#belief

[S]he believed that the Buddhists were right–that if you want, you will suffer; if you love, you will grieve. (68) ↗

— Anne Lamott

#buddhism #desire #grief #love #suffering

What is it that makes a person insist passionately on the existence of metaphysical realities that can be neither demonstrated nor refuted? (176) ↗

— Stephen Batchelor

#belief #disbelief #metaphysics #reality #theism

I'm not a believer in predetermined fates, being rewarded for one's efforts. I'm not a believer in karma. The reason why I try to be a good person is because I think it's the right thing to do. If I commit fewer bad acts there will be fewer bad acts, maybe other people will join in committing fewer bad acts, and in time there will be fewer and fewer of them. ↗

— Daniel Handler

#fate #goodness #karma #karma

It is the philosophers, theologians, and evangelists who are said to be filled with pride and bigotry due to the strong convictions that they represent. On the contrary, teachings can be either taken or dismissed; whereas voting is the only thing the average person can do to force everyone to live how they would prefer. A simple vote is among the largest yet most acceptable forms of bigotry, and that is because people play the card only when they feel that in doing so it conveniences themselves. ↗

— Criss Jami

#bigotry #convenience #convictions #evangelists #hypocrisy

We all ought to understand we're on our own. Believing in Santa Claus doesn't do kids any harm for a few years but it isn't smart for them to continue waiting all their lives for him to come down the chimney with something wonderful. Santa Claus and God are cousins. ↗

— Andy Rooney

#atheism #belief #beliefs #god #gods

I touched the small sacred images. I shook my head and bit my lip, as if to say, How awful that he should have stolen these! But I also found it very funny. And further proof that God had no power over me. ↗

— Anne Rice

#religion #vampires #funny

If you have to say or do something controversial, aim so that people will hate that they love it and not love that they hate it. ↗

— Criss Jami

#belief #controversial #controversy #debating #difference

Hope is a fire more ravenous than the flames of temptation.  For if only a portion of it poisons your veins, it is enough to make you stand against ridiculous odds again and again and again. ↗

— Richelle E. Goodrich

#desire #hope #richelle #richelle-goodrich #temptation

As Christians it is not just for us to know what we believe, but why we believe it". ~R. Alan Woods [2012] ↗

— R. Alan Woods

#beliefs #r-alan-woods #r-alan-woods

The last thing I heard before falling asleep was, "Everything is okay now." No matter how much I wanted to believe Stellan, I knew he was terribly wrong. ↗

— Markelle Grabo

#elves #love #wrong #love