long in Time Enough for Love, quoted from Famous Dead Non-Theist

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
-- Albert Einstein, "Religion and Science," New York Times Magazine, 9 November 1930

I credit that eight years of grammar school with nourishing me in a direction where I could trust myself and trust my instincts. They gave me the tools to reject my faith. They taught me to question and think for myself and to believe in my instincts to such an extent that I just said, "This is a wonderful fairy tale they have going here, but it's not for me."
-- George Carlin, in the New York Times, August 20, 1995

What the mind doesn’t understand it worships or fears
-- Alice Walker

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
-- George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims for Revolutionists: Liberty and Equality" (1903)

Science becomes dangerous only when it imagines that it has reached its goal.
-- George Bernard Shaw, The Doctor's Dilemma, Preface, "The Latest Theories" (1911)
Education: A succession of eye-openers each involving the repudiation of some previously held belief.
-- George Bernard Shaw (attributed: source unknown)

Common people do not pray; they only beg.
-- George Bernard Shaw, Misalliance (1910)

Peace