William Ellery ChanningWilliam Ellery Channing, (1780-1842) American Unitarian preacher

William Ellery Channing Quote

“The worst tyrants are those which establish themselves in our own breasts.”

William Ellery ChanningWilliam Ellery Channing
~ William Ellery Channing

Spiritual Freedom, 1830

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

In a manner of speaking, I am my own worst enemy. For one, in a huge list of examples; Man is inherently a religious being. Atheism, in and of itself is not a religion. Christianity, in and of itself is not a religion. Socialism, in and of itself is not a religion. Religion is an object of conscience, an ethic(s), a moral(s), a value (system) or an orientation of correctness / enlightenment, believed sufficiently conventional and sacrosanct as to enable an attributable action. Religion is real piety in practice, consisting in the performance of all known duties to . . . our fellow men. (Bouviers Law Dictionary). So at the root of all definitions of religion it is the cause of action. That beast within manifests as one's true religion, establishing the mental, intellectual, physical, etc. tyrant.

Mike, Norwalk
  • Reply
Mike, Norwalk Mike, Norwalk 2/1/22

By example; I may believe there to be no extra human experience (existence outside this immediately perceived dimension) while believing early legal philosophers existed with teachings purely at law and science (no matter if their teachings were correct, incorrect or otherwise). Religion here is not addressed. I may believe there was an individual named Jesus that was an extra human progeny that existed and I choose to follow His teachings of law and science. No religion is addressed there either. It is when my motivated actions extend an orientation of correctness, ethics or morals, outside a purely law and science scope is where religion's domain exists. When socialism, collectivism, a perception of love or even law and science are enacted as a duty of ethics, morals, etc., there is where religion becomes the defining sphere.

Mike, Norwalk

(-; there are tyrants that stick things into people's breasts like knives and bullets (or in the case of Mr. Obamunist Goodwrench the assassin - maybe a missile from a drone), they may be the worst ;-)

E Archer, NYC

Mike, I like your take on this! As a truth-seeker, I have come to realize that often what is in the way of knowing the truth is holding on to that which is not true. Thus, even what I have come to 'know' as true must also stand up to continuous scrutiny and review -- sacred cows are not above reproach.

When people are conditioned to believe they are subservient to others, whether the reasons are religious, traditional, or political, they will easily obey their masters because they believe they are duty-bound to do so. Freeing someone from the bonds of social conditioning can prove to be quite difficult.

Ron w13, Or

Patriotism, the dup of Statesmen. One can liken our liberty and freedom to ( God's rest ) as referenced by Mikes statement on religion James 1:26,27. Also the oppression of the poor by the rich, knowing the way in, but not going in themselves but denning the poor the rest from oppression. They are judged by the law of liberty and found transgressors.

Ronw13, OR
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  • Reply
    Ronw13, OR    7/18/18

    Unitarian philosophy is found to be at odds with the doctrines of the Trinity of God, a sound basic belief. Required at one time to enter the country. denominationalism and its ability to divide creates opportunity for seeds of socialism to be sown among congregations. John 1:14, "And the word was made flesh". 

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