The most beautiful words from our religious texts.

PhilosophicalBluster · May 13, 2009

The answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42.
-Douglas Adams

WorshipBassist · May 23, 2009

This is a passage from Hesiod's Theogeny, a book on the origins of the gods. Amazing writing:

Then the goddess through the love of the god conceived and brought forth dark-gowned Leto, always mild, kind to men and to the deathless gods, mild from the beginning, gentlest in all Olympus. Also she bare Asteria of happy name, whom Perses once led to his great house to be called his dear wife. And she conceived and bare Hecate whom Zeus the son of Cronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods. For to this day, whenever any one of men on earth offers rich sacrifices and prays for favour according to custom, he calls upon Hecate. Great honour comes full easily to him whose prayers the goddess receives favourably, and she bestows wealth upon him; for the power surely is with her. For as many as were born of Earth and Ocean amongst all these she has her due portion. The son of Cronos did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more still, for Zeus honours her. Whom she will she greatly aids and advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgement, and in the assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. And when men arm themselves for the battle that destroys men, then the goddess is at hand to give victory and grant glory readily to whom she will. Good is she also when men contend at the games, for there too the goddess is with them and profits them: and he who by might and strength gets the victory wins the rich prize easily with joy, and brings glory to his parents. And she is good to stand by horsemen, whom she will: and to those whose business is in the grey discomfortable sea, and who pray to Hecate and the loud-crashing Earth-Shaker, easily the glorious goddess gives great catch, and easily she takes it away as soon as seen, if so she will. She is good in the byre with Hermes to increase the stock. The droves of kine and wide herds of goats and flocks of fleecy sheep, if she will, she increases from a few, or makes many to be less. So, then. albeit her mother's only child (17), she is honoured amongst all the deathless gods. And the son of Cronos made her a nurse of the young who after that day saw with their eyes the light of all-seeing Dawn. So from the beginning she is a nurse of the young, and these are her honours.

Bk.II 404-452

Druweid · May 24, 2009

From my personal Grimoire:

"Of all that glitters, or shines or sparkles, or glows,
or holds any value in this world,
Love,
is the only treasure
whose bounty increases,
not by hoarding,
but by giving it away freely."

And one from Selena Fox:

I am Pagan.
I am a part of the whole of Nature.
The Rocks, the Animals, the Plants, the Elements, and Stars are my relatives.
Other humans are my sisters and brothers, whatever their races, colors, genders, sexual orientations, ages, nationalities, religions, lifestyles.

Planet Earth is my home.
I am a part of this large family of Nature, not the master of it.
I have my own special part to play and I seek to discover and play that part to the best of my ability.
I seek to live in harmony with others in the family of Nature, treating others with respect.

-- Druweid

Arthra · May 24, 2009

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light. One heart may possess the capacity of the polished mirror; another be covered and obscured by the dust and dross of this world.

Although the same Sun is shining upon both, in the mirror which is polished, pure and sanctified you may behold the Sun in all its fullness, glory and power revealing its majesty and effulgence, but in the mirror which is rusted and obscured there is no capacity for reflection although so far as the Sun itself is concerned it is shining thereon and is neither lessened nor deprived.

Therefore our duty lies in seeking to polish the mirrors of our hearts in order that we shall become reflectors of that light and recipients of the divine bounties which may be fully revealed through them.

~~~ Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 218)

RobinRedbreast · May 26, 2009

Two of my favorites both come from the Gospel of Thomas:

Jesus said, "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed." (Gospel of Thomas 5) [This particular verse is becoming part of my next tattoo]

Jesus said, "The [Father's] kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had toiled, he said to the sheep, 'I love you more than the ninety-nine.'" (Gospel of Thomas 107)

SiderealExalt · May 26, 2009

"Better than a thousand verses, comprising useless words, is one beneficial single line, by hearing which one is pacified."

"Neither a God nor a Gandhabba, nor Mara with Brahma, can win back the victory of such a person who is self-subdued and ever lives in restraint. "

"Self-conquest is, indeed, far greater than the conquest of all other folks."

Dharma Wheel · May 26, 2009

"You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere." This means that everyone is equally deserving of love from others and themselves.

From Dhammapada:

"A victor only breeds hatred, while a defeated man lives in misery, but a man at peace within lives happily, abandoning up ideas of victory and defeat."

"Knowing that one is dear to oneself, one should guard oneself well. For one out of the three watches of the night a wise man should keep watch."

R3quiem · May 26, 2009

My favorite Bible verse is in my signature, because I single it out as the verse that best describes why I dislike religion in all conservative forms. It helped me realize the truth about the religion I was a part of, and so I consider it beautiful.

crishmael · May 26, 2009

One of my favorite Bible sayings of Jesus from the King James translation:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.--Matthew 11:28-30

Zstar · Jul 2, 2009

"O God, e'er since I thought of Thee I know
Thou art the First and Only Cause of all
From Thy pure mouth the purest accents flow,
For worship fit, to help us Thee we call,
All stand in need of Thee, both great and small.
We listen to Thy words immaculate
Which form Thy holy tongue like manna fall.
Of every man on earth they seal the fate,
The humble swain or mighty potentate."

Zoroaster

Arthra · Jul 2, 2009

It behoveth him who is a wayfarer in the path of God and a wanderer in His way to detach himself from all who are in the heavens and on the earth. He must renounce all save God, that perchance the portals of mercy may be unlocked before his face and the breezes of providence may waft over him. And when he hath inscribed upon his soul that which We have vouchsafed unto him of the quintessence of inner meaning and explanation, he will fathom all the secrets of these allusions, and God shall bestow upon his heart a divine tranquillity and cause him to be of them that are at peace with themselves.

~~~~ Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 25

Wicked Willow · Jul 5, 2009

The Pentagram:

In the Years of the Primal Course, in the dawn of terrestrial birth,
Man mastered the mammoth and horse; and Man was the Lord of the Earth.
He made him an hollow skin from the heart of an holy tree;
He compassed the earth therein, and Man was the Lord of the Sea.
He controlled the vigour of steam, he harnessed the lightning for hire;
He drove the celestial team; and Man was the Lord of the Fire.
Deep-mouthed from their thrones deep-seated, the choirs of the aeons declare
The last of the demons defeated, for Man is the Lord of the Air.
Arise, O man, in thy strength! the kingdom is thine to inherit,
Till the high gods witness at length that Man is the Lord of his spirit.

Zstar · Sep 7, 2009

Soshyant, -- the last bringer of religion for mankind from God and the embellisher of the world through religious deeds, -- he, who will make mankind walk in purity, -- is the chief and lord of the last men; he, in accordance with the will and desire of the Creator, will be the bringer of His religion at the time of the End, and will be the giver of perfect beauty to the work of rendering the world pure, free from harm and fit for paradise, -- which work was (first commenced) through Gayomard.
Zoroastrian fragment

morningstar2651 · Sep 7, 2009

Wicked Willow said:
The Pentagram:

In the Years of the Primal Course, in the dawn of terrestrial birth,
Man mastered the mammoth and horse; and Man was the Lord of the Earth.
He made him an hollow skin from the heart of an holy tree;
He compassed the earth therein, and Man was the Lord of the Sea.
He controlled the vigour of steam, he harnessed the lightning for hire;
He drove the celestial team; and Man was the Lord of the Fire.
Deep-mouthed from their thrones deep-seated, the choirs of the aeons declare
The last of the demons defeated, for Man is the Lord of the Air.
Arise, O man, in thy strength! the kingdom is thine to inherit,
Till the high gods witness at length that Man is the Lord of his spirit.

I love that poem.

Also worth mentioning...

The Poet

Bury me in a nameless grave!
I came from God the world to save.
I brought them wisdom from above:
Worship, and liberty, and love.
They slew me for I did disparage
Therefore Religion, Law, and Marriage.
So be my grave without a name
That earth may swallow up my shame!

-excerpted from Konx om Pax

sidhe · Sep 7, 2009

morningstar2651 said:
I love that poem.

Also worth mentioning...

The Poet

Bury me in a nameless grave!
I came from God the world to save.
I brought them wisdom from above:
Worship, and liberty, and love.
They slew me for I did disparage
Therefore Religion, Law, and Marriage.
So be my grave without a name
That earth may swallow up my shame!

-excerpted from Konx om Pax

That's, possibly, my favorite AC poem.

silscr · Oct 16, 2009

Psalm 34:17-18

"Yea, the Lord hears the righteous and good man when he calls to Him for help, and saves him from all his troubles. The Lord is close to those whose heart is breaking; He rescues the people who are trully and humbly sorry for their sins."

He is a A God that gives to All (Righteous and Non-Righteous)...

canukian · Oct 16, 2009

1Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
8He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
9He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
10He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
14Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
16The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
17LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Witchy Bee · Oct 16, 2009

Wicked Willow said:
The Pentagram:

In the Years of the Primal Course, in the dawn of terrestrial birth,
Man mastered the mammoth and horse; and Man was the Lord of the Earth.
He made him an hollow skin from the heart of an holy tree;
He compassed the earth therein, and Man was the Lord of the Sea.
He controlled the vigour of steam, he harnessed the lightning for hire;
He drove the celestial team; and Man was the Lord of the Fire.
Deep-mouthed from their thrones deep-seated, the choirs of the aeons declare
The last of the demons defeated, for Man is the Lord of the Air.
Arise, O man, in thy strength! the kingdom is thine to inherit,
Till the high gods witness at length that Man is the Lord of his spirit.

That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read, and I've read a lot of beautiful things.

Mahammad · Oct 17, 2009

Whenever I was in a hard time or had a big problem I remember these 2 verses;

So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief. (Al-sharih:5-6)

Muad Dib · Oct 17, 2009

As far as religious texts go, someone pointed this one out to me a while ago, and I have yet to read a religious text that I consider to be more fitting as a text to inspire.

3. Children of Earth! rejoice! rejoice exceedingly; for your salvation is at hand.

4. The end of sorrow is come; I will ravish you away into mine unutterable joy.

5. I will kiss you, and bring you to the bridal: I will spread a feast before you in the house of happiness.

6. I am not come to rebuke you, or to enslave you.

7. I bid you not turn from your voluptuous ways, from your idleness, from your follies.

8. But I bring you joy to your pleasure, peace to your languor, wisdom to your folly.

9. All that ye do is right, if so be that ye enjoy it.

10. I am come against sorrow, against weariness, against them that seek to enslave you.

11. I pour you lustral wine, that giveth you delight both at the sunset and the dawn.

12. Come with me, and I will give you all that is desirable upon the earth.

13. Because I give you that of which Earth and its joys are but as shadows.

14. They flee away, but my joy abideth even unto the end.

15. I have hidden myself beneath a mask: I am a black and terrible God.

16. With courage conquering fear shall ye approach me: ye shall lay down your heads upon mine altar, expecting the sweep of the sword.

17. But the first kiss of love shall be radiant on your lips; and all my darkness and terror shall turn to light and joy.

18. Only those who fear shall fail. Those who have bent their backs to the yoke of slavery until they can no longer stand upright; them will I despise.

19. But you who have defied the law; you who have conquered by subtlety or force; you will I take unto me, even I will take you unto me.

20. I ask you to sacrifice nothing at mine altar; I am the God who giveth all.

The most beautiful words from our religious texts.

Existential Good-for-Nothing (See: Philosopher)

Worship bassist!

{insert witty phrase}

Baha'i

RobinRedbreast

Guest

Well-Known Member

Wandering Hermit

Senior Veteran

nothing but the rain

Christian Zoroastrian

Baha'i

Well-Known Member

Christian Zoroastrian

Senior Veteran

Seemly Unseelie

_

Well-Known Member

Alis volat propriis

Kafir

Newbie

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency