William Robertson Smith

The god, it would appear, was frequently thought of as the physical progenitor or first father of his people.

— William Robertson Smith

Thus a man was born into a fixed relation to certain gods as surely as he was born into a relation to…

— William Robertson Smith

In all the antique religions, mythology takes the place of dogma; that is, the sacred lore of priests and people... and these…

— William Robertson Smith

It is only in times of social dissolution, as in the last age of the small Semitic states, when men and their…

— William Robertson Smith

In better times the religion of the tribe or state has nothing in common with the private and foreign superstitions or magical…

— William Robertson Smith

This being so, it follows that mythology ought not to take the prominent place that is too often assigned to it in…

— William Robertson Smith

But, strictly speaking, this mythology was no essential part of ancient religion, for it had no sacred sanction and no binding force…

— William Robertson Smith

The god can no more exist without his people than the nation without its god.

— William Robertson Smith

Even the highest forms of sacrificial worship present much that is repulsive to modern ideas, and in particular it requires an effort…

— William Robertson Smith

Belief in a certain series of myths was neither obligatory as a part of the true religion, nor was it supposed that,…

— William Robertson Smith

We are so accustomed to think of religion as a thing between individual men and God that we can hardly enter into…

— William Robertson Smith

But if it not be true, the myth itself requires to be explained, and every principle of philosophy and common sense demand…

— William Robertson Smith

This, it may be said, is no more than a hypothesis... only of that force of precedent which in all times has…

— William Robertson Smith

The myths connected with individual sanctuaries and ceremonies were merely part of the apparatus of the worship; they served to excite the…

— William Robertson Smith

This, it may be said, is no more than a hypothesis, but it satisfies the conditions of a legitimate hypothesis, by postulating…

— William Robertson Smith

But we must not forget, this ritual expressed, certain ideas which lie at the very root of true religion, the fellowship of…

— William Robertson Smith

The land of a god corresponds with the land of his worshipers.

— William Robertson Smith

Religion did not exist for the saving of souls but for the preservation and welfare of society, and in all that was…

— William Robertson Smith

The dissolution of the nation destroys the national religion, and dethrones the national deity.

— William Robertson Smith

That the God-man died for his people, and that His death is their life, is an idea which was in some degree…

— William Robertson Smith