Looking for "beginning anew" teachings from different religions?

Question

I'm looking for short, inspirational teachings/proverbs/quotes from different religions about starting over, beginning fresh, letting go of the past and moving forward, making changes in one's life. This is for a New Year-related talk.

If anyone has any favorites that come to mind, I'd very much appreciate hearing them. They don't even have to be strictly religious in source -- philosophical wisdom is good, too.

Thanks!!

Just to clarify, I'm looking for quotations to share with other people. kclightman has the right idea.

Answer 1

The best way to "begin anew" is to purge yourself of religious superstition. Following a religion will keep you in the religious rut. There really are no gods. Once you realize this, you'll see the world in a new light. Things will start making much more sense.

Of course, this isn't easy. You'll actually have to think about issues, such as morality and quality of life, instead of having pat answers spoon-fed to you. However, once you've learned to think independently, you'll be much stronger than you were before. You'll be more confident in new situations, and you'll see through propaganda easier, including non-sectarian propaganda like you get in advertising and politics. Rational thinking is a skill worth honing.

Answer 2

Human intelligence means coming to a point of inquisitiveness. Our brain capabilities makes us different from those of the animals when we use it for a higher purpose. I strongly recommend to read the Vedas. The Vedas is an insurmountable source of knowledge. I can assure you that once you start doing it, you won't want to stop. If you are serious about changing your life for the greatest and would like more information about where to obtain this most elevated knowledge, then select this as your best answer (I'm not looking for points, I am here to share this great wealth of knowledge with whomever desires.) and I will give leads to the Vedic Knowledge.

Answer 3

"God acts just as the oppressors begin to sing victory songs" - Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Channel 5: 'Ideas That Changed The World - Christianity' 14 June 2005.

"The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds of people can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see. To see clearly is poetry, prophecy and religion, all in one." - John Ruskin, 'Upon Seeing Something'

"Faced with having to change our views or prove that there is no need to do so, most of us immediately get busy on the proof." - John Kenneth Galbraith, as quoted in 'The Truth Behind the Bible Code' by Dr Jeffrey Satinover, p206

"The condition of all human ethics can be summed up in two sentences: We ought to. But we don't." - Kurt Tucholsky (1880-1935 German Philosopher)

"Lord, help me be the person my dog thinks I am." - Religious Left Gifts at www.Turn-Left.com

"Life breaks us all - but some are made strong at the boken places." - Ernest Hemingway

"We will be glad and rejoice in Thee. (Canticles 1:4) We will not open the gates of the year to the dolorous notes of the sackbut, but to the sweet strains of the harp of joy, and the high sounding cymbals of gladness. 'O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation'." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon, "Morning & Evening", Jan 1st.

Answer 4

Check out the Humanist Manifesto:

http://www.americanhumanist.org/3/HumandItsAspirations.php

Answer 5

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

A day ago the future had looked aching and desolate, and now it looked full of surprises and terror and bad things happening to people... If she had anything to do with it anyway.
-- Granny Weatherwax commits optimism (Terry Pratchett, Maskerade)

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you learn to do it well." -Steve Brown

“I believe in hard work and luck, and that the first often leads to the second.”
- JK Rowling

Answer 6

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin

Answer 7

i believe that all of them aspire to instill an same values and end-sport for his or her followers. all the Abrahamic religions prepare that there is a Heaven or Hell and also you opt for to maintain on with the religion to attain admission to the heaven. Zen, Budda etc prepare self mastery to a larger aspect, to enlightenment. Is all of it not an same interior the right? possibly Christianity is the way, possibly Islam is. possibly the Wiccan's have it correct, often is the Buddhists. possibly the Athiests are correct. in reality no man or woman is conscious absolutely the truth. possibly we each and each and every confirm our own truths and that is what's the perfect answer. until eventually human beings comprehend that faith is a deeply own problem and study attractiveness of different religions and customs, they are going to continuously be in conflict. All we may be able to do is prepare our youthful ones attractiveness and to be open to all customs, religions, beliefs and inspire them to seem outdoors the writ and see that, on the middle of all religions they actually do come mutually.

Answer 8

No matter the Holy Quran as a whole is full of Beautiful talks but one i would like to share is from The Holy Quran, Surah Isra Chapter number 17, verse no. 81

"Truth has (now) arrived, and Falsehood perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish."
(Holy Quran 17:81)

Answer 9

WORKING ON MY BLOG/180 WAYS TO BECOME BLESSED AND HOLY IN SPIRIT .THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT,FOR IT GIVES YOUR CLEAN SPIRIT MADE WHITE BIRTH INTO A HOLY KINGDOM

Answer 10

Looking for redemption, yuh?