G-- knows I'm no the thing I should be,
Nor am I even the thing I could be,
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G-- knows I'm no the thing I should be,
Nor am I even the thing I could be,
But twenty times I rather would be
An atheist clean,
Than under gospel colours hid be,
Just for a screen.

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.

Many have quarreled about religion that never practiced it

Many have quarreled about religion that never practiced it

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

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

It is a fine thing to establish one's own religion in one's heart, not to be dependent on tradition and read more

It is a fine thing to establish one's own religion in one's heart, not to be dependent on tradition and second-hand ideals. Life will seem to you, later, not a lesser, but a greater thing.

I won't take my religion from any man who never works except with his mouth.

I won't take my religion from any man who never works except with his mouth.

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he read more

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means

I realized that ritual will always mean throwing away something;
Destroying our corn or wine upon the altar of read more

I realized that ritual will always mean throwing away something;
Destroying our corn or wine upon the altar of our gods.

The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.

The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.