Those who are used to a clergy take very lightly those who do not have a formal divinity degree: like read more

Those who are used to a clergy take very lightly those who do not have a formal divinity degree: like Paul and Peter and James and John.

There's naught, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and
true religion.

There's naught, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and
true religion.

All religions are founded on the fear of the many and the cleverness of the few.

All religions are founded on the fear of the many and the cleverness of the few.

Morality, when vigorously alive, sees farther than intellect, and
provides unconsciously for intellectual difficulties.

Morality, when vigorously alive, sees farther than intellect, and
provides unconsciously for intellectual difficulties.

So 'ere the storm of war broke out,
Religion spawn'd a various rout
Of petulant capricious sects,
read more

So 'ere the storm of war broke out,
Religion spawn'd a various rout
Of petulant capricious sects,
That maggots of corrupted texts,
That first run all religion down,
And after every swarm its own.

Synods are mystical Bear-gardens.
Where Elders, Deputies, Church-wardens,
And other Members of the Court,
read more

Synods are mystical Bear-gardens.
Where Elders, Deputies, Church-wardens,
And other Members of the Court,
Manage the Babylonish sport.

All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.

All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.

Moral codes adjust themselves to environmental conditions.

Moral codes adjust themselves to environmental conditions.

The word morality, if we met it in the Bible, would surprise us
as much as the word telephone read more

The word morality, if we met it in the Bible, would surprise us
as much as the word telephone or motor car.