Being and Doing – 20 October – Religion

THEN you don’t consider that it is something of the nature of a solecism to introduce religious topics into ordinary social intercourse?

Religious!   What precisely is religion?’ asked the girl passionately.   Is it going to church on Sundays?   Is it singing hymns?   Is it even the scrupulous praying of one’s daily prayers?   Is that all that it means for us – all that it can be made to mean?   If so, keep it silent then, keep it straitly in its place.   If it might be made to mean something less pathetically unhopeful, less unprofitably dreary if, for instance, it might be made to mean a more carefully beautiful human life, with finer and higher sympathies and manners for everyday uses of life;  if it might suggest a quicker and more keen-sighted compassion for unobtrusive sorrows, a less cruel contempt for uncomprehended failure and mistake, a less open and sickening worship of wealth for wealth’s sake, a stronger and more fervent desire to lessen but for one day, one hour, some small part of the great, crushing burden that we help to lay on the hapless shoulders of others if religion might, but ever so remotely, mean these, or any of these, then, in God’s name, let us speak of it?

M. LINSKILL

RELIGION consists, not in knowledge, but in a holy life.

Bishop TAYLOR

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.