Otis Moss III Quotes

Our Executive never interferes in the discipline, doctrine, or regulations of any religious society. They were not consulted nor took part in the appointment of our Bishops, or the Church of England, or Methodists.

Her highness doth charge and command, all manner of her subjects, as well those that be called to ministry in the Church as all others, that they do forbear to preach, or teach, or to give audience to any manner of doctrine or preaching other than to the Gospels and Epistles, commonly called the Gospel and Epistle of the day, and to the Ten Commandments in the vulgar tongue, without exposition or addition of any manner, sense, or meaning to be applied and added; or to use any other manner of public prayer, rite, or ceremony in the Church, but that which is already used and by law received; or the common Litany used at this present in her majesty's own chapel, and the Lord's Prayer, and the Creed in English; until consultation may be had by Parliament, by her majesty and her three estates of this realm, for the better conciliation and accord of such causes, as at this present are moved in matters and ceremonies of religion.

Christianity is part of the Common Law of England.

It's one thing to be religious, but it's another thing to make religion your policy.

I'm against organised religion of any kind.

Politics is the most important of the civil activities and has its own field of action, which is not that of religion.

Religion cannot and should not be understood by their texts alone. The lived history of a community of believers defines a religion; a great deal depends on how the custodians of the faith chose to interpret, defend and exploit or abuse its sacred texts.

Religion has no business to formulate social laws.

My earnest regard to preserve inviolate forever, in our new empire, the great principle of religious freedom ... which is independent of any religious doctrine and not restrained by any.

The moment religion organizes into a specific creed it becomes a political force. From Moses down to Brigham Young, every creed-founder has been a Statebuilder.

You cannot struggle against religion. Those who have tried this have been doomed.

The past history of the Christian Church should be a solemn warning to us never to permit an alliance to be formed between the priesthood and the civil magistracy—between church and state powers.

Intrude not yourself into ecclesiastical matters.

If you aim at a Scottish presbytery, it agrees as well with monarchy as God and the devil.

There would never have been an infidel had there never been a priest.

The public forum is the place for religious discussion, not religious practices.

It does not befit a bishop or a presbyter to go into the affairs of the people's government, but to be always engaged in the affairs of the Church

They [Americans] all attributed the peaceful dominion of religion in their country mainly to the separation of church and state. I do not hesitate to affirm that during my stay in America I did not meet a single individual, of the clergy or the laity, who was not of the same opinion on this point.

It is statute that no cleric having the means of an honorable livelihood according to his own calling engage in secular pursuits, especially by trading … or by leasing farms … allow himself to be withdrawn from spiritual exercises to the neglect of the proper cure of souls.

On the whole, the Anglican Church gives a question for every answer.

Every major question in history is a religious question. It has more effect in molding life than nationalism or a common language.

I never found much comfort in overly organized religion of any sort.

I'm not really into religion.

I hold that religion and faith are two different things.

I grew up very religious, and I don't have a great relationship with religion.