religion - quotes

William Ralph Inge, 1860-1954

was an English author and Anglican prelate

To become a popular religion, it is only necessary for a superstition to enslave a philosohpy.

Charlotte Brontë, 1816-1855

was an English novelist

Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last.

Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet), 1694-1778

was a French author, humanist, rationalist, and satirist

When it is a question of money, everyone is of the same religion.

Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet), 1694-1778

was a French author, humanist, rationalist, and satirist

Since the whole affair had become one of religion, the vanquished were of course exterminated.

Isaac Bashevis Singer, 1904-1991

was an US (Polish-born) Jewish author

Doubt is part of all religion. All the religious thinkers were doubters.

( New York Times Magazine, Mar. 12, 1978 )

Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.

( Letter, 24 March 1954. Quoted in “Albert Einstein: The Human Side,” edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman )

Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.

( Gary Young M.D.'s lecture on chaos theory and Buddhism in Oregon State University on 04/17/03 (SGI-USA) )

Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; 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, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.

Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge.

Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

My religion consists of a humble admiration of the unlimitable superior who reveals Himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.

Albert Einstein, 1879-1955

was an US (German-born) physicist

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

( “Science, Philosophy and Religion: a Symposium”, 1941 )