"Religion did not exist for the saving of souls but for the preservation and welfare of society, and in all that was necessary to this end every man had to take his part, or break with the domestic and political community to which he belonged"
- William Robertson Smith
About this Quote
This quote by William Robertson Smith recommends that religious beliefs was not developed to save souls, however rather to maintain and secure society. He indicates that in order to make sure the welfare of society, everyone must take part in the essential actions, or risk being omitted from the community. This suggests that faith was utilized as a tool to keep people in line and to ensure that everyone was contributing to the higher good. It also indicates that religion was used as a method to preserve social order and to guarantee that everybody was following the exact same set of guidelines. This quote highlights the significance of religion in preserving social order and stability, and how it was used to ensure that everybody was doing their part to add to the higher good.
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