Excerpt #63 from my book, Religion, An Obstacle to Human Progress
“Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
“I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion, and elimination of ignorance, selfishness, and greed.
“For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it’s okay to remain a radical atheist, it’s absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart – then no problem.
“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” – The Dalai Lama
ALTHOUGH OFTEN TARDY, TRUTH EVENTUALLY ARRIVES.
Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to humankind. The moment a person (or government or religion or organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of religion-fueled hate, killing, and oppression is staggering. – Eugene Peterson (from the introduction to the book of Amos in the Bible paraphrase The Message)
IRRATIONALITY IS THE GATEWAY TO CHAOS.
Those who invalidate reason ought seriously to consider whether they argue against reason with or without reason; if with reason, then they establish the principles that they are laboring to dethrone: but if they argue without reason (which, in order to be consistent with themselves they must do), they are out of reach of rational conviction, nor do they deserve a rational argument. – Ethan Allen (quoted from Carl Sagan’s The Demon-Haunted World)