[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fExSwJmmiNx2nXYPJbN0wkRTHwhfw_Osi8aNPRUZgDg4":3,"$f4NbHqQIxhbtAtxzifFIqiiyWmBKd-Qik-jaN6zpciSU":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},188841,"William Robertson Smith","W",21,null,"william-robertson-smith",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":128},[14,28,39,51,60,71,82,93,105,116],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":27},2572098,"Belief in a certain series of myths was neither obligatory as a part of the true religion, nor was it supposed that, by believing, a man acquired religious merit and conciliated the favour of the gods.",4,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22],{"id":23,"tag":24},5550958,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},2955,"believe","**The Backstory**\nWilliam Robertson Smith, a Scottish theologian and historian, penned this quote in his seminal work, \"Lectures on the Religion of the Semites,\" first published in 1889. At the time, Smith was grappling with the complexities of ancient Semitic religions and the nature of faith. His work was a product of the late 19th-century scholarly movement that sought to understand the historical and cultural contexts of religious practices.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a subtle yet profound tension between the necessity of belief and the acquisition of religious merit. Smith argues that, in the context of ancient Semitic religions, belief in certain myths was not a means to an end (i.e., earning favor with the gods) but rather an inherent aspect of the faith itself. This nuance challenges the common assumption that religious practices are solely driven by a desire for personal gain or reward.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's professional and creative pursuits, this insight can be applied by recognizing that true commitment to a project or endeavor is not solely driven by external validation or rewards. Instead, genuine passion and engagement arise from an intrinsic understanding of the subject matter and a willingness to immerse oneself in the process, regardless of potential outcomes. By embracing this mindset, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment in their work.",{"id":29,"quote_text":30,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":9},2572090,"This, it may be said, is no more than a hypothesis, but it satisfies the conditions of a legitimate hypothesis, by postulating the operation of no unknown or uncertain cause, but only of that force of precedent which in all times has been so strong to keep alive religious forms of which the original meaning is lost.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[34],{"id":35,"tag":36},5550938,{"id":37,"tag_name":38},634,"religious",{"id":40,"quote_text":41,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":42,"source":43,"quote_tag":44,"commentary":50},2572086,"It is only in times of social dissolution, as in the last age of the small Semitic states, when men and their gods were alike powerless before the advance of the Assyrians, that magical superstitions based on mere terror, or rites designed to conciliate alien gods, invade the sphere of tribal or national religion. In better times the religion of the tribe or state has nothing in common with the private and foreign superstitions or magical rites that savage terror may dictate to the individual.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[45],{"id":46,"tag":47},5550931,{"id":48,"tag_name":49},326,"men","**The Backstory**\nWilliam Robertson Smith, a Scottish theologian and scholar, wrote this quote in his 1889 book \"Lectures on the Religion of the Semites: The Fundamental Institutions.\" Smith was a key figure in the development of the \"higher criticism\" of the Bible, which aimed to understand the historical and cultural context of the scriptures. At the time, he was grappling with the complex relationships between ancient Near Eastern cultures and their mythologies, particularly in the face of imperial expansion.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nSmith's observation highlights a profound paradox: that true, communal faith is often most vulnerable in times of social upheaval, when individuals may turn to more primal, personal superstitions for comfort. This insight suggests that the most authentic, collective expressions of spirituality are often precisely those that are most fragile and easily disrupted.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's fast-paced, rapidly changing world, leaders and creatives can benefit from recognizing the tension between personal, individualized expression and communal, shared faith. By acknowledging the fragility of collective spiritual practices, we can proactively nurture and strengthen our shared values and traditions, even as we navigate uncertainty and upheaval.",{"id":52,"quote_text":53,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":54,"source":55,"quote_tag":56,"commentary":9},2572080,"But we must not forget, this ritual expressed, certain ideas which lie at the very root of true religion, the fellowship of the worshippers with one another in their fellowship with the deity, and the consecration of the bonds of kinship as the type of all right ethical relations between man and man.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[57],{"id":58,"tag":59},5550925,{"id":37,"tag_name":38},{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":9},2572070,"Every social act had a reference to the gods as well as to men, for the social body was not made up of men only, but of gods and men.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[66],{"id":67,"tag":68},5550919,{"id":69,"tag_name":70},2293,"act",{"id":72,"quote_text":73,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":74,"source":75,"quote_tag":76,"commentary":9},2572064,"The god, it would appear, was frequently thought of as the physical progenitor or first father of his people.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[77],{"id":78,"tag":79},5550909,{"id":80,"tag_name":81},21426,"firsts",{"id":83,"quote_text":84,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":85,"source":86,"quote_tag":87,"commentary":9},2572053,"The god can no more exist without his people than the nation without its god.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[88],{"id":89,"tag":90},5550903,{"id":91,"tag_name":92},255,"god",{"id":94,"quote_text":95,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":96,"source":97,"quote_tag":98,"commentary":104},2572034,"We are so accustomed to think of religion as a thing between individual men and God that we can hardly enter into the idea of a religion in which a whole nation in its national organisation appears as the religious unit.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[99],{"id":100,"tag":101},5550884,{"id":102,"tag_name":103},56,"thinking","**The Backstory**\nWilliam Robertson Smith, a Scottish theologian and biblical scholar, wrote this quote in the late 19th century. At the time, Smith was grappling with the concept of national identity and its relationship to religion. His work, \"Lectures on the Religion of the Semites,\" was a groundbreaking attempt to understand the evolution of religious practices and the role of the state in shaping them.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat Smith is highlighting is the tension between individual spirituality and collective identity. He's pointing out that we often assume religion is a personal, individual experience, but in many cultures, including ancient societies, the nation or community is the primary unit of religious organization. This challenges the modern notion of a personal, individual relationship with God, suggesting that our understanding of religion is often rooted in our collective, social context.\n\n**How to Use This**\nIn today's professional and creative endeavors, this insight can be applied by recognizing the power of shared identity and collective purpose. By tapping into the deeper, communal aspects of our work, we can create a sense of shared meaning and belonging that goes beyond individual achievements.",{"id":106,"quote_text":107,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":108,"source":109,"quote_tag":110,"commentary":9},2572022,"This being so, it follows that mythology ought not to take the prominent place that is too often assigned to it in the scientific study of ancient faiths.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[111],{"id":112,"tag":113},5550872,{"id":114,"tag_name":115},54410,"assigned",{"id":117,"quote_text":118,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":119,"source":120,"quote_tag":121,"commentary":127},2572017,"But, strictly speaking, this mythology was no essential part of ancient religion, for it had no sacred sanction and no binding force on the worshippers.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[122],{"id":123,"tag":124},5550862,{"id":125,"tag_name":126},28536,"essentials","**The Backstory**\nThis quote originates from the work of William Robertson Smith, a Scottish theologian and scholar, in the late 19th century. At that time, Smith was grappling with the intersection of mythology, ritual, and faith in ancient societies. His treatise on the subject was likely influenced by his experiences as a professor at the University of Aberdeen, where he was exposed to the complexities of comparative religion.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe counter-intuitive truth in this quote lies in the tension between the perceived importance of mythology in ancient religions and its actual role as a non-binding, non-sacred aspect of worship. Smith is suggesting that, despite its prevalence and influence, mythology was not a fundamental component of ancient faiths, but rather a secondary, perhaps even superficial, layer.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen navigating the complexities of modern professional or creative endeavors, remember that the myths and narratives surrounding your work may not hold the same sacred significance as the work itself. By recognizing the distinction between the story and the substance, you can avoid getting caught up in the trappings of mythology and focus on the tangible, actionable aspects of your craft.",{"currentPage":129,"totalPages":130,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":131},1,3,10]