A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe in God whereas all it really proves is that they believe in "believing" in God
Huston SmithRead
...like a magnetic compass turning north, I always tried to head in the direction of the better, which is the direction to God. ...the directions that appeared to lead away from Christianity led me deeper into it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a journey of spiritual discovery, suggesting that seeking truth can lead one deeper into faith, even when it seems contrary.
Huston Smith's quote illustrates the idea that one's quest for understanding and meaning can sometimes take unexpected paths. He likens his quest to a magnetic compass, indicating that despite various distractions or diverging beliefs that seemed to move him away from Christianity, these explorations ultimately strengthened his faith. It's a reminder that searching for deeper truths can often lead to reaffirmation of one's core beliefs.
Themes
FaithSpiritualitySearchTruthExploration
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could inspire conversations about spirituality in a church sermon.
More from Huston Smith
All quotes →One reason education undoes belief is its teaching of evolution; Darwin's own drift from orthodoxy to agnosticism was symptomatic. Martin Lings is probably right in saying that more cases of loss of religious faith are to be traced to the theory of evolution ... than to anything else.
Huston SmithRead
So always, if we look back, concern for face-to-face morality, and its modern emphasis on justice as well, have historically evolved as religious issues.
Huston SmithRead
The crisis that the world finds itself in as it swings on the hinge of a new millennium is located in something deeper than particular ways of organizing political systems and economies.
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...conversation can be as mutually incomprehensible as foreign languages. We need the different and complementary perspectives of the various yogas - and ideally of all religions - not only to reach God but to reach each other.
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In the post-individualistic era, science and spirituality will become allies, and human beings will realize a vast potentiality now only dimly felt.
Huston SmithRead
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