*RELIGION - also see ZEN, BUDDISM, HINDUISM, TAOISM, JUDISM, ISLAMISM, JEHOUA, MORMON, 7th day ADVENTIST, METHODIST, BAPTIST, LUTHERAN, PENECOSTAL, QUAKER, AMISH, SPIRITUALITY, HERESEY
The word 'religion' comes from the Latin verb religare, meaning to 'bind back' or reunite the soul with its Creator. (Yoga, p63)
Many identity the term "religion" with organized system of dogma and sanctions. Psychologist William James defined religion as "the attempt to be in harmony with an unseen order of things (behind the veil of materialism)." (Further, p233) - see Integration, Connectedness
The cradle of religion was ignorance and fear, where a mature, enlightened man must climb out of it. (History of God, p344)
The inner self represents spirituality while the outer world is represented by religion. (http://www.journeywithspirit.com/christianspirituality.htm)
The Garden is a story of humans evolving from the relatively uncomplicated world of animal life to the immensely complicated world of being human and knowing that there is more to life than eating and mating, that there are such things as Good and Evil. Religion is the voice that says, I will guide you through this minefield of difficult moral choices. (How Good, p31)
Religion can make us feel guilty by setting standards for us, but can also welcome us in our imperfection. It can comfort us with the message that God prefers the broken and contrite heart that knows its failures over the complacent and arrogant one that claims never to have erred. The prohets chastised sinners, but the priests welcomed them to the altar. (How Good, p44)
In one church I found a spiritual expression of God's love and in the other, a knowledge of God's plan. Each church fulfills spiritual needs that perhaps others cannot fulfill. No one church can fulfill everybody's needs at every level; there is no "perfect" religion for all of us. We should never criticize any church or faith where people are seeking God. (Awakening, p41)
Religion starts with the perception that something is wrong (Hist, p32).
All religions change and develop. If they do not, they will become obsolete (Hist, p84).
Religion is "the sigh of the oppresses creature...the optium of the people, which made this suffering bearable." (Karl Marx, Hist, p354)
Religion makes us aware of our finite nature; [and gives us] all hope that the injustice of the world will not be the last word. (Hist, p389)
Men should be changed by Religion, not Religion by men. (Bishop of Viterbo, Rebld, p118)
Religion is the opiate of the people (Karl Marx)