Alice McDermott Quotes

I'm not involved in the politics of religion, but I love what the message is.

Religion survives because it answers three questions that every reflective person must ask. Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live?

I am sensitive to the value of faith and religion and spirituality in people's lives because I'm a journalist.

I believe in God and a higher power. I'm still not the religious type per se because religion tore my family apart. I'm still a little scared and skeptical being one with any faith.

Religion can be both good and bad - it is spirituality that counts.

Religion is a very personal thing for me. Religion has its good moments and its poor moments.

I'm not intolerant. I just know what it says in The Scriptures.

I stopped going to church for awhile.

I don't spend that much time being introspective, believe it or not. All I know is that I grew up not questioning God because that's how you are. God was there like the birds and the wind.

Don't be confused that my interest in religion, faith, and spirituality is driven by any sense of faith or spirituality of my own.

My faith is very private to me. It plays an important part in my life, but I do not try and throw my beliefs at others. I have tremendous respect for all faiths and beliefs, but have a deep concern that religion and faith are currently a long way apart from each other.

Religion has been an important part of my understanding, my inquiry into what it means to be human.

The Christian must trust in a withdrawing God.

Religion stands, the Church blocking the sun.

I think it's a wonderful fact about Judaism - at least about the approach to Judaism I most relate to: There are no universal answers. We don't have it all figured out. God is unknowable.

Ever since I was young, I was always interested in exploring spirituality. I know that there are many paths to God, there is not just one path.

All around me insisted that my doubts proved only my own ignorance and sinfulness; that they knew by experience they would soon give place to true knowledge, and an advance in religion; and I felt something like indecision.

'Rust' really started with the passing of my dad, and me really looking back inward to my self about where I stand with all things on a faith/religious/spiritual level. And it's really put me on this interesting road and very educational, I might add, road back to understanding the role of faith in God and Christ in my life.

I always believed in God and Christ, but I was in rebellion - trying to make my relationship with God fit into my life instead of making my life fit in with him. I was stubborn.

I think everybody goes through things in their life where they're like, 'This does not make any sense,' or 'I don't understand why this is happening,' but that's part of the journey of faith.

We're very open and outspoken about our faith and our beliefs. We also talk about our doubts, our moments of insecurities. We talk about it all day, how we're inspired by God. We recognize little miracles every day, and that's how we're raising our daughter.

I don't think you need religion.

Religious belief, like history itself, is a story that is always unfolding, always subject to inquiry and ripe for questioning. For without doubt there is no faith.

Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.

In the end, religion teaches us to value truth, justice and freedom.