John F. Kennedy Quotes

I am not asking to be Governor of Illinois ... I have in my composition that which I have declared to the world as my views upon religion. My position I would not, under any circumstances, not even for my life, seem to renounce. I would rather refuse to be President of the United States than to do so. My religious belief is my own. It belongs to me, not to the State of Illinois. I would not smother one sentiment of my heart to be the Emperor of the round world.

I come of Quaker stock. My ancestors were persecuted for their beliefs. Here they sought and found religious freedom. By blood and conviction I stand for religious tolerance both in act and in spirit.

This country was founded by men and women who were dedicated or came to be dedicated to two propositions; first, a strong religious conviction, and secondly a recognition that this conviction could flourish only under a system of freedom.

I condemn all incidents of violence where religious minorities were targeted, no religious group can incite violence ... my government will ensure there is complete freedom of faith.

I'm very keen on having true freedom of expression. True freedom of faith. And free practice of religious faith.

No power of government ought to be employed in the endeavor to establish any system or article of belief on the subject of religion.

The Turks do not compel anyone to renounce their faith and do not try hard to persuade anyone.

The Constitution provides that all Americans enjoy the right to live a life in accordance with their convictions of faith.

I don't think that my particular religious convictions should be held against me in this campaign any more than the Prime Minister's lack of convictions should be held against her.

No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.

The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty.

No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument.

I think it is appropriate that we pay tribute to this great constitutional principle which is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution: the principle of religious independence, of religious liberty, of religious freedom.

Do you think you would ever have heard of Christianity if the Apostles had gone out and said, ‘I believe in consensus?’

Whatever others around you think, don't you ever be ashamed of being a Christian.

When our Founding Fathers passed the First Amendment, they sought to protect churches from government interference. They never intended to construct a wall of hostility between government and the concept of religious belief itself.

If it makes Tom Cruise happy, I don't care if he prays to turtles, ... And I don't think anybody else should.

Faith is like love, it cannot be forced. Therefore it is a dangerous operation if an attempt be made to introduce or bind it by state regulations; for, as the attempt to force love begets hatred, so also to compel religious belief produces rank unbelief.

That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world; and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in manners of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever.

The civil rights of none, shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed.

Religion was important to me. My family and I were very religious. I acctualy believe the work I did was a calling from God himself.

Because we hold it for 'a fundamental and undeniable truth', that religion or 'the duty which we owe to our Creator' and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence.

Acting is really important to me, so I think it would be really hard for me to do something I didn't believe in.

It should be heart-breaking to every American that we have a frontrunner in the presidential race that suggests there will be a religious test for anybody who wishes to come to our shores.

It really takes a hero to live any kind of spiritual life without religious belief.