#skepticism

All the tales of miracles, with which the Old and New Testament are filled, are fit only for impostors to preach and fools to believe. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#religion #science #skepticism #the-bible #age

Give to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself - that is my doctrine. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#freedom #liberty #religion #separation-of-church-and-state #skepticism

I'm convinced that most men don't know what they believe, rather, they only know what they wish to believe. How many people blame God for man's atrocities, but wouldn't dream of imprisoning a mother for her son's crime? ↗

— Criss Jami

#apologetics #atrocities #belief #bias #biases

It seems all spirits need theatrics, eh? Even Christ himself requires incense and holy water. We're a skeptical people. We need convincing. ↗

— Megan Chance

#cynicism #faith #skepticism #spiritualism #theatrics

When anyone tells me that he saw a dead man restored to life, I immediately consider with myself whether it be more probable that this person should either deceive or be deceived or that the fact which he relates should really have happened. I weigh the one miracle against the other and according to the superiority which I discover, I pronounce my decision. Always I reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood of his testimony would be more miraculous than the event which he relates, then and not till then, can he pretend to command my belief or opinion. ↗

— David Hume

#religion #science #skepticism #life

She says he says, but she could be lying to me, and he could be lying to her, so I can’t believe her, even if I could believe her.
 ↗

— Jarod Kintz

#believe #bizarre #funny #honest #honesty

Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination itself could add nothing to them. ↗

— Jules Verne

#science #skepticism #imagination

It all depends on what people you're talking about helping. That's the wonderful think about just about every religion on the planet - they're all so incredibly selfish. ↗

— Derek Landy

#cynicism #helping-others #perspective #religion #selfishness

People are not stupid. They believe things for reasons. The last way for skeptics to get the attention of bright, curious, intelligent people is to belittle or condescend or to show arrogance toward their beliefs. ↗

— Carl Sagan

#skepticism #intelligence

scepticism, as we know, can never be thoroughly applied, else life would come to a standstill ↗

— George Eliot

#life