Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-20] of 114 Spiritual quotesSpiritual QuotesSpiritual Next 20 quotes One of the ironies, as some have observed, is that the secular project has itself become a religion, pursued with religious fervor. It is taking on all the trappings of a religion – including inquisitions and excommunication. Those who defy the creed risk a figurative burning at the stake – social, educational, and professional ostracism and exclusion waged through lawsuits and savage social media campaigns.~ William Barr I will not dwell on all the bitter results of new secular age. Suffice it to say that the campaign to destroy the traditional moral order has brought with it immense suffering, wreckage, and misery. And yet, the forces of secularism, ignoring these tragic results, press on with even greater militancy. Among these militant secularists are many so-called “progressives.” But where is the progress? We are told we are living in a post-Christian era. But what has replaced the Judeo-Christian moral system? What is it that can fill the spiritual void in the hearts of the individual person? And, what is a system of values that can sustain human social life? The fact is that no secular creed has emerged capable of performing the role of religion.~ William Barr In the past, when societies are threatened by moral chaos, the overall social costs of licentiousness and irresponsible personal conduct becomes so high that society ultimately recoils and reevaluates the path they are on. But today – in the face of all the increasing pathologies – instead of addressing the underlying cause, we have the State in the role of Alleviator of Bad Consequences. We call on the State to mitigate the social costs of personal misconduct and irresponsibility. So the reaction to growing illegitimacy is not sexual responsibility, but abortion. The reaction to drug addiction is safe injection sites. The solution to the breakdown of the family is for the State to set itself up as the ersatz husband for single mothers and the ersatz father to their children. The call comes for more and more social programs to deal with the wreckage. While we think we are solving problems, we are underwriting them. We start with an untrammeled freedom and we end up as dependents of a coercive state on whom we depend.~ William Barr A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.~ Buddha A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden.~ Buddha A wise man, recognizing that the world is but an illusion, does not act as if it is real, so he escapes the suffering.~ Buddha As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the master directs his straying thoughts.~ Buddha Everything changes, nothing remains without change.~ Buddha He is able who thinks he is able.~ Buddha Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.~ Buddha Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those which a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world.~ Buddha Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone beside yourselves. And those, who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost height.~ Buddha Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.~ Buddha To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.~ Buddha To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance.~ Buddha Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.~ Buddha Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes.~ Buddha Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.~ Buddha Whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings…that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.~ Buddha Do not dwell in the past, do not dwell in the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.~ Buddha Next 20 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print