“Everyone is tearing each other apart in the name of their personal god. And the irony is, by definition, they're probably worshipping the same god.”
Esquire interview (2012)
Context: I do despair. That's a heavy word, but picking up a newspaper every day, how can you not despair at what's happening in the world, and how we're represented as human beings? The disappointments and corruption are dismaying at every level. And the biggest source of evil is of course religion. … Can you think of a good one? A just and kind and tolerant religion? … Everyone is tearing each other apart in the name of their personal god. And the irony is, by definition, they're probably worshipping the same god.
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Ridley Scott9
English film director and film producer 1937Related quotes
“Everyone has gods. You just don't think they're gods.”
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Source: The Lonesome Gods (1983), Ch. 8
Context: Long ago, before the Indians who live here now, there were other people. Perhaps they went away, or maybe they died or were driven out by these Indians’ ancestors, but they are gone. Yet sometimes I am not sure they are gone. I think sometimes their spirits are still around, in the land they loved.
Each people has its gods, or the spirits in which they believe. It may be their god is the same as ours, only clothed in different stories, different ideas, but a god can only be strong, Hannes, if he is worshiped, and the gods of those ancient people are lonesome gods now.
They are out there in the desert and mountains, and perhaps their strength has waned because nobody lights fires on their altars anymore. But they are there, Hannes, and sometimes I think they know me and remember me.
Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji (1942) Indian guru
As quoted at the Introductory page of Datta Peetham. http://www.dattapeetham.com
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“God bless each and everyone of you.”
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Pope Benedict XVI (1927) 265th Pope of the Catholic Church
2008, Inter-religious Meeting (17 July 2008)
“God is one, but He is worshipped in different ages and climes under different names and aspects.”
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Source: Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna (1960), p. 458
Context: In a potter's shop there are vessels of different shapes and forms — pots, jars, dishes, plates, etc., — but all are made of the same clay. So God is one, but He is worshipped in different ages and climes under different names and aspects.