Phineas Parkhurst Quimby

My Religion

When I talk to the sick, I talk my theory. When I talk to the well, I talk about it. It is so with my religion. I have no religion independent of my acts. When I am religious, I talk it and put it into practice. When I am not putting my religion into practice for the benefit of the sick and those whom I can help, then if I talk, I am talking about it.

Here is a distinction that may, at first, seem curious to some - but if you will look at it rightly, you will see that there is more in it than you would at first suppose. One of Christ's followers made a remark like this in regard to the same distinction, only he called their talk (or belief) “faith,” which is religion put in practice. He said, “Show me your religion (or faith), independent of works - and I will show you my religion (or faith) by my works. There is no such thing as “goodness,” of itself.