“A religious phenomenon will only be recognized as such if it is grasped at its own level, that is to say, if it is studied as something religious. To try to grasp the essence of such phenomenon by means of physiology, psychology, sociology, economics, linguistics, art or any other study is false; it misses the one unique and irreducible element in it - the element of the sacred.” IfsTryingMeanArtReligiousLevelsStudyPsychologyMissingElementsUniqueEconomicsEssenceSacredPhenomenonSociologyLinguisticsPhysiology Author:Mircea Eliade
“Theism, as a way of conceiving God, has become demonstrably inadequate, and the God of theism not only is dying but is probably not revivable. If the religion of the future depends on keeping alive the definitions of theism, then the human phenomenon that we call religion will have come to an end. If Christianity depends on a theistic definition of God, then we must face the fact that we are watching this noble religious system enter the rigor mortis of its own death throes.” IfsWayHumansEndsFactsFacesReligiousChristianityAliveAtheismDyingDependsDefinitionsPositive AtheismNoblePhenomenonInadequateTheismRigorConceivingRigor Mortis Author:John Shelby Spong
“Most Christmas carols have no obvious religious content, or at least that's noticeable to most people. I mean, it is almost by definition, a cultural phenomenon, all these songs, even though they point to this very religious holiday. They're not religious songs in effect anymore.” PeopleMeanSongReligiousEffectsDefinitionsObviousHolidayPhenomenonCarolsChristmas CarolReligious Holiday Author:Howard Dean