--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Religion is not an end in itself. One's…" description: "\"Religion is not an end in itself. One's union with God is the ultimate goal.\" — Peace Pilgrim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/peace-pilgrim-1191_ends_religion-is-not-an-end-in-itself-one-s-u_1503568.png" --- # Religion is not an end in itself. One's union with God is… ![“Religion is not an end in itself. One's union with God is the ultimate goal.” quote by Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/peace-pilgrim-1191_ends_religion-is-not-an-end-in-itself-one-s-u_1503568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/peace-pilgrim-1191_ends_religion-is-not-an-end-in-itself-one-s-u_1503568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef6/peace-pilgrim-1191_ends_religion-is-not-an-end-in-itself-one-s-u_1503568.png) > “Religion is not an end in itself. One's union with God is the ultimate goal.” [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual union with the divine is the ultimate aim, not religion as a destination. **In simple terms:** God connection is the goal, not religion itself. Key Takeaway Seek deeper spiritual connection. Themes spirituality purpose religion Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal meditation - community service - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What does spiritual union mean to you? - How can you move beyond ritual? A Different Perspective Religious rituals may become ends in themselves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Ultimate goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-goal/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) ## Related quotes > [Religion is not an end in itself. One's union with God is the ultimate goal. There are so many religions because immature people tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/religion-is-not-an-end-in-itself-one-s-union-with-god-is-the-ultimate/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“We must go out to Pure Life, Pure Truth, Pure Love, and that is the definition of God. He is the ultimate goal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/we-must-go-out-to-pure-life-pure-truth-pure-love-and-that-is-the/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/god-s-ultimate-goal-for-your-life-on-earth-is-not-comfort-but/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Union with God is really possible. Unity with God I presume, is what is meant by Heaven, but that too is available in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/union-with-god-is-really-possible-unity-with-god-i-presume-is-what-is/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [True religion is a union of God with the soul, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-scougal/true-religion-is-a-union-of-god-with-the-soul-a-real-participation-of/) [Henry Scougal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-scougal/) > [Perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonsus-liguori/perfect-love-of-god-means-the-complete-union-of-our-will-with-god-s/) [Alphonsus Liguori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonsus-liguori/) > [The deepest desire of our hearts is for union for God. God created us for union with himself. This is the original purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-deepest-desire-of-our-hearts-is-for-union-for-god-god-created-us/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own-unassisted-strength-is-still/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The ultimate goal of the whole policy of peaceful co-existence was to make progress on the basic goal laid down by Lenin of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nitze/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-whole-policy-of-peaceful-co-existence-was-to/) [Paul Nitze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nitze/) > [In Islam, we believe that it is God himself who is the ultimate guide - Al Hadi - one of the names of God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/in-islam-we-believe-that-it-is-god-himself-who-is-the-ultimate-guide/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [God cannot be found outside you, because there is no God who can ever be outside you. God is the ultimate fragrance of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/god-cannot-be-found-outside-you-because-there-is-no-god-who-can-ever/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Organized religions in general, in my opinion, are dying forms. They were all very important when we didn't know why the sun moved, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/organized-religions-in-general-in-my-opinion-are-dying-forms-they/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [“Never mix business with religion, or you might end up losing your testimony when the business agreement is no longer something you or Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/never-mix-business-with-religion-or-you-might-end-up-losing-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I'm a hardened atheist but I feel that we have an inbuilt need for God. If you eradicate religion, you end up with something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-trigell/i-m-a-hardened-atheist-but-i-feel-that-we-have-an-inbuilt-need-for/) [Jonathan Trigell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-trigell/) > [Anything is depressing if you dwell on it. The fact that religion could end the world? Yeah, I guess that could be considered depressing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/anything-is-depressing-if-you-dwell-on-it-the-fact-that-religion/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Peace Pilgrim > [The motive, if you are to find inner peace, must be an outgoing motive. Service, of course-service. Giving, not getting. Your motive must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/the-motive-if-you-are-to-find-inner-peace-must-be-an-outgoing-motive/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Knowing that all things contrary to God's laws are transient, let us avoid despair and radiate hope for a warless world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/knowing-that-all-things-contrary-to-god-s-laws-are-transient-let-us/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I wish that every child could have growing space because I think children are a little like plants. If they grow too close together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-wish-that-every-child-could-have-growing-space-because-i-think/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [All of us can work for peace. We can work right where we are, right within ourselves, because the more peace we have within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/all-of-us-can-work-for-peace-we-can-work-right-where-we-are-right/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [As I lived up to the highest light I had, higher and higher light came to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/as-i-lived-up-to-the-highest-light-i-had-higher-and-higher-light-came/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you realize that those who do mean things are psychologically ill, your feelings of anger will turn to feelings of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-realize-that-those-who-do-mean-things-are-psychologically-ill/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If you give your life as a prayer, you intensify the prayer beyond all measure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-you-give-your-life-as-a-prayer-you-intensify-the-prayer-beyond-all/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [If we fear nothing and radiate love, we can expect good things to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-we-fear-nothing-and-radiate-love-we-can-expect-good-things-to-come/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Be willing to face life squarely and get down beneath the surface of life where the verities and realities are to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/be-willing-to-face-life-squarely-and-get-down-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When societies are out of harmony, problems develop within the society - collective problems. Their purpose is to push the whole society toward harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-societies-are-out-of-harmony-problems-develop-within-the-society/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/unnecessary-possessions-are-unnecessary-burdens/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When you feel the need for a spiritual lift, try getting to bed early and get up early to have a quiet time at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-you-feel-the-need-for-a-spiritual-lift-try-getting-to-bed-early/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/this-is-the-way-of-peace-overcome-evil-with-good-falsehood-with-truth/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [For light I go directly to the Source of light, not to any of the reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/for-light-i-go-directly-to-the-source-of-light-not-to-any-of-the/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I would like to mention some preparations that were required of me. The first preparation is to take a right attitude toward life. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-would-like-to-mention-some-preparations-that-were-required-of-me/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) [Explore all 276 Peace Pilgrim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## More Ends quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/) [Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/) > [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Religion is not an end in itself. 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