Religion

Church tax exemption means that we all drop our money in the collection boxes, whether we go to church or not and whether we are interested in the church or not. It is systematic and complete robbery, from which none of us escapes. – E. Haldeman-Julius, The Church Is a Burden, Not a Benefit, In Social Life

Instead of being born again, why not just grow up? – Author Unknown

The point is, could God pass an examination in Theology? – Malcolm Muggeridge

Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams â€” they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do â€” they all contain truths. – Muhammad Ali

A long and wicked life followed by five minutes of perfect grace gets you into Heaven. An equally long life of decent living and good works followed by one outburst of taking the name of the Lord in vain â€” then have a heart attack at that moment and be damned for eternity. Is that the system? – Robert A. Heinlein

I like to browse in occult bookshops if for no other reason than to refresh my commitment to science. – Heinz Pagels, The Dreams of Reason

Merry Christmas v. Happy Holidays… Why be exclusive when you can be inclusive? – S.A. Sachs

No rage is equal to the rage of a contented right-thinking man when he is confronted in the marketplace by an idea which belongs in the pulpit. – Thurman W. Arnold

The myths about Hades and the gods, though they are pure invention, help to make men virtuous. – Diodorus Siculus, c.20BC

Religion seems to have a way of making people abandon logic. – Amanda Baxter, 1998

Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need forgiveness. – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

God has always resembled his creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved and he was invariably found on the side of those in power. – Robert G. Ingersoll

[A]ll deities reside in the human breast. – William Blake, “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell”

Nature wants us to enjoy life to the full and die without giving it a second thought; Christianity wants the opposite. – Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, Les Cahiers

On passing a revivalist tabernacle — The call of Christ requires no neon sign. – Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962)

Most men would kill the truth if truth would kill their religion. – Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays

No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means. – George Bernard Shaw

Most of us spend the first six days of each week sowing wild oats, then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure. – Fred Allen

A dogma will thrive in soil where the truth could not get root. – Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays

Where would Christianity be if Jesus got eight to fifteen years with time off for good behavior? – James Donovan