“A ground frequently taken by Christian theologians is that the progress and civilization of the world are due to Christianity; and the discussion is complicated by the fact that many eminent servants of humanity have been nominal Christians, of one or other of the sects. My allegation will be that the special services rendered to human progress by these exceptional men have not been in consequence of their adhesion to Christianity, but in spite of it, and that the specific points of advantage to human kind have been in ratio of their direct opposition to precise Biblical enactments.” MenWorldHumansKindHas BeensFactsChristianHumanityChristianityTakenProgressAtheismSpecialCivilizationConsequenceAdvantageDirectComplicatedPositive AtheismDuesDiscussionServantSpiteOppositionBiblicalPreciseTheologianExceptionalSectsRatiosHuman ProgressAllegations Book:Has Humanity Gained from Unbelief?: Two Nights Debate Between Marsden Gibson and Charles Bradlaugh at Newcastle-on-Tyne Source: Has Humanity Gained from Unbelief?: Two Nights Debate Between Marsden Gibson and Charles Bradlaugh at Newcastle-on-Tyne
“Good action and thoughts produce consequences which tend to neutralize, or put a stop to, the result of evil thoughts and actions. For as we give up the life of self (and note that, like forgiveness, repentance and humility are also special cases of giving), as we abandon what the German mystics called "the I, me, mine," we make ourselves progressively capable of receiving grace. By grace we are enabled to know reality more completely, and this knowledge of reality helps us to give up more of the life of selfhood - and so on, in a mounting spiral of illumination and regeneration.” KnowsGivingSelfHelpingRealityActionEvilResultsCasesGraceSpecialProduceHumilityMinesGiving UpCapableConsequenceNotesAbandonRepentanceReceivingIlluminationSpiralsRegenerationThoughts And ActionsGood ActionsEvil Thoughts Author:Aldous Huxley
“I believe that it is made out of the same cloth of mind, but it is an add-on, it was something that was specialized to create what we call the self. And it exists for very special purposes and it has very special, and I think by and large good consequences, although not only good consequences.” ThinkingMindBelieveMadeSelfPurposeI BelieveSpecialConsequenceAdd Author:Antonio Damasio
“The beam in our own eye is harder to detect, although - or more accurately because - to detect it, and remove it, is vastly more important on elementary moral grounds, and commonly more important in terms of direct human consequences as well. Intellectuals have historically played a critical function in performing these tasks, and [Ivan] Illich is right to observe that claims to scientific expertise and special knowledge are often used as a device.” HumansWellsImportantEyeUsedTermMoralSpecialConsequenceTasksDirectFunctionClaimsHarderCriticalPerformingRemoveDevicesExpertiseBeam Author:Noam Chomsky
“I have a new theory of history, which is certain things happen because they seem like a good idea at the time. And suburbia seemed like a good idea at the time, but it was a special time and place in history, with special dynamics. And now, we're going to have to live with the consequences of that. And the consequences will be tragic.” SpecialConsequenceThings HappenTragicSuburbia Author:James Howard Kunstler
“We all have prejudices to dispel: the need to get away from thinking that 'I' am important and special and 'you' are not, and the frightened mindset that tells us that certain 'others' are of no consequence.” ThinkingNeedsImportantCertainSpecialConsequencePrejudiceMindsetGet AwayFrightenedNeed To Get Away Author:Ingrid Newkirk
“Among the more irritating consequences of our flagrantly religious society is the special dispensation that mainstream religions receive. We all may talk about religion as a powerful social force, but unlike other similarly powerful institutions, religion is not to be questioned, criticized or mocked.” MayForceSocialReligiousPowerfulSpecialConsequenceInstitutionsAtheistPositive AtheismMainstreamIrritating Author:Natalie Angier