#eli

Religion is nothing but institutionalized mysticism. The catch is, mysticism does not lend itself to institutionalization. The moment we attempt to organize mysticism, we destroy its essence. Religion, then, is mysticism in which the mystical has been killed. Or, at least diminished. ↗

— Tom Robbins

#mystical #mysticism #religion #religion

I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting or troubling myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#skepticism #religion

The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#religion #religion

The Rooneys are very classy. They're very deliberate with their decision-making. Once you're part of that family, Steeler nation, they treat you with respect. You don't have a lot of rambunctious players running around. ↗

— Tony Dorsett

#classy #decision-making #deliberate #family #lot

It will not do to investigate the subject of religion too closely, as it is apt to lead to infidelity. ↗

— Abraham Lincoln

#history #lincoln #religion

If people want to compete for leadership of a religious group, they can compete in piety. A chilling thought. Or funny. ↗

— Mary Douglas

#compete #funny #group #leadership #people

Inside a religious body you get sects and hierarchies, inside an information network you get bazaars and cathedrals, it is the same, call them what you like. They survive by pointing the finger of blame at each other. ↗

— Mary Douglas

#body #call #cathedrals #each #finger

It's unlikely that the organized religions will get more sectarian... or is it? I am not at all sure. ↗

— Mary Douglas

#get #i #i am #more #organized

Religion can make it worse. Are you supposing that if people were encouraged to believe in a transcendent reality, and to be encouraged by grand rituals and music and preaching, to love their neighbors, then they would put jealousy and frustration aside? ↗

— Mary Douglas

#believe #encouraged #frustration #grand #jealousy

Some scholars have been arguing that a civilizational clash between organized religions is the next step in human history. ↗

— Mary Douglas

#been #between #clash #history #human