 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
The springs of action, as they are to be found in history and in the present day, are very largely such as demand defeat for others. There is love of power, there is rivalry, there is hate, and, I am afraid we must add, a positive pleasure in the spectacle of suffering. These passions are so strong that they have not only governed the behaviour of societies, but have caused hatred of those who spoke against them. When Christ told men that they should love each other, He produced such fury that the mob shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Christians ever since have followed the mob rather than the Founder of their religion.
Source： Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, part II: The Conflict of Passions, chapter 1: From Ethcs to Politics, n.2
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In any religion, the founder of the religion and the cult that propagates it are different in character. A cult is also an organisation, which invariably strives not only to maintain itself but also to expand. As the organisation grows in power, those in power in the organisation become overconfident and, more often than not, corrupt. Not only religious organisations, but also political parties and most other organisations make the same mistake, as if it were their destiny
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