"The really carefully guarded secret of the priests of all the religions, which they will never voluntarily relinquish to the world, is that priests are not needed, nor what priests know or what initiates do or what the devout believe—practices and sacraments, anything. The truth is that God inhabits without limit; wherever the real is or the actual does, He is it. Special knowledge of how to get in touch with him is that same knowledge which carries the bee home to its hive each night; who sells that knowledge to the bee? If we have no money, if we can't read or be wise, are we abandoned? Does He abandon the lowly insects because they are virtually no more than reflex machines? Just as truth cannot really be suppressed, at least not forever, it neither can be horded. We are taught day and night, as all living entities are: ceaselessly. God did not begin to govern and inform the cosmos when writing and money were invented."

"Any system which says, This is a rotten world, wait for the next, give up, do nothing, succumb—that may be the basic Lie and if we participate in believing it and acting (or rather not acting) on it we involve ourselves in the Lie and suffer dreadfully ... which only reinforces that particular Lie.  I imagine that if Sweet Jesus is listening to me He is becoming very angry now, but if He follows his own philisophy He will fold his hands, look tragically toward heaven, and do nothing."

You've heard the question, "Can I get an amen?"  Here's one way to get one.  From Salem's 1969 yearbook.

The Russian bear embraces religion.  From Life, 1923.

Here's a precursor to the Seinfeld episode in which George converts to Latvian Orthodox:

Latvian Orthodox Father: Is there one aspect of the faith that you find particularly attractive?

George: I think the hats. The hats convey that solemn religious look you want in a faith.  Very pious.

The Clothes of Religion by Wilfrid Philip Ward, 1886.

Not merely an optical illusion -- even atheists might find Jesus in this splatter of ink.  From Mount Olive's 1969 yearbook.

"Music adds to the religious experience."  From Seton Hall's 1969 yearbook.