Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Quote of the day

"Men tend to have the beliefs that suit their passions. Cruel men believe in a cruel God, and use their belief to excuse their cruelty. Only kindly men believe in a kindly God, and they would be kindly in any case."
-Bertrand Russell in London Calling (1947), p. 18  (H/T Andrew Sullivan)

1 comment:

JCF said...

"Only kindly men believe in a kindly God, and they would be kindly in any case."

But by extension, wouldn't cruel [persons] be cruel in any case? [Se re Stalin, Mao, (essentially) Hitler]

I care far more about whether someone's higher power (ground of being) is compassion and nonviolence*, than what BrandNameDivinity they believe in.

* For me, that's God-in-Christ, obviously.