“The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion.” HumansWellsMaySelfReasonFightingBeliefReligiousHuman BeingsAnimalResultsViewsAwarenessBehaviorImportanceIndependenceAssumingSpeciesGuidesKingdomsCharacteristicsDestructiveDelusionNo ReasonConformityTerritoryTraitsWarfareStubbornExtinctionSelf DestructiveConformistAnimal Kingdom Book:The Lost World Source: The Lost World
“To abdicate from the rule of reason and substitute for it an authentication of belief by the intentness and degree of conviction with which we hold it can be perilous and destructive. Religious beliefs give a spurious spiritual dimension to tribal enmities.” GivingReasonSpiritualBeliefReligiousAtheismDegreesConvictionDimensionsDestructiveSubstitutesReligious BeliefEnmitySpiritual Dimensions Author:Peter Medawar
“[U]nless a woman is held, by man, safe within the bounds of belief, she becomes inevitably a destructive force.” MenBeliefForceWomenSafeBoundsDestructive Book:Studies in Classic American Literature Source: Studies in Classic American Literature
“I find most famous Christians to be full of themselves and of prejudice and self-loathing, masquerading as devout religious belief. I find all fundamentalism to be terrifying and very destructive.” SelfChristianBeliefReligiousPrejudiceDestructiveFundamentalismLoathingReligious BeliefSelf Loathing Author:Anne Lamott
“Yes, the kingdom of Christianity and the Church has been one of the most destructive forces in history, and there are levels of bastardization of religious beliefs. But the unique thing about Christianity is that it is so amorphous and not reductive to culture or place or anything. It's extremely malleable.” Has BeensCultureBeliefForceChurchReligiousLevelsChristianityUniqueKingdomsDestructiveReligious BeliefUnique Things Author:Sufjan Stevens