Religion

About this Collection

Liberty is an idea and an idealized state of being that can be traced through many of the religious traditions of the world. Across time periods, theological differences, and cultural contexts, many different religious thinkers have arrived at an understanding of the importance of liberty–coupled with some form of moral responsibility–in the organization and conduct of human affairs. We encourage you to explore the quotations in this collection to discover more about the connection between liberty and religion.

Key People

Titles & Essays

A – Z List

Asian, African, And Oceana Literature

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Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources (General)

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Buddhism

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Christian Denominations

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Christianity

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Collections

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Collections. Series. Collected Works

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Doctrinal Theology

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Drawing. Design. Illustration

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Economic Theory. Demography

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English Literature

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Ethics

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French Literature

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General Law And Jurisprudence

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General Works

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Great Britain

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Greek And Latin Literature

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History Of The Americas

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Indo Iranian Languages And Literatures

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International Law

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Islam, Bahaism, Theosophy, Etc.

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Judaism

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Language And Literature

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Law

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Literature On Music

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Music

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Periodicals

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Philosophy (General)

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Philosophy, Psychology, And Religion

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Political Institutions And Public Administration (Europe)

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Political Theory

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Practical Theology

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Religions. Mythology. Rationalism

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Social Sciences

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The Bible

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Theory And Practice Of Education

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United States

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World History

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Not Categorized

The Parallel Old Testament (KJV and Revised V)

A parallel version of the Old Testament with the King James Version in one column and the revised Version in another column.

The Parallel Bible. Old Testament (Revised Version)

Jesus Christ (contributor)

A parallel version of the Old Testament with the King James Version in one column and the revised Version in another column. This title is also available in HTML in just the Revised Version.

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Quotes

Philosophy

Adam Smith on Religion and the Rules of Morality

Adam Smith

Religion & Toleration

Buddha and his “Ten Commandments”

Buddha

Religion & Toleration

Buddha on Wandering Rightly in the World

Buddha

Parties & Elections

Captain John Clarke asserts the right of all men to vote in the formation of a new constitution by right of the property they have in themselves (1647)

John Clarke

Religion & Toleration

David Hume argues that “love of liberty” in some individuals often attracts the religious inquisitor to persecute them and thereby drive society into a state of “ignorance, corruption, and bondage” (1757)

David Hume

Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots

Edward Bellarmine grapples with the problem of a subject’s obedience to kings or popes (1610)

Robert Bellarmine

Freedom of Speech

Elisha Williams on the unalienable right every person has to think and judge for themselves (1744)

Ellis Sandoz

Quote

Frederick Douglass on Religion and Slavery

Frederick Douglass

Religion & Toleration

In Ecclesiastes, there is the call to plant, to love, to live, and to work and then to enjoy the fruits of all one’s labors (3rd Century BC)

Old Testament (Various Authors)

Religion & Toleration

Job rightly wants to know why he, “the just upright man is laughed to scorn” while robbers prosper (6thC BC)

Job

Literature & Music

John Milton on Satan’s Reign in Hell

John Milton

Economics

Lao Tzu and the Tao of laissez-faire (6thC BC)

Lao Tzu

Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots

Lao Tzu discusses how “the great sages” (or wise advisors) protect the interests of the prince and thus “prove to be but guardians in the interest of the great thieves” (600 BC)

Lao Tzu

Taxation

Luke, Taxes, and the Birth of Jesus (85)

Saint Luke

Literature & Music

Milton on Eve’s discovery of the benefits of the division of labor in the Garden of Eden (1667)

John Milton

Religion & Toleration

Noah Webster on the resilience of common religious practices in the face of attempts by the state to radically change them (1794)

Noah Webster

Religion & Toleration

Pierre Bayle begins his defence of religious toleration with this appeal that the light of nature, or Reason, should be used to settle religious differences and not coercion (1708)

Pierre Bayle

Justice

St. Augustine states that kingdoms without justice are mere robberies, and robberies are like small kingdoms; but large Empires are piracy writ large (5th C)

Saint Augustine

Religion & Toleration

St. John, private property, and the Parable of the Wolf and the Good Shepherd (2ndC AD)

Saint John

War & Peace

St. Thomas Aquinas discusses the three conditions for a just war (1265-74)

St. Thomas Aquinas

War & Peace

The 1st Day of Christmas: Jan Huss' Christmas letters and his call for peace on earth (1412)

Jan Huss

War & Peace

The 3rd Day of Christmas: Erasmus stands against war and for peace on earth (16th century)

Desiderius Erasmus

Religion & Toleration

The 6th Day of Christmas: Vicesimus Knox on the Christian religion and peace on earth (1793)

Vicesimus Knox

War & Peace

The evangelist Luke “on earth peace, good will toward men” (1st century)

Saint Luke

Religion & Toleration

The Psalmist laments that he lives in a Society which “hateth peace” and cries out “I am for peace: but when I speak they are for war” (1000 BC)

King David

Law

Thomas Aquinas on why the law should not punish imperfect men for practising vices which do not harm others (1274)

St. Thomas Aquinas

Politics & Liberty

William Emerson, in his oration to commemorate the Declaration of Independence, reminded his listeners of the “unconquerable sense of liberty” which Americans had (1802)

William Emerson

Property Rights

William Penn on property as one of the three fundamental rights all men have (1679)

William Penn

Notes About This Collection

See also the extracts, chapters, and introductions in the Religion section of the Ideas page.