8 William Robertson Smith Quotes for You to Enjoy

William Robertson Smith

Scottish Scientist

Born: Nov 8, 1846

Died: Mar 31, 1894

Every God Man Nation People Religion

Related authors: Alexander Fleming Arthur Keith David Gill James Black James Hutton Joseph Hume Patrick Geddes Robert Fortune

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 explanation that is offered of the precepts of religion and the prescribed rules of ritual. William Robertson Smith

But if it not be true, the myth itself requires to be explained, and every principle of philosophy and common sense demand that the explanation be sought, not in arbitrary allegorical categories, but in the actual facts of ritual or religious custom to which the myth attaches. William Robertson Smith

Be True Myth Sense Every Philosophy Arbitrary Religious Allegorical Ritual Facts True Demand Categories Principle Sought Itself Common Which Common Sense Explained Custom Explanation Requires Actual

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 terror may dictate to the individual. William Robertson Smith

Savage Religion Better Nothing State Tribe Magical Superstitions Rites Individual Terror Foreign Private Dictate Times May Common

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 had to take his part, or break with the domestic and political community to which he belonged. William Robertson Smith

Religion Man Welfare Political Community Every Society Saving Take Had He Part Souls His Exist Domestic End Did Break Which Necessary Belonged Every Man Preservation

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

Religion Nation National Dissolution Destroys Deity

The god, it would appear, was frequently thought of as the physical progenitor or first father of his people. William Robertson Smith

God People Father Thought First Would Physical Frequently His Appear

The land of a god corresponds with the land of his worshipers. William Robertson Smith

God His Land

This, it may be said, is no more than a hypothesis... only of that force of precedent which in all times has been so strong to keep alive religious forms of which the original meaning is lost. William Robertson Smith

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