Mary Douglas

I have increasingly, over the years, felt that religion today does our civilization more harm than good.

— Mary Douglas

Our technological infrastructure alienates us from each other. No need to form a workplace community, everybody there will be out in a…

— Mary Douglas

The human body is always treated as an image of society.

— Mary Douglas

It's unlikely that the organized religions will get more sectarian... or is it? I am not at all sure.

— Mary Douglas

Enclave life becomes very tense, Even when they do elect a leader, the factions remain, with the threat of splitting off.

— Mary Douglas

It is very reasonable to worry about the harm done by organized religion, and to prefer looser and more private arrangements.

— Mary Douglas

Religion can make it worse. Are you supposing that if people were encouraged to believe in a transcendent reality, and to be…

— Mary Douglas

I am sure it must be true that people opt out of the mainstream society because they feel that there are going…

— Mary Douglas

I am convinced that living in an enclave shapes the personality, and living alone shapes the personality too.

— Mary Douglas

Without the letters of condolence, telegrams of congratulations, and occasional postcards, the friendship of a separated friend is not a social reality.…

— Mary Douglas

Any great organization can go through sectarian phases.

— Mary Douglas

Inequality can have a bad downside, but equality, for its part, sure does get in the way of coordination.

— Mary Douglas

Mormons... are so strong, they can handle wealth, they are confident. I think it is because they are not bogged down by…

— Mary Douglas

If we can abstract pathogenicity and hygiene from our notion of dirt, we are left with the old definition of dirt as…

— Mary Douglas

The natural response of the old-timers is to build a strong moral wall against the outside. This is where the world starts…

— Mary Douglas