"Religion was used as an ideology, as a system of control. When they forced the veil upon women, they were using it as an instrument of control in the same way that in Mao's China people were wearing Mao jackets and women were not supposed to wear any makeup."
"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple the philosophy is kindness."
Dalai Lama on Religion"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Mahatma Gandhi on Religion"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
C. S. Lewis on Religion"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."
C. S. Lewis on Religion"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is."
Albert Camus on Religion"When I first left Iran at the age of 13, Iran had become such a shining star - it was the point to which all my desires and dreams returned."
"You need imagination in order to imagine a future that doesn't exist."
"Those in the west who dismiss the repressiveness of laws against women in countries like Iran, no matter how benign their intentions, present a condescending view not just of the religion but also of women living in Muslim majority countries, as if the desire for choice and happiness is the monopoly of women in the west."
"This is a good time to ask apologists for the Islamic regime, who degrades Islam? Who imposes stoning, forced marriage of underage girls and flogging for not wearing the veil? Do such practices represent Iran's ancient history and culture, its ethnic and religious diversity? Its centuries of sensual and subversive poetry?"
"You need imagination in order to imagine a future that doesn't exist."