"In all the antique religions, mythology takes the place of dogma; that is, the sacred lore of priests and people... and these stories afford the only explanation that is offered of the precepts of religion and the prescribed rules of ritual"
- William Robertson Smith
About this Quote
This quote by William Robertson Smith suggests that in ancient faiths, mythology was utilized to explain the precepts of religious beliefs and the proposed rules of ritual. This remains in contrast to modern-day religions, which often count on dogma, or a set of beliefs, to describe the exact same. Smith recommends that folklore was the main source of description for ancient faiths, and that these stories were the only description offered. This implies that mythology was seen as a reputable source of knowledge and understanding in ancient religions, and that it was utilized to explain the rules and guidelines of religious practice. This quote highlights the importance of folklore in ancient religions, and how it was used to describe the precepts of religious beliefs and the proposed guidelines of ritual.
"Well, I think any time you delve into this sort of religion, politics, as you well know, you're going to, you know, touch a few nerves. I wasn't - now - and this is the honest truth"
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite"
"War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it"
"It's not just the effect of technology on the environment, on religion, on the economic structure, on society, on politics, etc. It's that everything now exists in technology to the point where technology is the new and comprehensive host of nature of life"
"Art is exalted above religion and race. Not a single solitary soul these days believes in the religions of the Assyrians, the Egyptians and the Greeks... Only their art, whenever it was beautiful, stands proud and exalted, rising above all time"
"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart"
