October 2

Religion tells a human being what he is and what the world in which he lives is. Moral teaching guides a human being’s actions based on a religious understanding of life.

1

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

See the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What will we eat?,” “What will we drink?” or, “With what will we be clothed?”

But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

— Matthew 6:25–27, 31, 33–34

2

The one who, despite having bread in his basket, asks “What will I eat tomorrow?” belongs to those of little faith.

— The Talmud

3

The best form of worship is that which is performed without the hope of achieving any goal; the worst is that which has a particular goal in mind.

The one who loves the Highest Being must contemplate him in all of creation.

— Agni Purana

4

It is unquestionable that the teaching of religious systems is coercion, the causing of children to stumble, of which Christ spoke. What right do we have to teach that which is disputed by the vast majority: the trinity, the miracles of Buddha, Muhammad, Christ? The only thing that we can and must teach our children is what is common to all religions and which everyone can understand: the moral teaching of love and unity.

5

Buddha said: there are difficult things in the world—to be charitable while poor, to be religious while wealthy and noble; to crush lust and carnal desires, to see a beautiful object without wanting to have it; to bear insults without anger; to study a subject to its very depths; to not judge the ignorant; to avoid disputes; to rid yourself completely from vanity and to treat all people equally in your heart and in life.

— A Chinese Buddhist

6

God is worshipped, but not obeyed. It is better not to worship, but to obey.

7

Live both for eternity and till day’s end. Work as if you are going to live forever, but treat people as if you are about to die.

8

Religion, considered in itself, is the recognition of all our duties as God’s commandments.

— Kant

Moral teaching is incomplete if it is not religious, i.e. if it is optional. Religion is not necessary if it is not moral, if it does not lead to the good life.