The history of the Church of Rome is a constant leakage of members into such breakaway cults, which go on splitting. Mary Douglas Read Quote
Just in our lifetime our society has become looser and more private, it becomes extremely difficult to hold to any permanent commitment whatever, least of all to organized religion. Mary Douglas Read Quote
It is very reasonable to worry about the harm done by organized religion, and to prefer looser and more private arrangements. Mary Douglas Read Quote
I have increasingly, over the years, felt that religion today does our civilization more harm than good. Mary Douglas Read Quote
Since 1970, relationships can be more volatile, jobs more ephemeral, geographical mobility more intensified, stability of marriage weaker. Mary Douglas Read Quote
Every year the progress of advanced capitalist society makes our population consist of more and more isolates. This is because of the infrastructure of the economy, especially electronic communications. Mary Douglas Read Quote
It’s unlikely that the organized religions will get more sectarian… or is it? I am not at all sure. Mary Douglas Read Quote
If people want to compete for leadership of a religious group, they can compete in piety. A chilling thought. Or funny. Mary Douglas Read Quote
It is only partly true that religion does more harm than good in society. The community makes God into the image it wants, vengeful, or milky sweet, or scrupulously just, and so on. Mary Douglas Read Quote
