That the God-man died for his people, and that His death is their life, is an idea which was in some degree foreshadowed by the older mystical sacrif…

- William Robertson Smith

Religion did not exist for the saving of souls but for the preservation and welfare of society, and in all that was necessary to this end every man h…

- William Robertson Smith

In better times the religion of the tribe or state has nothing in common with the private and foreign superstitions or magical rites that savage terr…

- William Robertson Smith

Belief in a certain series of myths was neither obligatory as a part of the true religion, nor was it supposed that, by believing, a man acquired rel…

- William Robertson Smith

The land of a god corresponds with the land of his worshipers.

- William Robertson Smith

The dissolution of the nation destroys the national religion, and dethrones the national deity.

- William Robertson Smith

This, it may be said, is no more than a hypothesis, but it satisfies the conditions of a legitimate hypothesis, by postulating the operation of no un…

- William Robertson Smith

In all the antique religions, mythology takes the place of dogma; that is, the sacred lore of priests and people... and these stories afford the only…

- William Robertson Smith

But we must not forget, this ritual expressed, certain ideas which lie at the very root of true religion, the fellowship of the worshippers with one …

- William Robertson Smith