After posting some Bible quotes, I thought it only fair to give the Atheists a chance of a rebuttal. So I’ve gathered together some of my favorite quotes on religion from some of the great thinkers of the recent, and not so recent past.
What I like about these quotes is that they are mostly logical, from logical thinkers. While logical thinking, and a total commitment to logical thinking, may not be entirely ideal, it’s certainly better than blind faith.
The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.
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.
Insanity in individuals is something rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule.
If you talk to God, you are praying. If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia.
We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes.
Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.
Are there any quotes you would add to this list? If you had to give a one sentence sound bite on religion, what would it be?
Source: Vagabox Picture of Einstein: Oren Turner 1947
My favorite from Douglas N. Adams:
Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
That’s a fantastic quote from the great Douglas Adams. I’m grateful for you posting it here.
Albert Einstein believed in God.
That’s not strictly true, Chrissy. There are conflicting reports regarding Einstein’s religious beliefs. What is certain is that he did not believe in a God as worshipped by the Christian Religion. It has been suggested that his beliefs were more in line with Baruch Spinoza’s but it was only ever really mentioned in passing.
And while Einstein may have believed in a god, it’s not the God. This post covers some famous quotes from wise and logical people (I’d whole heartedly recommend reading Einstein’s work, specifically The World as I See it, to get a better handle on his actual beliefs), not Atheists.
Also, if you’d like to read some more Einstein quotes on religion, this page is a good place to start (for balance, if nothing else).
http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/einstein.htm
Thank you for the references. I will look in to them…It makes no difference to me which religion he was or what characteristics he attributed to God… the point is that he believed in God. With in the context you have here is give the impression that he did not… and that’s false.
i dont like the ones about religion whoever rote it must be rasist
Um…Islamic Girl… I don’t really know where you’re going with that…
Islamic Girl, I’m afraid “pulling the racist card” will not be tolerated here. None of the above quotes are racist in any way shape of form. They are meant to encourage healthy debate, as you can see from multiple comments left on this post and many others on this blog.
Instead of reacting the way you have, I’d suggest reading the quotes and really thinking about what some of the most respected figures in history are saying.
I think this is all very interesting, stumbled across it when googling Einstein quotes. I’m not sure what is meant by “The God” or “The Christian God”, like there are multiple Gods to choose from…
God is all things, the very beautiful nature of our existence and our experience. God is not additional to or outside the world, he is the world and everything in it, us included. So why argue God does not exist? God is all things, the creation of all things, even this funny website. No need to do anything extra. Just appreciate.
“In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point.”
Frederick Neitzchie (i beleive misspelled his last name)