Best Religious Traditions Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings

“It is a dangerous business to compare sufferings, and generally an unproductive enterprise. Yet compare we must, because most people assume that anymal suffering is somehow lesser—or of less importance—than the suffering of human beings . Why would human suffering be of greater moral or spiritual importance than anymal suffering? Not one of the world’s largest religious traditions teaches that anymals are of lesser importance, or that their suffering might be overlooked while we remedy problems that are more central to human needs and wants. On the contrary—religious traditions hold human beings accountable for their actions with regard to anymals. Nonetheless, the assumption that it is right for humanity to focus social justice energy first and foremost on human beings persists in at least some religious communities. As a result, people turn a blind eye to factory farming and other horrendously cruel, life-destroying industries, and even continue to support these industries with their consumer dollars.”

Suffering Comparison Factory Farming Religious Traditions Speciesism Ethics And Morality Anymals Industries Comparative Religions Religious Ethics

Book:Animals and World Religions

Source: Animals and World Religions

“It's an ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition," Polly began, "the mixing of two ideas---one from earliest Christian times, the other from long before. The first Christians used to follow the custom of 'waking' a new church by singing, feasting, and praying in it." Jess, disappointed: "But that's not got nothing to do with a dead body." "I'm not finished yet." Jess mimed zipping her lips. "The other tradition I mentioned is much older. Long before the Christians came to Britain, an all-night vigil would be held over the body of the recently dead. Loved ones would mourn and chant and share stories of the person's life. It was called 'waking the dead'." Jess felt her eyes widen involuntarily as he thoughts went to Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, to Cathy's ghost haunting Withering Heights. "You mean they brought them back to life?" "Well, no." "But you said---" "Back then, the word 'wake' didn't mean to become alert; it meant 'to watch' or 'to guard'." "But what were they guarding against?" "There were those who believed the newly dead soul was at risk of theft by evil spirits." Soul theft at the hands of evil spirits had been almost as exciting as bringing the dead back to life.”

Religious Traditions Evil Spirits Wake Protecting Loved Ones

Book:Homecoming

Source: Homecoming

“It's an ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition," Polly began, "the mixing of two ideas---one from earliest Christian times, the other from long before. The first Christians used to follow the custom of 'waking' a new church by singing, feasting, and praying in it." Jess, disappointed: "But that's got nothing to do with a dead body." "I'm not finished yet." Jess mimed zipping her lips. "The other tradition I mentioned is much older. Long before the Christians came to Britain, an all-night vigil would be held over the body of the recently dead. Loved ones would mourn and chant and share stories of the person's life. It was called 'waking the dead'." Jess felt her eyes widen involuntarily as her thoughts went to Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, to Cathy's ghost haunting Wuthering Heights. "You mean they brought them back to life?" "Well, no." "But you said---" "Back then, the word 'wake' didn't mean to become alert; it meant 'to watch' or 'to guard'." "But what were they guarding against?" "There were those who believed the newly dead soul was at risk of theft by evil spirits." Soul theft at the hands of evil spirits had been almost as exciting as bringing the dead back to life.”

Religious Traditions Evil Spirits Wake Protecting Loved Ones

Book:Homecoming

Source: Homecoming

“Religions are full of rituals, drama, costumes, use of the elements (particularly, fire and water), and stories. Humans are essentially story-tellers and drama-performers. It helps them connect to their right-brain functions of creativity, emotion, intuition, imagination, expression, and innovative thinking.”

Stories Religion Church Creativity Expression Intuition Theatre Religious Traditions Spiritual Traditions

Author:Donna Goddard

“Easter occurs on different dates each year because, like the Jewish Passover, it is based upon the vernal equinox, that dramatic moment when the hours of the day-light and the hours of darkness at last draw parallel and then the light finally and triumphantly wins out. Thus Easter is always fixed as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. It's a cosmic, solar, and lunar event as deeply rooted in religious traditions originating from sun-god worship as one could conceivably imagine.”

“Remarkable is the greater openness of the Catholic Church towards people of other religious traditions and persuasions. The development has not been without problems, since some people have resisted it and others have pushed openness beyond the desirable point.”

People Problem Church Religious Greater Development Tradition Catholic Remarkable Openness Persuasion Desirable Catholic Church Religious Traditions

Author:Francis Arinze

“Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter.”

Giving Mind May Helping Feelings Obstacles Ease Encounters Insecurity Remove Cultivating Religious Traditions

Book:In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

Source: In My Own Words: An Introduction to My Teachings and Philosophy

“We can't really waste our time; we have to see that we are all in the same boat and that different religious traditions point in the same direction, and now let's get moving together, doing something for peace.”

Different Together Moving Religious Waste Tradition Boat Our Time Religious Traditions Get Moving

Author:David Steindl-Rast

“Every time that a man has, with a pure heart, called upon Osiris, Dionysus, Buddha, the Tao, etc., the Son of God has answered him by sending the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit has acted upon his soul, not by inciting him to abandon his religious tradition, but by bestowing upon him light. It is, therefore, useless to send out missions to prevail upon the peoples of Asia, Africa or Oceania to enter the Church.”

Men Heart Soul Light Spirit Church Religious Son Holy Pure Tradition Missions Useless Holy Spirit Etc Abandon Asia Tao Pure Heart Religious Traditions Dionysus Osiris Oceania

Author:Simone Weil

“Tantra is non-dogmatic, in the sense that we don't care about the sensual world; we don't care about other religious traditions. To not care doesn't mean that we don't learn.”

World Mean Philosophy Care Religious Tradition Don't Care Sensual Dogmatic Tantra Religious Traditions

Author:Frederick Lenz

“Religious traditions hold enormous value, extraordinary wisdom, breathtaking insights into the human experience, but they are limited to the degree that there has not been a new theological idea expressed by any of the major religions for thousands of years.”

Years Humans Ideas Values Religious Degrees Majors Tradition Extraordinary Insight Enormous Human Experience Theological Breathtaking Religious Traditions

Author:Neale Donald Walsch

“Those who like myself, consider themselves to be followers of Buddha, should practice as much as we can. To followers of other religious traditions, I would like to say, 'Please practice your own religion seriously and sincerely.' And to non-believers, I request you to try to be warm-hearted. I ask this of you because these mental attitudes actually bring us happiness.”

Should Trying Asks Religious Attitude Practice Please Tradition Warm Believer Followers Sincerely Hearted Request Mental Attitude Religious Traditions Non Believer Warm Hearted

Author:Dalai Lama

“We are beset by problems and if we look for their source, we find they arise because of our selfishness, because we tend to pursue our own interests at the expense of others. Our various religious traditions exist to help us reduce these problems. They all teach ways to overcome suffering through cultivating love and compassion, tolerance, patience and contentment.”

“A very enjoyable meditation on the curious thing called 'Zen' -not the Japanese religious tradition but rather the Western clich of Zen that is embraced in advertising, self-help books, and much more. . . . Yamada, who is both a scholar of Buddhism and a student of archery, offers refreshing insight into Western stereotypes of Japan and Japanese culture, and how these are received in Japan.”

“They recite their sacred books, although the fact informs me that these are a fiction from first to last. O Reason, thou (alone) speakest the truth. Then perish the fools who forged the (religious) traditions or interpreted them!”

Firsts Book Reason Facts Lasts Religious Fiction Fool Tradition Sacred Forged Religious Traditions

Author:Al-Maʿarri

“I'm more often confronted by women who come from religious traditions and don't feel that they have a place in the feminist movement. I've felt pressure when reporters asked me, "Do you believe in God?" I do say, "No. I believe in people."”

People Feels Believe I Believe Felt Religious Movement Tradition Pressure Feminist I Believe In Believe In God Reporters Religious Traditions Feminist Movement

Author:Gloria Steinem

“The history of our nation is intertwined with a certain religious tradition, and that the First Amendment was not intended to result in the complete exclusion of religious beliefs from our public classrooms.”

Firsts Christian Certain Belief Nations Religious Results Tradition Classroom Amendments First Amendment Religious Belief Exclusion Intertwined Religious Traditions

Book:The De-valuing of America: The Fight for Our Culture and Our Children

Source: The De-valuing of America: The Fight for Our Culture and Our Children

“It's always been you know, religion that has been the primary impediment to actual relationship with God, because it creates a mythology about performance -- that you can perform your way into the appeasement of the deity. And you know, when you're born inside the cultural framework that I was, and you're born inside the religious traditions that I was, that becomes your understanding of spirituality: That it's about trying to please God. So, it's really not about God at all; it's about our ability to perform according to whatever the expectations are.”

“Phil Cousineau has created a fine companion book to accompany the important film he and Gary Rhine have made in defense of the religious traditions of Native Americans. [Native Americans] are recognized the world over as keepers of a vital piece of the Creator's original orders, and yet they are regarded as little more than squatters at home. This book features impressive interviews, beautiful illustrations, and gives a voice to the voiceless.”

“I never intended to be a historian of religion. My aim was to become a professor of English Literature in a university, but I had a series of absolute career disasters and found myself making television programs about the nature of religion and about Christian history and started to discover about other religious traditions, and that was an absolute eye-opener for me.”

Eye Christian Found Literature Religious Careers Television Program Tradition Absolutes Aim Series University Disaster Professors Historian English Literature Religious Traditions

Author:Karen Armstrong

“It is still an act of academic heresy to regard Egypt as the cradle of civilization and originator of Jewish and Christian religious traditions.”

Stills Christian Religious Civilization Tradition Regard Academic Egypt Cradle Heresy Religious Traditions

Author:Michael Tsarion

“The critical question is how a religious tradition is interpreted. Is it interpreted in ways that are pro-human rights or in ways that are a throwback to the Dark Ages?”

Way Humans Age Religious Dark Rights Tradition Human Rights Critical Dark Ages Religious Traditions Throwback

Author:Khaled Abou El Fadl

“Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger.”

Hard Determination Appreciate Hard Times Inner Strength Uselessness Religious Traditions Peace And Tolerance

Book:How to Be Compassionate: A Handbook for Creating Inner Peace and a Happier World

Source: How to Be Compassionate: A Handbook for Creating Inner Peace and a Happier World

“Sometimes religion becomes yet another source for more division and even open conflict. Because of that situation, I feel the different religious traditions have a great responsibility to provide peace of mind and a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood among humanity.”

Feels Mind Different Sometimes Humanity Religious Responsibility Situation Source Conflict Tradition Peace Of Mind Division Brotherhood Sisterhood Religious Traditions Great Responsibility

Author:Dalai Lama

“We need to employ a secular approach to ethics, secular in the Indian sense of respecting all religious traditions and even the views of non-believers in an unbiased way. Secular ethics rooted in scientific findings, common experience and common sense can easily be introduced into the secular education system. If we can do that there is a real prospect of making this 21st century an era of peace and compassion.”

“Even before 9/11 I was gripped by a sense of dread: our lack of criticism about what we were doing in the Middle East - the slagging off of a whole religious tradition.”

Whole Religious Middle Tradition Criticism East Middle East Dread Religious Traditions

Author:Karen Armstrong

“I then greet and cordially thank you all, dear friends belonging to other religious traditions; first of all the Muslims, who worship the one God, living and merciful, and call upon Him in prayer, and all of you. I really appreciate your presence: in it I see a tangible sign of the will to grow in mutual esteem and cooperation for the common good of humanity.”

“One can be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ without denying the flickers of the sacred in followers of Yahweh, or Kali, or Krishna. A globalization of evangelism 'in connection' with others, and a globally 'in-formed' gospel, is capable of talking across the fence with Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim - people from other so called 'new' religious traditions ('new' only to us) - without assumption of superiority and power”

“We must embrace our differences, even celebrate our diversity. We must glory in the fact that God created each of us as unique human beings. God created us different, but God did not create us for separation. God created us different that we might recognize our need for one another. We must reverence our uniqueness, reverence everything that makes us what we are: our language, our culture, our religious tradition.”

“The whole immigration issue suggests the inevitability of people in our time seeking economic security that they can't find at home, which usually involves bringing their religion with them. One's children are going to be married to people outside their religious traditions as well as inside.”

People Wells Children Whole Home Religious Issues Economic Security Married Tradition Seeking Immigration Our Time Being Married Inevitability Religious Traditions Economic Security

Author:Thomas Keating

“There are some religious traditions that view human beings as participants in creation. This is true of the Jewish tradition, from which I come.”

Humans Religious Human Beings Views Creation Tradition Participants Religious Traditions Jewish Tradition

Author:Michael Sandel

“It's true that to speak of an ethic of giftedness, which is very much the ethic that I deploy in raising questions about designer children and genetic engineering - an appreciation of the giftedness of the child or the giftedness of life does have religious resonance, because a great many religious traditions emphasize the sense in which the good things in life are not all our own doing; they are gifts from God.”

Children Doe Speak Religious Ethics Tradition Good Things Appreciation Designer Great Men Engineering Things In Life Gift From God Resonance Religious Traditions Genetic Engineering Giftedness Good Things In Life

Author:Michael Sandel

“The point for me is people who are atheists or are coming from different religious traditions; they are coming from their own sources and specific roots. We should analyze these.”

People Should Different Religious Source Tradition Roots Atheist Religious Traditions

Author:Tariq Ramadan

“Once you're in a kind of revealed religious tradition, you wind up having to explain how the things said about God in the Bible or the Qur'an or whatever religious text you're dealing with, why these statements are true.”

Kind Said Religious Wind Tradition Statements Religious Traditions Religious Texts

Author:Peter Adamson

“[Tibet] is a small country based on religious principle, religious traditions. It never wanted any conquest.”

Country Wanted Religious Principles Tradition Conquest Tibet Religious Traditions Small Countries

Author:Elie Wiesel

“A great deal of what is being published by writers in the religious tradition is a scandal and is actually turning people away from the church. The liberal writers who are continually accommodating and whittling down the truth of the Gospel are responsible.”

People Church Religious Deals Tradition Responsible Scandal Religious Traditions Whittling

Author:C. S. Lewis

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.”

Ifs Life Inspirational Helping Wisdom Motivational Life Is Purpose Peace Goal Community Hurt Healing Humility Emotional Life Philosophy Buddhism Wise Words Words Of Wisdom Aim Caring Helping Others Buddhist This Life Meaning Of Life Holiness Prime Purpose Of Life Compassionate Volunteer Selflessness Comforting Monk Wise Man Once Said Service To Others Hurt Feelings Intricate Helping Hand Tibetan Facilitate Kindness And Compassion Meaning Life Tibet Being Hurt Been Hurt Helpfulness Religious Traditions Getting Hurt Compassion For Others Be Kind To Others Helping Others In Need Common Purpose Hurting Others Hurting People What Is The Meaning Of Life Hurt So Much Daily Buddhist Being Generous Got Hurt Hurting You Purpose And Meaning Hurt My Feelings Peace And Tolerance Others Helping You Greater Purpose Inspirational Healing What Is The Purpose Of Life I Was Hurt Silence And Peace Life Is Pain Hurt And Pain Our Purpose In Life I Hurt You Hurt Pain I Am Hurt He Hurt Me

Author:Dalai Lama

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.”

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”

“Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.”

Inspirational Real Peace Meditation Possibility Ignorance Masters Yoga Stupidity Karma Wellness Owners Tibet Religious Traditions Stupidity And Ignorance World Peace Day

Author:Dalai Lama

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.”

Love Life Inspirational Humans Religion Friendship Meditation Survival Yoga Affection Holiness Inspirational Love Tibetan Tibet Religious Traditions Love And Affection Human Compassion Daily Buddhist

Author:Dalai Lama

“A kernel of truth lurks at the heart of religion, because spiritual experience, ethical behavior, and strong communities are essential for human happiness. And yet our religious traditions are intellectually defunct and politically ruinous. While spiritual experience is clearly a natural propensity of the human mind, we need not believe anything on insufficient evidence to actualize it.”

Source: The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

“The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts.”

Life Heart Bigs Spiritual Purpose Religion Religious Compassion Goodness Majors Tradition Buddhist Temples Constructs Religious Traditions Peace And Tolerance

Book:The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus

Source: The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus

“A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals the secret of some hidden treasure.”

Ifs Life Inspirational Evil Secret Mistake Treasure Imperfection Good Friend Rebuke Religious Traditions Wise Buddhist Hidden Treasure Human Compassion Real Buddhist Peace And Tolerance

Author:Dalai Lama

“I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness.”

Thinking Life Inspirational Believe Happiness Life Is Purpose Religion I Believe Our Lives Seeking Something Better Religious Traditions Seeking Happiness

Author:Dalai Lama

“Hard times build determination and inner strength. Through them we can also come to appreciate the uselessness of anger. Instead of getting angry nurture a deep caring and respect for troublemakers because by creating such trying circumstances they provide us with invaluable opportunities to practice tolerance and patience.”

Source: How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life

“It is this mythical, or rather symbolic, content of the religious traditions which is likely to come into conflict with science. This occurs whenever this religious stock of ideas contains dogmatically fixed statements on subjects which belong in the domain of science.”

Ideas Religion Religious Subjects Conflict Tradition Statements Fixed Science And Religion Domain Symbolic Religious Traditions

Book:Ideas and Opinions

Source: Ideas and Opinions

Religious Traditions Quotes

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Religious Traditions Quotes