The deepest difference between religions is not that between polytheism and monotheism. Walter Kaufmann More Quotes by Walter Kaufmann More Quotes From Walter Kaufmann Faith means intense, usually confident, belief that is not based on evidence sufficient to command assent from every reasonable person. Walter Kaufmann beliefmeanreligion It is widely assumed, contrary to fact, that theism necessarily involves the two assumptions which cannot be squared with the existence of so much suffering, and that therefore, per impossibile, they simply have to be squared with the existence of all this suffering, somehow. Walter Kaufmann sufferingtwofacts The only theism worthy of our respect believes in God not because of the way the world is made but in spite of that. The only theism that is no less profound than the Buddha's atheism is that represented in the Bible by Job and Jeremiah. Walter Kaufmann jobsprofoundbelieve To an even moderately sophisticated and well-read person it should come as no surprise that any religion at all has its hidden as well as its obvious beauties and is capable of profound and impressive interpretations. What is deeply objectionable about most of these interpretations is that they allow the believer to say Yes while evading any No. Walter Kaufmann surpriseatheistprofound For atheism and polytheism there is no special problem of suffering, nor need there be for every kind of monotheism. Walter Kaufmann atheismsufferingspecial Success is no proof of virtue. In the case of a book, quick acclaim is presumptive evidence of a lack of substance and originality. Walter Kaufmann originalitysubstancebook Thirdly, even if we assume that the world is governed by purpose, we need only add that this purpose - or, if there are several, at least one of them - is not especially intent on preventing suffering, whether it is indifferent to suffering or actually rejoices in it. Walter Kaufmann sufferingaddneeds No other German writer of comparable stature has been a more extreme critic of German nationalism than Nietzsche. Walter Kaufmann extremeshas-beenscritics The first function of a book review should be, I believe, to give some idea of the contents and character of the book. Walter Kaufmann characterbelievebook Here an attempt is made to explain suffering: the outcaste of traditional Hinduism is held to deserve his fetched fate; it is a punishment for the wrongs he did in a previous life. Walter Kaufmann punishmentfatesuffering Paul substituted faith in Christ for the Christlike life. Walter Kaufmann historicalchrist The doctrine of original sin claims that all men sinned in Adam; but whether they did or whether it is merely a fact that all men sin does not basically affect the problem of suffering. Walter Kaufmann sufferingdoemen In all three cases, and for most human beings, the problem of suffering poses no difficult problem at all: one has a world picture in which suffering has its place, a world picture that takes suffering into account. Walter Kaufmann pictureproblemsufferingworld The great artist is the man who most obviously succeeds in turning his pains to advantage, in letting suffering deepens his understanding and sensibility, in growing through his pains. Walter Kaufmann greatmanunderstandingsuffering
