Any religion which will sacrifice a certain set of human beings for the enjoyment or aggrandizement or advantage of another is no religion. It is a thing which may be allowed, but it is against true religion. Any religion which sacrifices women to the brutality of men is no religion.
Interpretation
True religion upholds the dignity and rights of all individuals, rather than sacrificing some for the benefit of others.
This quote by Julia Ward Howe emphasizes that any religion that permits the harm or subjugation of certain groups of people, particularly women, for the benefit of others is fundamentally flawed. True religion should promote equality, justice, and compassion, rejecting practices that devalue human life in any form.
In practice
During a speech on women's rights, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of equality.
The flag of our stately battles, not struggles of wrath and greed, _x000D_ Its stripes were a holy lesson, its spangles a deathless creed: _x000D_ 'T was red with the blood of freemen and white with the fear of the foe; _x000D_ And the stars that fight in their courses 'gainst tyrants its symbols know.
When I see the elaborate study and ingenuity displayed by women in the pursuit of trifles, I feel no doubt of their capacity for the most herculean undertakings.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord -
I think nothing is religion which puts one individual absolutely above others, and surely nothing is religion which puts one sex above another.
I shall stick to my resolution of writing always what I think no matter whom it offends.
I know not why there is such a melancholy feeling attached to the remembrance of past happiness, except that we fear that the future can have nothing so bright as the past.
He, however, who begins with Metaphysics, will not only become confused in matters of religion, but will fall into complete infidelity.
Well, I’ve had my fun; I’ve had it, he thought, looking up at the swinging baskets of pale geraniums. And it was smashed to atoms—his fun, for it was half made up, as he knew very well; invented, this escapade with the girl; made up, as one makes up the better part of life, he thought—making onself up; making her up; creating an exquisite amusement, and something more. But odd it was, and quite true; all this one could never share—it smashed to atoms.
I believe that this could very well be looked back on as the sin of our generation...I believe that our children and their children, 40 or 50 years from now, are going to ask me, what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa?
Yet the stupid believe they are awake, busily and brightly assuming they understand things, calling this man ruler, that one herdsman – how dense! Confucius and you are both dreaming! And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too. Words like these will be labeled the Supreme Swindle.
How beautiful the world was when one looked at it, without searching... just looked, simply and innocently.
Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.
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