13 Quotations Regarding Religion

So what are folks saying about religion....past and present. Here are 13 quotations:

1. A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one though at one time, at all times, who suffers harm to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.
Attributed to Abraham Joshua Heschel

2. That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures, and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular.
Attibuted to Abraham Lincoln

3.The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone in the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
Attributed to Anne Frank

4. The moral and religious system which Jesus Christ transmitted to us is the best the world has ever seen, or can see.
Attributed to Benjamin Franklin

5. Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.
Attibuted to Bill Gates

6. Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.
Attributed to Blaise Pascal

7. I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure—that is all that agnosticism means.
Attributed to Clarence Darrow

8. I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.
Attributed to Frederick Douglass

9. We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love.
Attributed to Jonathan Swift

10. When men destroy their old gods they will find new ones to take their place.
Attributed to Pearl S. Buck

11. The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.
Attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson

12. I never told my own religion nor scrutinized that of another. I never attempted to make a convert, nor wished to change another’s creed. I am satisfied that yours must be an excellent religion to have produced a life of such exemplary virtue and correctness. For it is in our lives, and not from our worlds, that our religion must be judged.
Attributed to Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Mrs. H. Harrison Smith

13. In the faces of men and women I see God.
Attributed to Walt Whitman

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Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You

Though I generally disagree with the politics and social views of Whoopee Goldberg I love the Sister Act movies. This week's Monday Music is Joyful, Joyful.....the Sister Act version.

My Monday music selections tend to slow the blog down if I post the video here, so here is the link to watch Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee on YouTube.

13 Things Concerning the Book of Ezra

1. In the earliest Hebrew manuscripts Ezra and Nehemiah were one book.

2. Ezra follows the outline listed below:
Ezra 1:1 to 2:70 first group of exiles return to Judah
Ezra 3:1 to 6:22 the temple is rebuilt
Ezra 7:1 to 10:44 Ezra returns and beings ministry

3. Scholars think the author of Ezra/Nehemiah also wrote Chronicles 1 and 2. They all share certain characteristics.

4. The writing of Ezra has been dated to 440 BC. The text discusses the rebuilding of the temple in 516 BC

5. Ezra taught the people the law and reformed their religious life.

6. Ezra’s actions were important since surrounding nations needed to see God’s chosen people had returned.

7. Hebrew exiles began to return to Judah from Babylon during the reign of Cyrus (559-530 BC)

8. Cyrus of Persia allowed the exiles to return with the captured temple treasures.

9. King Darius I (522-486 BC) gave permission/authorization for the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem.

10. During the reign of Artaxerxes (465-424 BC) other exiles were allowed to return. Among them were Ezra and Nehemiah who was charged to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

11. The Murashu Archives at Nippur contain the tablets which document the rebuilding of the temple. Ezra contains Persian Court information, lists, and narrative letters see 6:16. Jews remained in Babylonia amost 50 years after Ezra.

12. Why did the Babylonians suddenly allow the Hebrews to trickle home over time? In 539 BC Babylonia fell to the Persians.

13. Nearly 50,000 Hebrews were in the first group to relocate. The temple treasures were entrusted to Sheshbazzar, a Jewish prince. Upon arriving in Jerusalem Zerubbabel is mentioned as a leader, but this could be another name for Sheshbazzar.

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Wordless: Verse 53

This image was sent to me via email. These people are protesting in England. I love their open minds and love for their fellow man.

Astounding, isn't it?

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