Who Said That?

"The relationship between God and the soul is original for every man.  His religion must be his own.  No man or men can tell me what I must think of him.  If I am pure of heart, I see him and know him--and creeds are but fictions that have nothing to do with the truth."

Leave your guess in the comments section below.  Please, no google searches or Cheating.  The whole point is to guess!  Answer to follow with the next post.

Update on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 05:28PM by Kim Riddlebarger

This is a quote from Charles Eliot Norton (1827-1908).  Norton was editor of the influential North American Review--and considered "the most cultivated man in America."  The quote is dated August 15, 1865, and comes from Norton's papers.  Cited in James Turner's Without God, Without Creed.  I realize that this was a tough one, but Norton reflects the American religion--transcendentalism

Comments

[Clay Smith]

Rob Bell is really hot right now, so I'm going to guess him.

[Alberto]

It's obvious that it's someone who doesn't know God.

["lee n. field"]

Any number of people. Guess -- one of the US-ian founding fathers.

[RCoffey]

Joseph Smith or Jimmer Fredette

[Paul L.]

Ralph Waldo Emerson

My first thought was actually Rob Bell but the language ("If I am pure of heart", "creeds are but fictions") doesn't sound contemporary.

[reg]

Thoreau?

[Will]

The current Archbishop of Canterbury?

[Scott]

Kierkegaard

[Jennifer]

Barack Obama?

[A. Kim]

My guess is Thomas Paine.

"If I am pure of heart..." You are not pure of heart. No one but God is.

[Neal P]

Thomas Paine

[John Yeazel]

The theologian/philosopher of the American Religion- either William James or Ralph Waldo Emerson.

[Richard]

Mark Grace.

[Alan]

I'm going out on a limb and agree with Clay. Considering Bell's new book is coming out I'm going to guess its him. cats rule.

[dsanger]

Joseph Smith