The 40 best religious phrases
What are we, how did we get here, whether or not we have a goal in life and what is it, why we die... All these questions have disturbed us and have prompted our reflection since the antiquity. One of the ways in which humans have tried to answer these questions is through religion.
Faith has been a very important element throughout history whose principles have helped shape our way of thinking and understanding the world. And many have been the historical figures who have carried out different reflections based on their faith.
In this article we will see some of the religious or religion-focused phrases pronounced or written by different important historical figures.
- Related article: "Types of religion (and their differences in beliefs and ideas)"
A forty religious and spiritual phrases
Below we present different phrases and statements made by different historical figures and based on their religious and / or spiritual beliefs.
1. All the great religions are basically the same, as they all seek peace of mind and goodness, but it is very important to practice this in our daily lives. Not just in church or temple
The Dalai Lama He expresses in this sentence that all religions claim to give hope, but that believers should not only base themselves on their precepts at the time of prayer but also on a day-to-day basis.
2. What you don't want for yourself, you don't want for your brothers
This phrase is part of the Jewish Talmud, expressing that we should behave towards others as we would like them to behave towards us.
- You may be interested: "123 wise phrases to reflect on life"
3. Every work of love, carried out with all the heart, will always bring people closer to God.
Maria Teresa of Calcutta would pronounce this phrase, expressing that faith and love go or should go hand in hand.
4. Men who condemn it is because they do not understand
Coming from the Qur'an, this phrase expresses that it is necessary for us to understand each other and not condemn others for thinking or acting differently.
5. Pray as if everything depended on God. Work like everything depends on you
Saint Augustine is the author of this phrase, which reflects that we do not expect them to give us everything done but that we must work to achieve our objectives.
6. It is time to call for a truce between the war between science and spirit. God does not threaten science, He improves it. God is not threatened by science. He made it possible
This phrase was pronounced by Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome project, in an attempt to show that faith and science are not opposites.
7. Religion is in the heart and not in the knees
This phrase by Douglas William Jerrold expresses that religion is not pretending or expressing regret or practicing certain rituals. The important thing is what you really believe.
8. By religion I understand no longer a set of rites and customs, but what is at the origin of all religions, putting us face to face with the Creator
This phrase by Mahatma Gandhi reflects that what is important is not the way in which religious sentiment is given or expressed but its base, shared by all religions.
9. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free
This phrase is part of the Bible, and reflects how knowledge and wisdom allow us to be free.
10. Both the believer and the unbeliever are human beings. We must have great respect for each other
In this phrase of the Dalai Lama it is expressed that regardless of whether or not we believe in the precepts of any religion, we must respect each other regardless of whether our ideas do not correspond or even differ greatly from those of others.
11. Man does not pray to give God an orientation, but to orient himself properly
Again, the author of this phrase was Saint Augustine, expressing the true function of prayer.
12. One faith: here is what is most necessary to man
Victor Hugo is the author of this phrase, which expresses that human beings need something to believe in.
13. No religion is worth a single drop of blood
This phrase is attributed to the Marquis de Sade, who despite his fame saw religion as something that should not cause death.
14. You love your neighbor as yourself
This well-known Bible verse expresses the need to love others.
15. If the believers of the different religions today endeavor to think, judge and act in the spirit of the founders of such religions, then there would be no faith-based hostility believers. And what's more, the differences in matters of faith would become insignificant.
These Albert Einstein quotes make us reflect on the fact that the conflicts between different religions and non-religions are only a product of the dogmatic and biased interpretation that they want to give it, not of the religion itself.
- Related article: "125 Albert Einstein quotes about science and life"
16. We ask for miracles, as if it were not the most obvious miracle that we ask for them
Miguel de Unamuno points out that there is no greater miracle than being alive.
17. In-depth knowledge of religions makes it possible to break down the barriers that separate them
Gandhi proposes that understanding what each religion means makes it easier to better understand the others by delving into its base, which is generally shared among all beliefs.
18. All paths of goodness lead to enlightenment and awakening
Attributed to Buddha, this phrase indicates that it is goodness that leads us to wholeness. It is one of the representative religious phrases of Buddhism.
19. The religious fact, the religious dimension, is not a subculture, it is part of the culture of any people and of any nation
This phrase of Pope Francis expresses his idea that religious beliefs are part of culture of the different towns.
20. The winds of the spirit are blowing. It is you who needs to raise the sails
The Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore left us phrases like this one, in which he highlights the search for spirituality as a means to achieve peace.
21. Who knows himself knows God
This phrase from Muhammad Ali reflects the need to know ourselves. Each of us is part of the world and the universe.
22. Misunderstood religion is a fever that can end in delirium
Voltaire warns us in this sentence against the risk posed by fanaticism or misrepresentation of the faith.
23. If we are not at peace with ourselves, we cannot guide others in the search for peace
This Confucius phrase reflects that we must be able to love and accept ourselves if we want to help others successfully.
- You may be interested: "The 68 best famous phrases of Confucius"
24. Just as a tree has a single root and multiple branches and leaves, there is also only one true and perfect religion, but diversified into many branches by the intervention of men.
Gandhi explained that all existing religions share an intention and the same basis, differing only by the interpretation and approach that is given.
25. The soul has its illusions, like the little bird its wings: they are the ones who hold them
Victor Hugo expresses his conviction that it is illusions and dreams, hopes, which allow us to fight and live.
26. Serve, love, give, purify yourself, meditate, fulfill yourself
The Hindu yogi Swami Sivananda expresses the different actions to be carried out to make life positive and complete. One of the religious phrases focused on indicating maxims of life.
27. Do not judge others if you do not want to be judged. For with the same judgment that you judge, you shall be judged, and with the same measure that you measure, you shall be measured.
Phrase attributed to Jesus Christ in the Bible, expresses that we should not judge and treat others in any other way than we would treat ourselves.
28. The best of men is the one who does the most good to his fellow men
Phrase attributed to Muhammad in which the need to do good to others is expressed.
29. Do not think that nothing happens simply because you do not see your growth... great things grow in silence
Phrase attributed to Buddha in which we are told that we continually grow even though we do not perceive it. Every moment is important and helps us to develop.
30. You are what your deepest desire is. As is your wish, so is your intention. As is your intention, so is your will. As is your will, so are your actions. As are your actions, so is your destiny
These phrases belong to the Upanishads, ancient texts written in Sanskrit that contain some of the philosophical foundations of Hinduism. In this case, they reflect that it is our wishes that ultimately lead us to act and shape our destiny.
31. The heart of a man is a mill wheel that works without ceasing. If you grind nothing, you run the risk of crushing itself
Martin Luther is the author of this phrase, in which he exposes the need to believe and live from what we feel inside.
32. He takes the first step with faith. You don't have to see the entire staircase. All you have to do is go up the first step
Faith was a very important element for Martin Luther King, allowing us to move forward and dare to fight despite not knowing what might come.
33. Evil is something that circumstances, environment or education instill in men: it is not innate
Nelson Mandela proposes that evil is learned, so it can be avoided.
34. I believe in the God of Spinoza, who reveals to us a harmony of all living beings. I do not believe in a God who deals with the destiny and actions of human beings
Not every religion believes in a God. Some do believe it, but do not understand it as a deity in the form of a conscious entity. An example is found in this phrase by Albert Einstein, which made reference to Spinoza's concept of deity. They consider that if there is a God, it is the union of everything that exists or the order of the universe.
- Related article: "What was Spinoza's God like and why did Einstein believe in him?"
35. Agnosticism simply means that a person will not say that he knows or believes what he has no basis for claiming that he believes.
Aldous Huxley expresses with this phrase what it means to be agnostic.
36. Religions, like fireflies, need darkness to shine
Most religions have emerged and / or gained special importance in order to help the population in moments of doubt, anxiety and pain. This phrase is by Arthur Schopenhauer.
37. There are many paths to enlightenment. Make sure you follow one with your heart
Lao Tzu tells us that we must follow the path that we believe is correctregardless of whether others push us in other ways.
- You may be interested: "The Yin and Yang Theory"
38. Man has two spiritual needs: One of them is forgiveness, the other is kindness.
This phrase by Billy Graham highlights two virtues that are necessary in our life and that at the same time are part of most religions.
39. Faith is the antiseptic of the soul
This phrase by Walt Whitman expresses that people's beliefs help protect their beliefs and value systems in situations that put them to the test.
40. Rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams all have different names but they all contain water. This is how religions are: they all contain truths
Muhammad Ali indicated with this phrase that all religions have a part of truth.