Spinoza, Atheist Quotes

“The unphilosophical masses, who need to see themselves as acting in “obedience” to God’s law, have to be moved to justice and loving-kindness by adopting those tenets of universal faith and by the morally edifying stories of the ancient prophets, with the very humanlike God character, as lawgiver, promising rewards for obedience and destruction for waywardness. For the philosopher, on the other hand, who lives “religiously” from understanding rather than “obedience” to some imagined lawgiver, true religion consists in nothing more than living virtuously according to the guidance of reason and doing good both for oneself and for others.”
― Steven Nadler, Spinoza, Atheist

“Spinoza argues, there is “true religion,” which does not demand any particular conception of God, or even any belief in God whatsoever, much less empty rituals and ceremonies. True religion consists only in the ethical behavior of loving one’s fellow human beings and treating them with justice and charity.”
― Steven Nadler, Spinoza, Atheist