QUOTES FROM THE DARK SIDE OF RELIGION This page is going to develop gradually, so don't think I am picking on, or for that matter, going easy on, any particular religion. All religious works are victims of their times: the attitudes of society are carried into the writings of the individuals within it. Most religions in existence today were founded in a time when slavery was normal, and women were merely posessions. The "dark age" ideals, unfortunately, have not all been edited out of contemporary versions of holy books.
Confucianism / Hinduism / Taoism / "God of Abraham" religions: Judeo-Christian Bible / Islam / Jehovah's Witnesses / Latter Day Saints / Seventh Day Adventists /
Confucianism (the dark side)"The Master said, 'Barbarian tribes with their rulers are inferior to Chinese states without them" [CONFUCIUS 3: 5 *Analects - Lau translation]
"Shun had five officials and the Empire was well governed. King Wu said, 'I have ten capable officials.' Confucius commented, 'How true it is that talent is difficult to find! The period of T'ang and Yu was rich in talent. With a woman amongst them, there were, in fact, only nine" [CONFUCIUS 8: 20 *Analects - Lau translation][TOP OF PAGE]
Hinduism (the dark side)"Arjuna saw them standing there: fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends. He surveyed his elders and companions in both armies, all his kinsmen assembled together. Dejected, filled with strange pity, he said this: 'Krishna [god], I see my kinsmen gathered here, wanting war. I see omens of chaos, Krishna; I see no good in killing my kinsmen in battle. How can we ignore the wisdom of turning from this evil when we see the sin of family destruction, Krishna? When the family is ruined, the timeless laws of family duty perish; and when duty is lost, chaos overwhelms the family. In overwhelming chaos, Krishna, women of the family are corrupted; and when women are corrupted, disorder is born in society'. Saying this in the time of war, Arjuna slumped into the chariot and laid down his bow and arrows, his mind tormented by grief. [The Lord Krishna answers:] You grieve for those beyond grief, and you speak works of insight; but learned men do not grieve for the dead or the living. Never have I not existed, nor you, nor these kings; and never in the future shall we cease to exist. Just as the embodied self enters childhood, youth, and old age, so does it enter another body; this does not confound a steadfast man. Our bodies are known to end, but the embodied self is enduring, indestructible, and immeasurable; therefore, Arjuna, fight the battle! He who thinks this self a killer and he who thinks it killed, both fail to understand; it does not kill, nor is it killed. It is not born, it does not die; having been, it will never not be; unborn, enduring, constant, and primordial, it is not killed when the body is killed. Arjuna, when a man knows the self to be indestructible, enduring, unborn, unchanging, how does he kill or cause anyone to kill? Death is certain for anyone born, and birth is certain for the dead; since the cycle is inevitable, you have no cause to grieve! Be intent on action, not on the fruits of action; avoid attraction to the fruits and attachment to inaction! Perform actions, firm in discipline, relinquishing attachment; be impartial to failure and success - this equanimity is called discipline." [from the Bhagavad-Gita -Miller translation]
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Taoism (the dark side) "The softest thing in the world dashes against and overcomes the hardest; that which has no existence enters where there is no crevice. I know hereby what advantage belongs to doing nothing. There are few in the world who attain to the teaching without words, and the advantage arising from non-action." [Tao Te Ching 43 - Legge translation]
"A state may be ruled by correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity; the kingdom is made one's own by freedom from action and purpose. How do I know that it is so? By these facts: - In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan; the more acts of crafty dexterity that men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear; the more display there is of legislation, the more thieves and robbers there are. Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing, and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct. I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich; I will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity'." [Tao Te Ching 57 - Legge translation]
"The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Tao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant. The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge. He who govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not do so is a blessing." [Tao Te Ching 65 - Legge translation]
"The ruler precedes and the minister follows; the father precedes and the son follows; the elder brother precedes and the younger brother follows; the senior one precedes and the junior follows; the man precedes and the woman follows; the husband precedes and the wife follows.
This progression of the greater followed by the lesser mirrors that of Heaven and Earth. The sages take their example from this." [Book of Chuang Tzu - chapter 13 - Palmer translation][the sage] "Fed by Heaven, he is nourished by Heaven. As he loves being nourished by Heaven, he has no need of humanity! He has the form of a man, but not the emotions of a man. Because he has the form of a man, he can be amongst men, but not having the emotions of a man, he does not have to follow the ways of right and wrong. Inconsequential and small, he stays amongst men! Substantial and large, he is at one with Heaven!" [Book of Chuang Tzu - chapter 5 - Palmer translation]
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Judeo-Christian Bible (the dark side) "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?" [JOB 25: 4 *King James Bible]
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." [EPHESIANS 5: 22-24 *King James Bible]
"The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name." [EXODUS 15: 3 *King James Bible]"Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war." [PROVERBS 20: 18 *King James Bible]
“That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.” [2 CHRONICLES 15: 13 *King James Bible]
"Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward." [1 PETER 2: 18 *King James Bible]"And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished." "Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money." [EXODUS 21: 20-21 *King James Bible]
"And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death." "And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death." [EXODUS 21: 15,17]"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." [PROVERBS 22: 15] "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die." "Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell." [PROVERBS 23: 13-14 *King James Bible]
"And he (God's prophet Elisha) went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head." "And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them." [2 KINGS 2: 23-24]
Christianity (the dark side)"This malady of curiosity is the reason for all those strange sights exhibited in the theater. It is also the reason why we proceed to search out the secret powers of nature - those which have nothing to do with our destiny - which do not profit us to know about, and concerning which men desire to know only for the sake of knowing. And it is with this same motive of perverted curiosity for knowledge that we consult the magical arts. Even in religion itself, this prompting drives us to make trial of God when signs and wonders are eagerly asked of him - not desired for any saving end, but only to make trial of him." ['Confessions' by Saint Augustine - 400 CE]
"...man, created in thy image and likeness, in the very image and likeness of thee - that is, having the power of reason and understanding - by virtue of which he has been set over all irrational creatures. And just as there is in his soul one element which controls by its power of reflection and another which has been made subject so that it should obey, so also, physically, the woman was made for the man; for, although she had a like nature of rational intelligence in the mind, still in the sex of her body she should be similarly subject to the sex of her husband, as the appetite of action is subjected to the deliberation of the mind in order to conceive the rules of right action ... thou didst subordinate rational action to the higher excellence of intelligence, as the woman is subordinate to the man." ['Confessions' by Saint Augustine - 400 CE]
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Islam (The dark side)"Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but transgress not. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. Once they start the fighting, kill them wherever you meet them, and drive them out from where they have driven you out; for aggression is more heinous than killing. But fight them not in the proximity of the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you therein; should they fight you even there, then fight them: such is the requital of these disbelievers. Then if they desist, surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful. Fight them until all aggression ceases and religion is professed for the pleasure of Allah alone. If they desist, then be mindful that no retaliation is permissible except against the aggressors." [Qur'an. AL-BAQARAH 191-194 *Khan translation]
"Men have authority over women because God (Allah) has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God (Allah) has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, forsake them in beds apart, and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God (Allah) is high, supreme." [Qur'an. AL-NISA' 34 *Dawood translation]
"Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. God (Allah) does not guide the wrongdoers" [Qur'an AL-MA'IDAH 51 *Dawood translation]
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Jehovah's Witnesses - (The dark side) "Those who became Christians in Ephesus burned their books on spiritism - a fine example for us today."
"Satan, of course, does not want us to serve Jehovah. He wants us to serve him. So he tries to get us to do what he wants, since he knows that we become the slaves, or servants, of whomever we obey. (Romans 6:16) Through various means, including television, movies, certain forms of dancing and immoral literature, Satan encourages sexual relations between unmarried persons, as well as adultery."
"A marriage or a family needs leadership. The man was created with a greater measure of the qualities and strengths required to provide such leadership. For this reason the Bible says: 'A husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation.' (Ephesians 5:23) This is practical, for when there is no leadership there is trouble and confusion. For a family to be without headship would be like trying to drive an automobile without a steering wheel. Or, if the wife were to compete with such headship, it would be like having two drivers in the car, each with a steering wheel controlling a separate front wheel."
"As husband, you clearly have the more difficult role in the family. But if you make a sincere effort to fulfill it, your wife most likely will feel inclined to give you help and support. - Proverbs 13:10; 15:22." [You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth 1982, 1989][TOP OF PAGE]
Latter Day Saints - Mormons - (The dark side) (God speaking) "And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood - if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else." "And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore he is justified." "But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified." "And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife, who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood, as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law." [D&C 132: 61-64 *Doctrine & Covenants - by Joseph Smith Jr]
"We believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with bond-servants, neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will and wish of their masters, nor to meddle with or influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference we believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude." [D&C 134: 12 *Doctrine & Covenants]"For behold, the Lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the barrenness thereof shall go forth forever; and there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people." [MOSES 7: 8 *Pearl Of Great Price]
"And Enoch also beheld the residue of the people which were the sons of Adam; and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them." [MOSES 7: 22 *Pearl Of Great Price]
"And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain." [1 NEPHI 13: 15 *Book Of Mormon - 1994 version]
"And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them." "And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities." "And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done." "And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey." "And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction." [2 NEPHI 5: 21-25 *Book Of Mormon - 1994 version]
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Seventh Day Adventists (the dark side)"In listening to much of the music in the world today, a born-again Christian realizes that the beat, the words, and the attitudes expressed are straight from hell. Medical science has proven that the beat has its origins in Satanism and it produces a hypnotizing effect upon the mind. Today you can go to the dark continents of this world and the converted Christians will tell you that our modern-day bands reflect the same music they used to call up the demons in their witchcraft and devil worship. Since the inception of this music our world has turned into a cesspool of immorality, illicit sex, crime, rebellion, drugs, and the occult - simply because we naturally do and practice what we hear. The devil is behind much of the modern music in all its forms." "Notice these interesting statistics: A former New York chief of police said, 'Three-fourths of the abandoned girls of New York were ruined by dancing.' A Catholic priest of New York said that his confessional had proved that three-fourths of the fallen girls who have confessed adultery to him put the blame on the dance. Other priests have said that three-fourths is too little. They make it nine-tenths. A matron in a home for girls pregnant out of wedlock in Los Angeles said, 'Seven-tenths of the girls received here have fallen through dancing and its influence." [PROPHECY SEMINARS: Lesson 17 -Christian Lifestyle, Overcoming The World]
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