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diff --git a/38802-h/38802-h.htm b/38802-h/38802-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb50b3c --- /dev/null +++ b/38802-h/38802-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10843 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 2 (of 12) by Robert G. Ingersoll + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 2 +(of 12), by Robert G. Ingersoll + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 2 (of 12) + Dresden Edition--Lectures + +Author: Robert G. Ingersoll + +Release Date: February 9, 2012 [EBook #38802] +Last Updated: November 15, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORKS OF INGERSOLL *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <a name="title" id="title"></a> + </p> + <h1> + THE WORKS OF ROBERT G. INGERSOLL + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Robert G. Ingersoll + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + <i>"THE CLERGY KNOW, THAT I KNOW, THAT THEY KNOW, THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW."</i> + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + IN TWELVE VOLUMES, VOLUME II. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + LECTURES + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + 1900 + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + THE DRESDEN EDITION + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> TO MRS. SUE. M. FARRELL, IN LAW MY SISTER, AND IN FACT MY + FRIEND, THIS VOLUME, AS A TOKEN OF RESPECT AND LOVE, IS DEDICATED. <br /><br /> + </p> + <table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="4"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <big><big><a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38802/old/orig38802-h/main.htm">This + file has been formatted in a very plain format for use with tablet + readers. Those wishing to view this eBook in its normal more + appealing format for laptops and other computers may click on this + line to to view the original HTML file.</a></big></big> + </td> + <td></td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="Titlepage (63K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%;"> + <img alt="Portrait (63K)" src="images/Portrait.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Contents + </h3> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkTOC">CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkPREF">PREFACE.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0002">SOME MISTAKES OF MOSES.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0003">SOME REASONS WHY</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0004">ORTHODOXY.</a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0005">MYTH AND MIRACLE.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkTOC" id="linkTOC"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0002">SOME MISTAKES OF MOSES.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1879.)<br /> Preface—I. He who endeavors to control the Mind + by Force is a<br /> Tyrant, and he who submits is a Slave—All I Ask—When + a Religion<br /> is Founded—Freedom for the Orthodox Clergy—Every + Minister an<br /> Attorney—Submission to the Orthodox and the Dead—Bounden + Duty of<br /> the Ministry—The Minister Factory at Andover—II. + Free Schools—No<br /> Sectarian Sciences—Religion and the + Schools—Scientific<br /> Hypocrites—III. The Politicians and + the Churches—IV. Man and Woman the<br /> Highest Possible Titles—Belief + Dependent on Surroundings—Worship of<br /> Ancestors—Blindness + Necessary to Keeping the Narrow Path—The Bible the<br /> Chain that + Binds—A Bible of the Middle Ages and the Awe it Inspired—V.<br /> + The Pentateuch—Moses Not the Author—Belief out of which Grew<br /> + Religious Ceremonies—Egypt the Source of the Information of Moses—VI.<br /> + Monday—Nothing, in the Light of Raw Material—The Story of + Creation<br /> Begun—The Same Story, substantially, Found in the + Records of Babylon,<br /> Egypt, and India—Inspiration Unnecessary + to the Truth—Usefulness of<br /> Miracles to Fit Lies to Facts—Division + of Darkness and Light—VII.<br /> Tuesday—The Firmament and + Some Biblical Notions about it—Laws of<br /> Evaporation Unknown to + the Inspired Writer—VIII. Wednesday—The Waters<br /> Gathered + into Seas—Fruit and Nothing to Eat it—Five Epochs in the<br /> + Organic History of the Earth—Balance between the Total Amounts of<br /> + Animal and Vegetable Life—Vegetation Prior to the Appearance of + the<br /> Sun—IX. Thursday—Sun and Moon Manufactured—Magnitude + of the Solar<br /> Orb—Dimensions of Some of the Planets—Moses' + Guess at the Size of Sun<br /> and Moon—Joshua's Control of the + Heavenly Bodies—A Hypothesis Urged<br /> by Ministers—The + Theory of "Refraction"—Rev. Henry Morey—Astronomical<br /> + Knowledge of Chinese Savants—The Motion of the Earth Reversed by<br /> + Jehovah for the Reassurance of Ahaz—"Errors" Renounced by Button—X.<br /> + "He made the Stars Also"—Distance of the Nearest Star—XI.<br /> + Friday—Whales and Other Living Creatures Produced—XII.<br /> + Saturday—Reproduction Inaugurated—XIII. "Let Us Make Man"—Human<br /> + Beings Created in the Physical Image and Likeness of God—Inquiry + as<br /> to the Process Adopted—Development of Living Forms + According to<br /> Evolution—How Were Adam and Eve Created?—The + Rib Story—Age of<br /> Man Upon the Earth—A Statue Apparently + Made before the World—XIV.<br /> Sunday—Sacredness of the + Sabbath Destroyed by the Theory of Vast<br /> "Periods"—Reflections + on the Sabbath—XV. The Necessity for a Good<br /> Memory—The + Two Accounts of the Creation in Genesis I and II—Order<br /> of + Creation in the First Account—Order of Creation in the Second<br /> + Account—Fastidiousness of Adam in the Choice of a Helpmeet—Dr.<br /> + Adam Clark's Commentary—Dr. Scott's Guess—Dr. Matthew + Henry's<br /> Admission—The Blonde and Brunette Problem—The + Result of Unbelief and<br /> the Reward of Faith—"Give Him a Harp"—XVI. + The Garden—Location of<br /> Eden—The Four Rivers—The + Tree of Knowledge—Andover Appealed<br /> To—XVII. The Fall—The + Serpent—Dr. Adam Clark Gives a Zoological<br /> Explanation—Dr. + Henry Dissents—Whence This Serpent?—XVIII.<br /> Dampness—A + Race of Giants—Wickedness of Mankind—An Ark Constructed—A<br /> + Universal Flood Indicated—Animals Probably Admitted to the Ark—How + Did<br /> They Get There?—Problem of Food and Service—A + Shoreless Sea Covered<br /> with Innumerable Dead—Drs. Clark and + Henry on the Situation—The Ark<br /> Takes Ground—New + Difficulties—Noah's Sacrifice—The Rainbow as a<br /> + Memorandum—Babylonian, Egyptian, and Indian Legends of a Flood—XIX.<br /> + Bacchus and Babel—Interest Attaching to Noah—Where Did Our + First<br /> Parents and the Serpent Acquire a Common Language?—Babel + and the<br /> Confusion of Tongues—XX. Faith in Filth—Immodesty + of Biblical<br /> Diction—XXI. The Hebrews—God's Promises to + Abraham—The Sojourning<br /> of Israel in Egypt—Marvelous + Increase—Moses and Aaron—XXII.<br /> The Plagues—Competitive + Miracle Working—Defeat of the Local<br /> Magicians—XXIII. + The Flight Out of Egypt—Three Million People in a<br /> Desert—Destruction + of Pharaoh ana His Host—Manna—A Superfluity of<br /> Quails—Rev. + Alexander Cruden's Commentary—Hornets as Allies of the<br /> + Israelites—Durability of the Clothing of the Jewish People—An + Ointment<br /> Monopoly—Consecration of Priests—The Crime of + Becoming a Mother—The<br /> Ten Commandments—Medical Ideas of + Jehovah—Character of the God of<br /> the Pentateuch—XXIV. + Confess and Avoid—XXV. "Inspired" Slavery—XXVI.<br /> + "Inspired" Marriage-XXVII. "Inspired" War-XXVIII. "Inspired" Religious<br /> + Liberty—XXIX. Conclusion.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0003">SOME REASONS WHY.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1881.)<br /> I—Religion makes Enemies—Hatred in the + Name of Universal<br /> Benevolence—No Respect for the Rights of + Barbarians—Literal<br /> Fulfillment of a New Testament Prophecy—II. + Duties to God—Can we<br /> Assist God?—An Infinite + Personality an Infinite Impossibility-Ill.<br /> Inspiration—What + it Really Is—Indication of Clams—Multitudinous<br /> Laughter + of the Sea—Horace Greeley and the Mammoth Trees—A Landscape<br /> + Compared to a Table-cloth—The Supernatural is the Deformed—Inspiration<br /> + in the Man as well as in the Book—Our Inspired Bible—IV. + God's<br /> Experiment with the Jews—Miracles of One Religion never + astonish the<br /> Priests of Another—"I am a Liar Myself"—V. + Civilized Countries—Crimes<br /> once regarded as Divine + Institutions—What the Believer in the<br /> Inspiration of the + Bible is Compelled to Say—Passages apparently<br /> written by the + Devil—VI. A Comparison of Books—Advancing a Cannibal<br /> + from Missionary to Mutton—Contrast between the Utterances of + Jehovah<br /> and those of Reputable Heathen—Epictetus, Cicero, + Zeno,<br /> Seneca—the Hindu, Antoninus, Marcus Aurelius—The + Avesta—VII.<br /> Monotheism—Egyptians before Moses taught + there was but One God<br /> and Married but One Wife—Persians and + Hindoos had a Single Supreme<br /> Deity—Rights of Roman Women—Marvels + of Art achieved without the<br /> Assistance of Heaven—Probable + Action of the Jewish Jehovah incarnated<br /> as Man—VIII. The New + Testament—Doctrine of Eternal Pain brought to<br /> Light—Discrepancies—Human + Weaknesses cannot be Predicated of<br /> Divine Wisdom—Why there + are Four Gospels according to Irenæus—The<br /> Atonement—Remission + of Sins under the Mosaic Dispensation—Christians<br /> say, "Charge + it"—God's Forgiveness does not Repair an Injury—Suffering<br /> + of Innocence for the Guilty—Salvation made Possible by Jehovah's<br /> + Failure to Civilize the Jews—Necessity of Belief not taught in the<br /> + Synoptic Gospels—Non-resistance the Offspring of Weakness—IX. + Christ's<br /> Mission—All the Virtues had been Taught before his + Advent—Perfect and<br /> Beautiful Thoughts of his Pagan + Predecessors—St. Paul Contrasted<br /> with Heathen Writers—"The + Quality of Mercy"—X. Eternal Pain—An<br /> Illustration of + Eternal Punishment—Captain Kreuger of the Barque<br /> Tiger—XI. + Civilizing Influence of the Bible—Its Effects on the<br /> Jews—If + Christ was God, Did he not, in his Crucifixion, Reap what<br /> he had + Sown?—Nothing can add to the Misery of a Nation whose King is<br /> + Jehovah<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0004">ORTHODOXY.</a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> (1884.)<br /> Orthodox Religion Dying Out—Religious Deaths + and Births—The Religion<br /> of Reciprocity—Every Language + has a Cemetery—Orthodox Institutions<br /> Survive through the + Money invested in them—"Let us tell our Real<br /> Names"—The + Blows that have Shattered the Shield and Shivered the Lance<br /> of + Superstition—Mohammed's Successful Defence of the Sepulchre of<br /> + Christ—The Destruction of Art—The Discovery of America—Although<br /> + he made it himself, the Holy Ghost was Ignorant of the Form of this<br /> + Earth—Copernicus and Kepler—Special Providence—The Man + and the Ship<br /> he did not Take—A Thanksgiving Proclamation + Contradicted—Charles<br /> Darwin—Henry Ward Beecher—The + Creeds—The Latest Creed—God as<br /> a Governor—The + Love of God—The Fall of Man—We are Bound<br /> by + Representatives without a Chance to Vote against Them—The<br /> + Atonement—The Doctrine of Depravity a Libel on the Human Race—The<br /> + Second Birth—A Unitarian Universalist—Inspiration of the<br /> + Scriptures—God a Victim of his own Tyranny—In the New + Testament<br /> Trouble Commences at Death—The Reign of Truth and + Love—The Old<br /> Spaniard who Died without an Enemy—The + Wars it Brought—Consolation<br /> should be Denied to Murderers—At + the Rate at which Heathen are being<br /> Converted, how long will it + take to Establish Christ's Kingdom on<br /> Earth?—The Resurrection—The + Judgment Day—Pious Evasions—"We shall<br /> not Die, but we + shall all be Hanged"—"No Bible, no Civilization"<br /> Miracles of + the New Testament—Nothing Written by Christ or his<br /> + Contemporaries—Genealogy of Jesus—More Miracles—A + Master of<br /> Death—Improbable that he would be Crucified—The + Loaves and Fishes—How<br /> did it happen that the Miracles + Convinced so Few?—The Resurrection—The<br /> Ascension—Was + the Body Spiritual—Parting from the Disciples—Casting<br /> + out Devils—Necessity of Belief—God should be consistent in + the<br /> Matter of forgiving Enemies—Eternal Punishment—Some + Good Men who are<br /> Damned—Another Objection—Love the only + Bow on Life's dark Cloud—"Now<br /> is the accepted Time"—Rather + than this Doctrine of Eternal Punishment<br /> Should be True—I + would rather that every Planet should in its Orbit<br /> wheel a barren + Star—What I Believe—Immortality—It existed long before<br /> + Moses—Consolation—The Promises are so Far Away, and the Dead + are so<br /> Near—Death a Wall or a Door—A Fable—Orpheus + and Eurydice.<br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link0005">MYTH AND MIRACLE.</a> + </p> + <p> + (1885.)<br /> I. Happiness the true End and Aim of Life—Spiritual + People and<br /> their Literature—Shakespeare's Clowns superior to + Inspired<br /> Writers—Beethoven's Sixth Symphony Preferred to the + Five Books of<br /> Moses—Venus of Milo more Pleasing than the + Presbyterian Creed—II.<br /> Religions Naturally Produced—Poets + the Myth-makers—The Sleeping<br /> Beauty—Orpheus and + Eurydice—Red Riding Hood—The Golden Age—Elysian<br /> + Fields—The Flood Myth—Myths of the Seasons—III. The + Sun-god—Jonah,<br /> Buddha, Chrisnna, Horus, Zoroaster—December + 25th as a Birthday of<br /> Gods—Christ a Sun-God—The Cross a + Symbol of the Life to Come—When<br /> Nature rocked the Cradle of + the Infant World—IV. Difference between<br /> a Myth and a Miracle—Raising + the Dead, Past and Present—Miracles<br /> of Jehovah—Miracles + of Christ—Everything Told except the Truth—The<br /> Mistake + of the World—V. Beginning of Investigation—The Stars as<br /> + Witnesses against Superstition—Martyrdom of Bruno—Geology—Steam + and<br /> Electricity—Nature forever the Same—Persistence of + Force—Cathedral,<br /> Mosque, and Joss House have the same + Foundation—Science the<br /> Providence of Man—VI. To Soften + the Heart of God—Martyrs—The God was<br /> Silent—Credulity + a Vice—Develop the Imagination—"The Skylark" and<br /> "The + Daisy"—VII. How are we to Civilize the World?—Put Theology + out<br /> of Religion—Divorce of Church and State—Secular + Education—Godless<br /> Schools—VIII. The New Jerusalem—Knowledge + of the Supernatural<br /> possessed by Savages—Beliefs of Primitive + Peoples—Science is<br /> Modest—Theology Arrogant—Torque-mada + and Bruno on the Day of<br /> Judgment—IX. Poison of Superstition + in the Mother's Milk—Ability<br /> of Mistakes to take Care of + Themselves—Longevity of Religious<br /> Lies—Mother's + religion pleaded by the Cannibal—The Religion of<br /> Freedom—O + Liberty, thou art the God of my Idolatry<br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkPREF" id="linkPREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + For many years I have regarded the Pentateuch simply as a record of a + barbarous people, in which are found a great number of the ceremonies of + savagery, many absurd and unjust laws, and thousands of ideas inconsistent + with known and demonstrated facts. To me it seemed almost a crime to teach + that this record was written by inspired men; that slavery, polygamy, wars + of conquest and extermination were right, and that there was a time when + men could win the approbation of infinite Intelligence, Justice, and + Mercy, by violating maidens and by butchering babes. To me it seemed more + reasonable that savage men had made these laws; and I endeavored in a + lecture, entitled "Some Mistakes of Moses," to point out some of the + errors, contradictions, and impossibilities contained in the Pentateuch. + The lecture was never written and consequently never delivered twice the + same. On several occasions it was reported and published without consent, + and without revision. All these publications were grossly and glaringly + incorrect As published, they have been answered several hundred times, and + many of the clergy are still engaged in the great work. To keep these + reverend gentlemen from wasting their talents on the mistakes of reporters + and printers, I concluded to publish the principal points in all my + lectures on this subject. And here, it may be proper for me to say, that + arguments cannot be answered by personal abuse; that there is no logic in + slander, and that falsehood, in the long run, defeats itself. People who + love their enemies should, at least, tell the truth about their friends. + Should it turn out that I am the worst man in the whole world, the story + of the flood will remain just as improbable as before, and the + contradictions of the Pentateuch will still demand an explanation. + </p> + <p> + There was a time when a falsehood, fulminated from the pulpit, smote like + a sword; but, the supply having greatly exceeded the demand, clerical + misrepresentation has at last become almost an innocent amusement. + Remembering that only a few years ago men, women, and even children, were + imprisoned, tortured and burned, for having expressed in an exceedingly + mild and gentle way, the ideas entertained by me, I congratulate myself + that calumny is now the pulpit's last resort. The old instruments of + torture are kept only to gratify curiosity; the chains are rusting away, + and the demolition of time has allowed even the dungeons of the + Inquisition to be visited by light. The church, impotent and malicious, + regrets, not the abuse, but the loss of her power, and seeks to hold by + falsehood what she gained by cruelty and force, by fire and fear. + Christianity cannot live in peace with any other form of faith. If that + religion be true, there is but one savior, one inspired book, and but one + little narrow grass-grown path that leads to heaven. Such a religion is + necessarily uncompromising, unreasoning, aggressive and insolent. + Christianity has held all other creeds and forms in infinite contempt, + divided the world into enemies and friends, and verified the awful + declaration of its founder—a declaration that wet with blood the + sword he came to bring, and made the horizon of a thousand years lurid + with the fagots' flames. + </p> + <p> + Too great praise challenges attention, and often brings to light a + thousand faults that otherwise the general eye would never see. Were we + allowed to read the Bible as we do all other books, we would admire its + beauties, treasure its worthy thoughts, and account for all its absurd, + grotesque and cruel things, by saying that its authors lived in rude, + barbaric times. But we are told that it was written by inspired men; that + it contains the will of God; that it is perfect, pure, and true in all its + parts; the source and standard of all moral and religious truth; that it + is the star and anchor of all human hope; the only guide for man, the only + torch in Nature's night. These claims are so at variance with every known + recorded fact, so palpably absurd, that every free unbiased soul is forced + to raise the standard of revolt. + </p> + <p> + We read the pagan sacred books with profit and delight. With myth and + fable we are ever charmed, and find a pleasure in the endless repetition + of the beautiful, poetic, and absurd. We find, in all these records of the + past, philosophies and dreams, and efforts stained with tears, of great + and tender souls who tried to pierce the mystery of life and death, to + answer the eternal questions of the Whence and Whither, and vainly sought + to make, with bits of shattered glass, a mirror that would, in very truth, + reflect the face and form of Nature's perfect self. + </p> + <p> + These myths were born of hopes, and fears, and tears, and smiles, and they + were touched and colored by all there is of joy and grief between the rosy + dawn of birth, and deaths sad night. They clothed even the stars with + passion, and gave to gods the faults and frailties of the sons of men. In + them, the winds and waves were music, and all the lakes, and streams, and + springs,—the mountains, woods and perfumed dells were haunted by a + thousand fairy forms. They thrilled the veins of Spring with tremulous + desire; made tawny Summer's billowed breast the throne and home of love; + filled Autumn's arms with sun-kissed grapes, and gathered sheaves; and + pictured Winter as a weak old king who felt, like Lear upon his withered + face, Cordelia's tears. These myths, though false, are beautiful, and have + for many ages and in countless ways, enriched the heart and kindled + thought. But if the world were taught that all these things are true and + all inspired of God, and that eternal punishment will be the lot of him + who dares deny or doubt, the sweetest myth of all the Fable World would + lose its beauty, and become a scorned and hateful thing to every brave and + thoughtful man. + </p> + <p> + Robert G. Ingersoll. + </p> + <p> + Washington, D. C., Oct. 7th, 1879. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link0002" id="link0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + SOME MISTAKES OF MOSES. + </h2> + <p> + HE WHO ENDEAVORS TO CONTROL THE MIND BY FORCE IS A TYRANT, AND HE WHO + SUBMITS IS A SLAVE. + </p> + <p> + I. + </p> + <p> + I want to do what little I can to make my country truly free, to broaden + the intellectual horizon of our people, to destroy the prejudices born of + ignorance and fear, to do away with the blind worship of the ignoble past, + with the idea that all the great and good are dead, that the living are + totally depraved, that all pleasures are sins, that sighs and groans are + alone pleasing to God, that thought is dangerous, that intellectual + courage is a crime, that cowardice is a virtue, that a certain belief is + necessary to secure salvation, that to carry a cross in this world will + give us a palm in the next, and that we must allow some priest to be the + pilot of our souls. + </p> + <p> + Until every soul is freely permitted to investigate every book, and creed, + and dogma for itself, the world cannot be free. Mankind will be enslaved + until there is mental grandeur enough to allow each man to have his + thought and say. This earth will be a paradise when men can, upon all + these questions differ, and yet grasp each other's hands as friends. It is + amazing to me that a difference of opinion upon subjects that we know + nothing with certainty about, should make us hate, persecute, and despise + each other. Why a difference of opinion upon predestination, or the + Trinity, should make people imprison and burn each other seems beyond the + comprehension of man; and yet in all countries where Christians have + existed, they have destroyed each other to the exact extent of their + power. Why should a believer in God hate an atheist? Surely the atheist + has not injured God, and surely he is human, capable of joy and pain, and + entitled to all the rights of man. Would it not be far better to treat + this atheist, at least, as well as he treats us? + </p> + <p> + Christians tell me that they love their enemies, and yet all I ask is—not + that they love their enemies, not that they love their friends even, but + that they treat those who differ from them, with simple fairness. + </p> + <p> + We do not wish to be forgiven, but we wish Christians to so act that we + will not have to forgive them. + </p> + <p> + If all will admit that all have an equal right to think, then the question + is forever solved; but as long as organized and powerful churches, + pretending to hold the keys of heaven and hell, denounce every person as + an outcast and criminal who thinks for himself and denies their authority, + the world will be filled with hatred and suffering. To hate man and + worship God seems to be the sum of all the creeds. + </p> + <p> + That which has happened in most countries has happened in ours. When a + religion is founded, the educated, the powerful—that is to say, the + priests and nobles, tell the ignorant and superstitious—that is to + say, the people, that the religion of their country was given to their + fathers by God himself; that it is the only true religion; that all others + were conceived in falsehood and brought forth in fraud, and that all who + believe in the true religion will be happy forever, while all others will + burn in hell. For the purpose of governing the people, that is to say, for + the purpose of being supported by the people, the priests and nobles + declare this religion to be sacred, and that whoever adds to, or takes + from it, will be burned here by man, and hereafter by God. The result of + this is, that the priests and nobles will not allow the people to change; + and when, after a time, the priests, having intellectually advanced, wish + to take a step in the direction of progress, the people will not allow + them to change. At first, the rabble are enslaved by the priests, and + afterwards the rabble become the masters. + </p> + <p> + One of the first things I wish to do, is to free the orthodox clergy. I am + a great friend of theirs, and in spite of all they may say against me, I + am going to do them a great and lasting service. Upon their necks are + visible the marks of the collar, and upon their backs those of the lash. + They are not allowed to read and think for themselves. They are taught + like parrots, and the best are those who repeat, with the fewest mistakes, + the sentences they have been taught. They sit like owls upon some dead + limb of the tree of knowledge, and hoot the same old hoots that have been + hooted for eighteen hundred years. Their congregations are not grand + enough, nor sufficiently civilized, to be willing that the poor preachers + shall think for themselves. They are not employed for that purpose. + Investigation regarded as a dangerous experiment, and the ministers are + warned that none of that kind of work will be tolerated. They are notified + to stand by the old creed, and to avoid all original thought, as a mortal + pestilence. Every minister is employed like an attorney—either for + plaintiff or defendant,—and he is expected to be true to his client. + If he changes his mind, he is regarded as a deserter, and denounced, + hated, and slandered accordingly. Every orthodox clergyman agrees not to + change. He contracts not to find new facts, and makes a bargain that he + will deny them if he does. Such is the position of a Protestant minister + in this nineteenth century. His condition excites my pity; and to better + it, I am going to do what little I can. + </p> + <p> + Some of the clergy have the independence to break away, and the intellect + to maintain themselves as free men, but the most are compelled to submit + to the dictation of the orthodox, and the dead. They are not employed to + give their thoughts, but simply to repeat the ideas of others. They are + not expected to give even the doubts that may suggest themselves, but are + required to walk in the narrow, verdureless path trodden by the ignorance + of the past. The forests and fields on either side are nothing to them. + They must not even look at the purple hills, nor pause to hear the babble + of the brooks. They must remain in the dusty road where the guide-boards + are. They must confine themselves to the "fall of man," the expulsion from + the garden, the "scheme of salvation," the "second birth," the atonement, + the happiness of the redeemed, and the misery of the lost. They must be + careful not to express any new ideas upon these great questions. It is + much safer for them to quote from the works of the dead. The more vividly + they describe the sufferings of the unregenerate, of those who attended + theatres and balls, and drank wine in summer gardens on the Sabbath-day, + and laughed at priests, the better ministers they are supposed to be. They + must show that misery fits the good for heaven, while happiness prepares + the bad for hell; that the wicked get all their good things in this life, + and the good all their evil; that in this world God punishes the people he + loves, and in the next, the ones he hates; that happiness makes us bad + here, but not in heaven; that pain makes us good here, but not in hell. No + matter how absurd these things may appear to the carnal mind, they must be + preached and they must be believed. If they were reasonable, there would + be no virtue in believing. Even the publicans and sinners believe + reasonable things. To believe without evidence, or in spite of it, is + accounted as righteousness to the sincere and humble Christian. + </p> + <p> + The ministers are in duty bound to denounce all intellectual pride, and + show that we are never quite so dear to God as when we admit that we are + poor, corrupt and idiotic worms; that we never should have been born; that + we ought to be damned without the least delay; that we are so infamous + that we like to enjoy ourselves; that we love our wives and children + better than our God; that we are generous only because we are vile; that + we are honest from the meanest motives, and that sometimes we have fallen + so low that we have had doubts about the inspiration of the Jewish + Scriptures. In short, they are expected to denounce all pleasant paths and + rustling trees, to curse the grass and flowers, and glorify the dust and + weeds. They are expected to malign the wicked people in the green and + happy fields, who sit and laugh beside the gurgling springs or climb the + hills and wander as they will. They are expected to point out the dangers + of freedom, the safety of implicit obedience, and to show the wickedness + of philosophy, the goodness of faith, the immorality of science and the + purity of ignorance. + </p> + <p> + Now and then a few pious people discover some young man of a religious + turn of mind and a consumptive habit of body, not quite sickly enough to + die, nor healthy enough to be wicked. The idea occurs to them that he + would make a good orthodox minister. They take up a contribution, and send + the young man to some theological school where he can be taught to repeat + a creed and despise reason. Should it turn out that the young man had some + mind of his own, and, after graduating, should change his opinions and + preach a different doctrine from that taught in the school, every man who + contributed a dollar towards his education would feel that he had been + robbed, and would denounce him as a dishonest and ungrateful wretch. + </p> + <p> + The pulpit should not be a pillory. Congregations should allow the + minister a little liberty. They should, at least, permit him to tell the + truth. + </p> + <p> + They have, in Massachusetts, at a place called Andover, a kind of minister + factory, where each professor takes an oath once in five years—that + time being considered the life of an oath—that he has not, during + the last five years, and will not, during the next five years, + intellectually advance. There is probably no oath that they could easier + keep. Probably, since the foundation stone of that institution was laid + there has not been a single case of perjury. The old creed is still + taught. They still insist that God is infinitely wise, powerful and good, + and that all men are totally depraved. They insist that the best man God + ever made, deserved to be damned the moment he was finished. Andover puts + its brand upon every minister it turns out, the same as Sheffield and + Birmingham brand their wares, and all who see the brand know exactly what + the minister believes, the books he has read, the arguments he relies on, + and just what he intellectually is. They know just what he can be depended + on to preach, and that he will continue to shrink and shrivel, and grow + solemnly stupid day by day until he reaches the Andover of the grave and + becomes truly orthodox forever. + </p> + <p> + I have not singled out the Andover factory because it is worse than the + others. They are all about the same. The professors, for the most part, + are ministers who failed in the pulpit and were retired to the seminary on + account of their deficiency in reason and their excess of faith. As a + rule, they know nothing of this world, and far less of the next; but they + have the power of stating the most absurd propositions with faces solemn + as stupidity touched by fear. + </p> + <p> + Something should be done for the liberation of these men. They should be + allowed to grow—to have sunlight and air. They should no longer be + chained and tied to confessions of faith, to mouldy books and musty + creeds. Thousands of ministers are anxious to give their honest thoughts. + The hands of wives and babes now stop their mouths. They must have bread, + and so the husbands and fathers are forced to preach a doctrine that they + hold in scorn. For the sake of shelter, food and clothes, they are obliged + to defend the childish miracles of the past, and denounce the sublime + discoveries of to-day. They are compelled to attack all modern thought, to + point out the dangers of science, the wickedness of investigation and the + corrupting influence of logic. It is for them to show that virtue rests + upon ignorance and faith, while vice impudently feeds and fattens upon + fact and demonstration. It is a part of their business to malign and + vilify the Voltaires, Humes, Paines, Humboldts, Tyndalls, Haeckels, + Darwins, Spencers, and Drapers, and to bow with uncovered heads before the + murderers, adulterers, and persecutors of the world. They are, for the + most part, engaged in poisoning the minds of the young, prejudicing + children against science, teaching the astronomy and geology of the Bible, + and inducing all to desert the sublime standard of reason. + </p> + <p> + These orthodox ministers do not add to the sum of knowledge. They produce + nothing. They live upon alms. They hate laughter and joy. They officiate + at weddings, sprinkle water upon babes, and utter meaningless words and + barren promises above the dead. They laugh at the agony of unbelievers, + mock at their tears, and of their sorrows make a jest. There are some + noble exceptions. Now and then a pulpit holds a brave and honest man. + Their congregations are willing that they should think—willing that + their ministers should have a little freedom. + </p> + <p> + As we become civilized, more and more liberty will be accorded to these + men, until finally ministers will give their best and highest thoughts. + The congregations will finally get tired of hearing about the patriarchs + and saints, the miracles and wonders, and will insist upon knowing + something about the men and women of our day, and the accomplishments and + discoveries of our time. They will finally insist upon knowing how to + escape the evils of this world instead of the next. They will ask light + upon the enigmas of this life. They will wish to know what we shall do + with our criminals instead of what God will do with his—how we shall + do away with beggary and want—with crime and misery—with + prostitution, disease and famine,—with tyranny in all its cruel + forms—with prisons and scaffolds, and how we shall reward the honest + workers, and fill the world with happy homes! These are the problems for + the pulpits and congregations of an enlightened future. If Science cannot + finally answer these questions, it is a vain and worthless thing. + </p> + <p> + The clergy, however, will continue to answer them in the old way, until + their congregations are good enough to set them free. They will still talk + about believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, as though that were the only + remedy for all human ills. They will still teach that retrogression is the + only path that leads to light; that we must go back, that faith is the + only sure guide, and that reason is a delusive glare, lighting only the + road to eternal pain. + </p> + <p> + Until the clergy are free they cannot be intellectually honest. We can + never tell what they really believe until they know that they can safely + speak. They console themselves now by a secret resolution to be as liberal + as they dare, with the hope that they can finally educate their + congregations to the point of allowing them to think a little for + themselves. They hardly know what they ought to do. The best part of their + lives has been wasted in studying subjects of no possible value. Most of + them are married, have families, and know but one way of making their + living. Some of them say that if they do not preach these foolish dogmas, + others will, and that they may through fear, after all, restrain mankind. + Besides, they hate publicly to admit that they are mistaken, that the + whole thing is a delusion, that the "scheme of salvation" is absurd, and + that the Bible is no better than some other books, and worse than most. + </p> + <p> + You can hardly expect a bishop to leave his palace, or the pope to vacate + the Vatican. As long as people want popes, plenty of hypocrites will be + found to take the place. And as long as labor fatigues, there will be + found a good many men willing to preach once a week, if other folks will + work and give them bread. In other words, while the demand lasts, the + supply will never fail. + </p> + <p> + If the people were a little more ignorant, astrology would flourish—if + a little more enlightened, religion would perish! + </p> + <p> + II. FREE SCHOOLS. + </p> + <p> + It is also my desire to free the schools. When a professor in a college + finds a fact, he should make it known, even if it is inconsistent with + something Moses said. Public opinion must not compel the professor to hide + a fact, and, "like the base Indian, throw the pearl away." With the single + exception of Cornell, there is not a college in the United States where + truth has ever been a welcome guest. The moment one of the teachers denies + the inspiration of the Bible, he is discharged. If he discovers a fact + inconsistent with that book, so much the worse for the fact, and + especially for the discoverer of the fact. He must not corrupt the minds + of his pupils with demonstrations. He must beware of every truth that + cannot, in some way be made to harmonize with the superstitions of the + Jews. Science has nothing in common with religion. Facts and miracles + never did, and never will agree. They are not in the least related. They + are deadly foes. What has religion to do with facts? Nothing. Can there be + Methodist mathematics, Catholic astronomy, Presbyterian geology, Baptist + biology, or Episcopal botany? Why, then, should a sectarian college exist? + Only that which somebody knows should be taught in our schools. We should + not collect taxes to pay people for guessing. The common school is the + bread of life for the people, and it should not be touched by the + withering hand of superstition. + </p> + <p> + Our country will never be filled with great institutions of learning until + there is an absolute divorce between Church and School. As long as the + mutilated records of a barbarous people are placed by priest and professor + above the reason of mankind, we shall reap but little benefit from church + or school. + </p> + <p> + Instead of dismissing professors for finding something out, let us rather + discharge those who do not. Let each teacher understand that investigation + is not dangerous for him; that his bread is safe, no matter how much truth + he may discover, and that his salary will not be reduced, simply because + he finds that the ancient Jews did not know the entire history of the + world. + </p> + <p> + Besides, it is not fair to make the Catholic support a Protestant school, + nor is it just to collect taxes from infidels and atheists to support + schools in which any system of religion is taught. + </p> + <p> + The sciences are not sectarian. People do not persecute each other on + account of disagreements in mathematics. Families are not divided about + botany, and astronomy does not even tend to make a man hate his father and + mother. It is what people do not know, that they persecute each other + about. Science will bring, not a sword, but peace. + </p> + <p> + Just as long as religion has control of the schools, science will be an + outcast. Let us free our institutions of learning. Let us dedicate them to + the science of eternal truth. Let us tell every teacher to ascertain all + the facts he can—to give us light, to follow Nature, no matter where + she leads; to be infinitely true to himself and us; to feel that he is + without a chain, except the obligation to be honest; that he is bound by + no books, by no creed, neither by the sayings of the dead nor of the + living; that he is asked to look with his own eyes, to reason for himself + without fear, to investigate in every possible direction, and to bring us + the fruit of all his work. + </p> + <p> + At present, a good many men engaged in scientific pursuits, and who have + signally failed in gaining recognition among their fellows, are + endeavoring to make reputations among the churches by delivering weak and + vapid lectures upon the "harmony of Genesis and Geology." Like all + hypocrites, these men overstate the case to such a degree, and so turn and + pervert facts and words that they succeed only in gaining the applause of + other hypocrites like themselves. Among the great scientists they are + regarded as generals regard sutlers who trade with both armies. + </p> + <p> + Surely the time must come when the wealth of the world will not be wasted + in the propagation of ignorant creeds and miraculous mistakes. The time + must come when churches and cathedrals will be dedicated to the use of + man; when minister and priest will deem the discoveries of the living of + more importance than the errors of the dead; when the truths of Nature + will outrank the "sacred" falsehoods of the past, and when a single fact + will outweigh all the miracles of Holy Writ. + </p> + <p> + Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in + superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind? + </p> + <p> + When every church becomes a school, every cathedral a university, every + clergyman a teacher, and all their hearers brave and honest thinkers, + then, and not until then, will the dream of poet, patriot, philanthropist + and philosopher, become a real and blessed truth. + </p> + <p> + III. THE POLITICIANS. + </p> + <p> + I would like also to liberate the politician. At present, the successful + office-seeker is a good deal like the centre of the earth; he weighs + nothing himself, but draws everything else to him. There are so many + societies, so many churches, so many isms, that it is almost impossible + for an independent man to succeed in a political career. Candidates are + forced to pretend that they are Catholics with Protestant proclivities, or + Christians with liberal tendencies, or temperance men who now and then + take a glass of wine, or, that although not members of any church their + wives are, and that they subscribe liberally to all. The result of all + this is that we reward hypocrisy and elect men entirely destitute of real + principle; and this will never change until the people become grand enough + to allow each other to do their own thinking, our Government should be + entirely and purely secular. The religious views of a candidate should be + kept entirely out of sight. He should not be compelled to give his opinion + as to the inspiration of the Bible, the propriety of infant baptism, or + the immaculate conception. All these things are private and personal. He + should be allowed to settle such things for himself, and should he decide + contrary to the law and will of God, let him settle the matter with God. + The people ought to be wise enough to select as their officers men who + know something of political affairs, who comprehend the present greatness, + and clearly perceive the future grandeur of our country. If we were in a + storm at sea, with deck wave-washed and masts strained and bent with + storm, and it was necessary to reef the top sail, we certainly would not + ask the brave sailor who volunteered to go aloft, what his opinion was on + the five points of Calvinism. Our Government has nothing to do with + religion. It is neither Christian nor pagan; it is secular. But as long as + the people persist in voting for or against men on account of their + religious views, just so long will hypocrisy hold place and power. Just so + long will the candidates crawl in the dust—hide their opinions, + flatter those with whom they differ, pretend to agree with those whom they + despise; and just so long will honest men be trampled under foot. Churches + are becoming political organizations. Nearly every Catholic is a Democrat; + nearly every Methodist in the North is a Republican. + </p> + <p> + It probably will not be long until the churches will divide as sharply + upon political, as upon theological questions; and when that day comes, if + there are not liberals enough to hold the balance of power, this + Government will be destroyed. The liberty of man is not safe in the hands + of any church. Wherever the Bible and sword are in partnership, man is a + slave. + </p> + <p> + All laws for the purpose of making man worship God, are born of the same + spirit that kindled the fires of the <i>auto da fe</i>, and lovingly built + the dungeons of the Inquisition. All laws defining and punishing blasphemy—making + it a crime to give your honest ideas about the Bible, or to laugh at the + ignorance of the ancient Jews, or to enjoy yourself on the Sabbath, or to + give your opinion of Jehovah, were passed by impudent bigots, and should + be at once repealed by honest men. An infinite God ought to be able to + protect himself, without going in partnership with State Legislatures. + Certainly he ought not so to act that laws become necessary to keep him + from being laughed at. No one thinks of protecting Shakespeare from + ridicule, by the threat of fine and imprisonment. It strikes me that God + might write a book that would not necessarily excite the laughter of his + children. In fact, I think it would be safe to say that a real God could + produce a work that would excite the admiration of mankind. Surely + politicians could be better employed than in passing laws to protect the + literary reputation of the Jewish God. + </p> + <p> + IV. MAN AND WOMAN + </p> + <p> + Let us forget that we are Baptists, Methodists, + </p> + <p> + Catholics, Presbyterians, or Freethinkers, and remember only that we are + men and women. After all, man and woman are the highest possible titles. + All other names belittle us, and show that we have, to a certain extent, + given up our individuality, and have consented to wear the collar of + authority—that we are followers. Throwing away these names, let us + examine these questions not as partisans, but as human beings with hopes + and fears in common. + </p> + <p> + We know that our opinions depend, to a great degree, upon our surroundings—upon + race, country, and education. We are all the result of numberless + conditions, and inherit vices and virtues, truths and prejudices. If we + had been born in England, surrounded by wealth and clothed with power, + most of us would have been Episcopalians, and believed in church and + state. We should have insisted that the people needed a religion, and that + not having intellect enough to provide one for themselves, it was our duty + to make one for them, and then compel them to support it. We should have + believed it indecent to officiate in a pulpit without wearing a gown, and + that prayers should be read from a book. Had we belonged to the lower + classes, we might have been dissenters and protested against the mummeries + of the High Church. Had we been born in Turkey, most of us would have been + Mohammedans and believed in the inspiration of the Koran. We should have + believed that Mohammed actually visited heaven and became acquainted with + an angel by the name of Gabriel, who was so broad between the eyes that it + required three hundred days for a very smart camel to travel the distance. + If some man had denied this story we should probably have denounced him as + a dangerous person, one who was endeavoring to undermine the foundations + of society, and to destroy all distinction between virtue and vice. We + should have said to him, "What do you propose to give us in place of that + angel? We cannot afford to give up an angel of that size for nothing." We + would have insisted that the best and wisest men believed the Koran. We + would have quoted from the works and letters of philosophers, generals and + sultans, to show that the Koran was the best of books, and that Turkey was + indebted to that book and to that alone for its greatness and prosperity. + We would have asked that man whether he knew more than all the great minds + of his country, whether he was so much wiser than his fathers? We would + have pointed out to him the fact that thousands had been consoled in the + hour of death by passages from the Koran; that they had died with glazed + eyes brightened by visions of the heavenly harem, and gladly left this + world of grief and tears. We would have regarded Christians as the vilest + of men, and on all occasions would have repeated "There is but one God, + and Mohammed is his prophet!" + </p> + <p> + So, if we had been born in India, we should in all probability have + believed in the religion of that country. We should have regarded the old + records as true and sacred, and looked upon a wandering priest as better + than the men from whom he begged, and by whose labor he lived. We should + have believed in a god with three heads instead of three gods with one + head, as we do now. + </p> + <p> + Now and then some one says that the religion of his father and mother is + good enough for him, and wonders why anybody should desire a better. + Surely we are not bound to follow our parents in religion any more than in + politics, science or art. China has been petrified by the worship of + ancestors. If our parents had been satisfied with the religion of theirs, + we would be still less advanced than we are. If we are, in any way, bound + by the belief of our fathers, the doctrine will hold good back to the + first people who had a religion; and if this doctrine is true, we ought + now to be believers in that first religion. In other words, we would all + be barbarians. You cannot show real respect to your parents by + perpetuating their errors. Good fathers and mothers wish their children to + advance, to overcome obstacles which baffled them, and to correct the + errors of their education. If you wish to reflect credit upon your + parents, accomplish more than they did, solve problems that they could not + understand, and build better than they knew. To sacrifice your manhood + upon the grave of your father is an honor to neither. Why should a son who + has examined a subject, throw away his reason and adopt the views of his + mother? Is not such a course dishonorable to both? + </p> + <p> + We must remember that this "ancestor" argument is as old at least as the + second generation of men, that it has served no purpose except to enslave + mankind, and results mostly from the fact that acquiescence is easier than + investigation. This argument pushed to its logical conclusion, would + prevent the advance of all people whose parents were not Freethinkers. + </p> + <p> + It is hard for many people to give up the religion in which they were + born; to admit that their fathers were utterly mistaken, and that the + sacred records of their country are but collections of myths and fables. + </p> + <p> + But when we look for a moment at the world, we find that each nation has + its "sacred records"—its religion, and its ideas of worship. + Certainly all cannot be right; and as it would require a life time to + investigate the claims of these various systems, it is hardly fair to damn + a man forever, simply because he happens to believe the wrong one. All + these religions were produced by barbarians. Civilized nations have + contented themselves with changing the religions of their barbaric + ancestors, but they have made none. Nearly all these religions are + intensely selfish. Each one was made by some contemptible little nation + that regarded itself as of almost infinite importance, and looked upon the + other nations as beneath the notice of their god. In all these countries + it was a crime to deny the sacred records, to laugh at the priests, to + speak disrespectfully of the gods, to fail to divide your substance with + the lazy hypocrites who managed your affairs in the next world upon + condition that you would support them in this. In the olden time these + theological people who quartered themselves upon the honest and + industrious, were called soothsayers, seers, charmers, prophets, + enchanters, sorcerers, wizards, astrologers, and impostors, but now, they + are known as clergymen. + </p> + <p> + We are no exception to the general rule, and consequently have our sacred + books as well as the rest. Of course, it is claimed by many of our people + that our books are the only true ones, the only ones that the real God + ever wrote, or had anything whatever to do with. They insist that all + other sacred books were written by hypocrites and impostors; that the Jews + were the only people that God ever had any personal intercourse with, and + that all other prophets and seers were inspired only by impudence and + mendacity. True, it seems somewhat strange that God should have chosen a + barbarous and unknown people who had little or nothing to do with the + other nations of the earth, as his messengers to the rest of mankind. + </p> + <p> + It is not easy to account for an infinite God making people so low in the + scale of intellect as to require a revelation. Neither is it easy to + perceive why, if a revelation was necessary for all, it was made only to a + few. Of course, I know that it is extremely wicked to suggest these + thoughts, and that ignorance is the only armor that can effectually + protect you from the wrath of God. I am aware that investigators with all + their genius, never find the road to heaven; that those who look where + they are going are sure to miss it, and that only those who voluntarily + put out their eyes and implicitly depend upon blindness can surely keep + the narrow path. + </p> + <p> + Whoever reads our sacred book is compelled to believe it or suffer forever + the torments of the lost. We are told that we have the privilege of + examining it for ourselves; but this privilege is only extended to us on + the condition that we believe it whether it appears reasonable or not. We + may disagree with others as much as we please upon the meaning of all + passages in the Bible, but we must not deny the truth of a single word. We + must believe that the book is inspired. If we obey its every precept + without believing in its inspiration we will be damned just as certainly + as though we disobeyed its every word. We have no right to weigh it in the + scales of reason—to test it by the laws of nature, or the facts of + observation and experience. To do this, we are told, is to put ourselves + above the word of God, and sit in judgment on the works of our creator. + </p> + <p> + For my part, I cannot admit that belief is a voluntary thing. It seems to + me that evidence, even in spite of ourselves, will have its weight, and + that whatever our wish may be, we are compelled to stand with fairness by + the scales, and give the exact result. It will not do to say that we + reject the Bible because we are wicked. Our wickedness must be ascertained + not from our belief but from our acts. + </p> + <p> + I am told by the clergy that I ought not to attack the Bible; that I am + leading thousands to perdition and rendering certain the damnation of my + own soul. They have had the kindness to advise me that, if my object is to + make converts, I am pursuing the wrong course. They tell me to use gentler + expressions, and more cunning words. Do they really wish me to make more + converts? If their advice is honest, they are traitors to their trust. If + their advice is not honest, then they are unfair with me. Certainly they + should wish me to pursue the course that will make the fewest converts, + and yet they pretend to tell me how my influence could be increased. It + may be, that upon this principle John Bright advises America to adopt free + trade, so that our country can become a successful rival of Great Britain. + Sometimes I think that even ministers are not entirely candid. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the advice of the clergy, I have concluded to pursue my + own course, to tell my honest thoughts, and to have my freedom in this + world whatever my fate may be in the next. + </p> + <p> + The real oppressor, enslaver and corrupter of the people is the Bible. + That book is the chain that binds, the dungeon that holds the clergy. That + book spreads the pall of superstition over the colleges and schools. That + book puts out the eyes of science, and makes honest investigation a crime. + That book unmans the politician and degrades the people. That book fills + the world with bigotry, hypocrisy and fear. It plays the same part in our + country that has been played by "sacred records" in all the nations of the + world. + </p> + <p> + A little while ago I saw one of the Bibles of the Middle Ages. It was + about two feet in length, and one and a half in width. It had immense + oaken covers, with hasps, and clasps, and hinges large enough almost for + the doors of a penitentiary. It was covered with pictures of winged angels + and aureoled saints. In my imagination I saw this book carried to the + cathedral altar in solemn pomp—heard the chant of robed and kneeling + priests, felt the strange tremor of the organ's peal; saw the colored + light streaming through windows stained and touched by blood and flame—the + swinging censer with its perfumed incense rising to the mighty roof, dim + with height and rich with legend carved in stone, while on the walls was + hung, written in light, and shade, and all the colors that can tell of joy + and tears, the pictured history of the martyred Christ. The people fell + upon their knees. The book was opened, and the priest read the messages + from God to man. To the multitude, the book itself was evidence enough + that it was not the work of human hands. How could those little marks and + lines and dots contain, like tombs, the thoughts of men, and how could + they, touched by a ray of light from human eyes, give up their dead? How + could these characters span the vast chasm dividing the present from the + past, and make it possible for the living still to hear the voices of the + dead? + </p> + <p> + V. THE PENTATEUCH + </p> + <p> + The first five books in our Bible are known as the Pentateuch. For a long + time it was supposed that Moses was the author, and among the ignorant the + supposition still prevails. As a matter of fact, it seems to be well + settled that Moses had nothing to do with these books, and that they were + not written until he had been dust and ashes for hundreds of years. But, + as all the churches still insist that he was the author, that he wrote + even an account of his own death and burial, let us speak of him as though + these books were in fact written by him. As the Christians maintain that + God was the real author, it makes but little difference whom he employed + as his pen. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all authors of sacred books have given an account of the creation + of the universe, the origin of matter, and the destiny of the human race, + all have pointed out the obligation that man is under to his creator for + having placed him upon the earth, and allowed him to live and suffer, and + have taught that nothing short of the most abject worship could possibly + compensate God for his trouble and labor suffered and done for the good of + man. They have nearly all insisted that we should thank God for all that + is good in life; but they have not all informed us as to whom we should + hold responsible for the evils we endure. + </p> + <p> + Moses differed from most of the makers of sacred books by his failure to + say anything of a future life, by failing to promise heaven, and to + threaten hell. Upon the subject of a future state, there is not one word + in the Pentateuch. Probably at that early day God did not deem it + important to make a revelation as to the eternal destiny of man. He seems + to have thought that he could control the Jews, at least, by rewards and + punishments in this world, and so he kept the frightful realities of + eternal joy and torment a profound secret from the people of his choice. + He thought it far more important to tell the Jews their origin than to + enlighten them as to their destiny. + </p> + <p> + We must remember that every tribe and nation has some way in which, the + more striking phenomena of nature are accounted for. These accounts are + handed down by tradition, changed by numberless narrators as intelligence + increases, or to account for newly discovered facts, or for the purpose of + satisfying the appetite for the marvelous. + </p> + <p> + The way in which a tribe or nation accounts for day and night, the change + of seasons, the fall of snow and rain, the flight of birds, the origin of + the rainbow, the peculiarities of animals, the dreams of sleep, the + visions of the insane, the existence of earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, + lightning and the thousand things that attract the attention and excite + the wonder, fear or admiration of mankind, may be called the philosophy of + that tribe or nation. And as all phenomena are, by savage and barbaric man + accounted for as the action of intelligent beings for the accomplishment + of certain objects, and as these beings were supposed to have the power to + assist or injure man, certain things were supposed necessary for man to do + in order to gain the assistance, and avoid the anger of these gods. Out of + this belief grew certain ceremonies, and these ceremonies united with the + belief, formed religion; and consequently every religion has for its + foundation a misconception of the cause of phenomena. + </p> + <p> + All worship is necessarily based upon the belief that some being exists + who can, if he will, change the natural order of events. The savage prays + to a stone that he calls a god, while the Christian prays to a god that he + calls a spirit, and the prayers of both are equally useful. The savage and + the Christian put behind the Universe an intelligent cause, and this cause + whether represented by one god or many, has been, in all ages, the object + of all worship. To carry a fetich, to utter a prayer, to count beads, to + abstain from food, to sacrifice a lamb, a child or an enemy, are simply + different ways by which the accomplishment of the same object is sought, + and are all the offspring of the same error. + </p> + <p> + Many systems of religion must have existed many ages before the art of + writing was discovered, and must have passed through many changes before + the stories, miracles, histories, prophecies and mistakes became fixed and + petrified in written words. After that, change was possible only by giving + new meanings to old words, a process rendered necessary by the continual + acquisition of facts somewhat inconsistent with a literal interpretation + of the "sacred records." In this way an honest faith often prolongs its + life by dishonest methods; and in this way the Christians of to-day are + trying to harmonize the Mosaic account of creation with the theories and + discoveries of modern science. + </p> + <p> + Admitting that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch, or that he gave to + the Jews a religion, the question arises as to where he obtained his + information. We are told by the theologians that he received his knowledge + from God, and that every word he wrote was and is the exact truth. It is + admitted at the same time that he was an adopted son of Pharaoh's + daughter, and enjoyed the rank and privilege of a prince. Under such + circumstances, he must have been well acquainted with the literature, + philosophy and religion of the Egyptians, and must have known what they + believed and taught as to the creation of the world. + </p> + <p> + Now, if the account of the origin of this earth as given by Moses is + substantially like that given by the Egyptians, then we must conclude that + he learned it from them. Should we imagine that he was divinely inspired + because he gave to the Jews what the Egyptians had given him? + </p> + <p> + The Egyptian priests taught <i>first</i>, that a god created the original + matter, leaving it in a state of chaos; <i>second</i>, that a god moulded + it into form; <i>third</i>, that the breath of a god moved upon the face + of the deep; <i>fourth</i>, that a god created simply by saying "Let it + be;" <i>fifth</i>, that a god created light before the sun existed. + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be clearer than that Moses received from the Egyptians the + principal parts of his narrative, making such changes and additions as + were necessary to satisfy the peculiar superstitions of his own people. + </p> + <p> + If some man at the present day should assert that he had received from God + the theories of evolution, the survival of the fittest, and the law of + heredity, and we should afterwards find that he was not only an + Englishman, but had lived in the family of Charles Darwin, we certainly + would account for his having these theories in a natural way, So, if + Darwin himself should pretend that he was inspired, and had obtained his + peculiar theories from God, we should probably reply that his grandfather + suggested the same ideas, and that Lamarck published substantially the + same theories the same year that Mr. Darwin was born. + </p> + <p> + Now, if we have sufficient courage, we will, by the same course of + reasoning, account for the story of creation found in the Bible. We will + say that it contains the belief of Moses, and that he received his + information from the Egyptians, and not from God. If we take the account + as the absolute truth and use it for the purpose of determining the value + of modern thought, scientific advancement becomes impossible. And even if + the account of the creation as given by Moses should turn out to be true, + and should be so admitted by all the scientific world, the claim that he + was inspired would still be without the least particle of proof. We would + be forced to admit that he knew more than we had supposed. It certainly is + no proof that a man is inspired simply because he is right. + </p> + <p> + No one pretends that Shakespeare was inspired, and yet all the writers of + the books of the Old Testament put together, could not have produced + Hamlet. + </p> + <p> + Why should we, looking upon some rough and awkward thing, or god in stone, + say that it must have been produced by some inspired sculptor, and with + the same breath pronounce the <i>Venus de Milo</i> to be the work of man? + Why should we, looking at some ancient daub of angel, saint or virgin, say + its painter must have been assisted by a god? + </p> + <p> + Let us account for all we see by the facts we know. If there are things + for which we cannot account, let us wait for light. To account for + anything by supernatural agencies is, in fact to say that we do not know. + Theology is not what we know about God, but what we do not know about + Nature. In order to increase our respect for the Bible, it became + necessary for the priests to exalt and extol that book, and at the same + time to decry and belittle the reasoning powers of man. The whole power of + the pulpit has been used for hundreds of years to destroy the confidence + of man in himself—to induce him to distrust his own powers of + thought, to believe that he was wholly unable to decide any question for + himself, and that all human virtue consists in faith and obedience. The + church has said, "Believe, and obey! If you reason, you will become an + unbeliever, and unbelievers will be lost. If you disobey, you will do so + through vain pride and curiosity, and will, like Adam and Eve, be thrust + from Paradise forever!" + </p> + <p> + For my part, I care nothing for what the church says, except in so far as + it accords with my reason; and the Bible is nothing to me, only in so far + as it agrees with what I think or know. + </p> + <p> + All books should be examined in the same spirit, and truth should be + welcomed and falsehood exposed, no matter in what volume they may be + found. + </p> + <p> + Let us in this spirit examine the Pentateuch; and if anything appears + unreasonable, contradictory or absurd, let us have the honesty and courage + to admit it. Certainly no good can result either from deceiving ourselves + or others. Many millions have implicitly believed this book, and have just + as implicitly believed that polygamy was sanctioned by God. Millions have + regarded this book as the foundation of all human progress, and at the + same time looked upon slavery as a divine institution. Millions have + declared this book to have been infinitely holy, and to prove that they + were right, have imprisoned, robbed and burned their fellow-men. The + inspiration of this book has been established by famine, sword and fire, + by dungeon, chain and whip, by dagger and by rack, by force and fear and + fraud, and generations have been frightened by threats of hell, and bribed + with promises of heaven. + </p> + <p> + Let us examine a portion of this book, not in the darkness of our fear, + but in the light of reason. + </p> + <p> + And first, let us examine the account given of the creation of this world, + commenced, according to the Bible, on Monday morning about five thousand + eight hundred and eighty-three years ago. + </p> + <p> + VI. MONDAY. + </p> + <p> + Moses commences his story by telling us that in the beginning God created + the heaven and the earth. + </p> + <p> + If this means anything, it means that God produced, caused to exist, + called into being, the heaven and the earth. It will not do to say that he + formed the heaven and the earth of previously existing matter. Moses + conveys, and intended to convey the idea that the matter of which the + heaven and the earth are composed, was created. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible for me to conceive of something being created from + nothing. Nothing, regarded in the light of a raw material, is a decided + failure. I cannot conceive of matter apart from force. Neither is it + possible to think of force disconnected with matter. You cannot imagine + matter going back to absolute nothing. Neither can you imagine nothing + being changed into something. You may be eternally damned if you do not + say that you can conceive these things, but you cannot conceive them. + </p> + <p> + Such is the constitution of the human mind that it cannot even think of a + commencement or an end of matter, or force. + </p> + <p> + If God created the universe, there was a time when he commenced to create. + Back of that commencement there must have been an eternity. In that + eternity what was this God doing? He certainly did not think. There was + nothing to think about. He did not remember. Nothing had ever happened. + What did he do? Can you imagine anything more absurd than an infinite + intelligence in infinite nothing wasting an eternity? + </p> + <p> + I do not pretend to tell how all these things really are; but I do insist + that a statement that cannot possibly be comprehended by any human being, + and that appears utterly impossible, repugnant to every fact of + experience, and contrary to everything that we really know, must be + rejected by every honest man. + </p> + <p> + We can conceive of eternity, because we cannot conceive of a cessation of + time. We can conceive of infinite space because we cannot conceive of so + much matter that our imagination will not stand upon the farthest star, + and see infinite space beyond. In other words, we cannot conceive of a + cessation of time; therefore eternity is a necessity of the mind. Eternity + sustains the same relation to time that space does to matter. + </p> + <p> + In the time of Moses, it was perfectly safe for him to write an account of + the creation of the world. He had simply to put in form the crude notions + of the people. At that time, no other Jew could have written a better + account. Upon that subject he felt at liberty to give his imagination full + play. There was no one who could authoritatively contradict anything he + might say. It was substantially the same story that had been imprinted in + curious characters upon the clay records of Babylon, the gigantic + monuments of Egypt, and the gloomy temples of India. In those days there + was an almost infinite difference between the educated and ignorant. The + people were controlled almost entirely by signs and wonders. By the lever + of fear, priests moved the world. The sacred records were made and kept, + and altered by them. The people could not read, and looked upon one who + could, as almost a god. In our day it is hard to conceive of the influence + of an educated class in a barbarous age. It was only necessary to produce + the "sacred record," and ignorance fell upon its face. The people were + taught that the record was inspired, and therefore true. They were not + taught that it was true, and therefore inspired. + </p> + <p> + After all, the real question is not whether the Bible is inspired, but + whether it is true. If it is true, it does not need to be inspired. If it + is true, it makes no difference whether it was written by a man or a god. + The multiplication table is just as useful, just as true as though God had + arranged the figures himself. If the Bible is really true, the claim of + inspiration need not be urged; and if it is not true, its inspiration can + hardly be established. As a matter of fact, the truth does not need to be + inspired. Nothing needs inspiration except a falsehood or a mistake. Where + truth ends, where probability stops, inspiration begins. A fact never went + into partnership with a miracle. Truth does not need the assistance of + miracle. A fact will fit every other fact in the Universe, because it is + the product of all other facts. A lie will fit nothing except another lie + made for the express purpose of fitting it. After a while the man gets + tired of lying, and then the last lie will not fit the next fact, and then + there is an opportunity to use a miracle. Just at that point, it is + necessary to have a little inspiration. + </p> + <p> + It seems to me that reason is the highest attribute of man, and that if + there can be any communication from God to man, it must be addressed to + his reason. It does not seem possible that in order to understand a + message from God it is absolutely essential to throw our reason away. How + could God make known his will to any being destitute of reason? How can + any man accept as a revelation from God that which is unreasonable to him? + God cannot make a revelation to another man for me. He must make it to me, + and until he convinces my reason that it is true, I cannot receive it. + </p> + <p> + The statement that in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, + I cannot accept. It is contrary to my reason, and I cannot believe it. It + appears reasonable to me that force has existed from eternity. Force + cannot, as it appears to me, exist apart from matter. Force, in its + nature, is forever active, and without matter it could not act; and so I + think matter must have existed forever. To conceive of matter without + force, or of force without matter, or of a time when neither existed, or + of a being who existed for an eternity without either, and who out of + nothing created both, is to me utterly impossible. I may be damned on this + account, but I cannot help it. In my judgment, Moses was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + It will not do to say that Moses merely intended to tell what God did, in + making the heavens and the earth out of matter then in existence. He + distinctly states that in the <i>beginning</i> God created them. If this + account is true, we must believe that God, existing in infinite space + surrounded by eternal nothing, naught and void, created, produced, called + into being, willed into existence this universe of countless stars. + </p> + <p> + The next thing we are told by this inspired gentleman is, that God created + light, and proceeded to divide it from the darkness. + </p> + <p> + Certainly, the person who wrote this believed that darkness was a thing, + an entity, a material that could get mixed and tangled up with light, and + that these entities, light and darkness, had to be separated. In his + imagination he probably saw God throwing pieces and chunks of darkness on + one side, and rays and beams of light on the other. It is hard for a man + who has been born but once to understand these things. For my part, I + cannot understand how light can be separated from darkness. I had always + supposed that darkness was simply the absence of light, and that under no + circumstances could it be necessary to take the darkness away from the + light. It is certain, however, that Moses believed darkness to be a form + of matter, because I find that in another place he speaks of a darkness + that could be felt. They used to have on exhibition at Rome a bottle of + the darkness that overspread Egypt. + </p> + <p> + You cannot divide light from darkness any more than you can divide heat + from cold. Cold is an absence of heat, and darkness is an absence of + light. I suppose that we have no conception of absolute cold. We know only + degrees of heat. Twenty degrees below zero is just twenty degrees warmer + than forty degrees below zero. Neither cold nor darkness are entities, and + these words express simply either the absolute or partial absence of heat + or light. I cannot conceive how light can be divided from darkness, but I + can conceive how a barbarian several thousand years ago, writing upon a + subject about which he knew nothing, could make a mistake. The creator of + light could not have written in this way. If such a being exists, he must + have known the nature of that "mode of motion" that paints the earth on + every eye, and clothes in garments seven-hued this universe of worlds. + </p> + <p> + VII. TUESDAY. + </p> + <p> + We are next informed by Moses that "God of the waters, and let it divide + the waters from the waters;" and that "God made the firmament, and divided + the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above + the firmament." What did the writer mean by the word firmament? + Theologians now tell us that he meant an "expanse." This will not do. How + could an expanse divide the waters from the waters, so that the waters + above the expanse would not fall into and mingle with the waters below the + expanse? The truth is that Moses regarded the firmament as a solid affair. + It was where God lived, and where water was kept. It was for this reason + that they used to pray for rain. They supposed that some angel could with + a lever raise a gate and let out the quantity of moisture desired. It was + with the water from this firmament that the world was drowned when the + windows of heaven were opened. It was in this said Let there be a + firmament in the midst firmament that the sons of God lived—the sons + who "saw the daughters of men that they were fair and took them wives of + all which they chose." The issue of such marriages were giants, and "the + same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." + </p> + <p> + Nothing is clearer than that Moses regarded the firmament as a vast + material division that separated the waters of the world, and upon whose + floor God lived, surrounded by his sons. In no other way could he account + for rain. Where did the water come from? He knew nothing about the laws of + evaporation. He did not know that the sun wooed with amorous kisses the + waves of the sea, and that they, clad in glorified mist rising to meet + their lover, were, by disappointment, changed to tears and fell as rain. + </p> + <p> + The idea that the firmament was the abode of the Deity must have been in + the mind of Moses when he related the dream of Jacob. "And he dreamed, and + behold, a ladder set upon the earth and the top of it reached to heaven; + and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it; and behold + the Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord God." + </p> + <p> + So, when the people were building the tower of Babel "the Lord came down + to see the city, and the tower which the children of men builded. And the + Lord said, Behold the people is one, and they have all one language: and + this they begin to do; and nothing will be restrained from them which they + imagined to do. Go to, let us go down and confound their language that + they may not understand one another's speech." + </p> + <p> + The man who wrote that absurd account must have believed that God lived + above the earth, in the firmament. The same idea was in the mind of the + Psalmist when he said that God "bowed the heavens and came down." + </p> + <p> + Of course, God could easily remove any person bodily to heaven, as it was + but a little way above the earth. "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, + for God took him." The accounts in the Bible of the ascension of Elijah, + Christ and St. Paul were born of the belief that the firmament was the + dwelling-place of God. It probably never occurred to these writers that if + the firmament was seven or eight miles away, Enoch and the rest would have + been frozen perfectly stiff long before the journey could have been + completed. Possibly Elijah might have made the voyage, as he was carried + to heaven in a chariot of fire "by a whirlwind." + </p> + <p> + The truth is, that Moses was mistaken, and upon that mistake the + Christians located their heaven and their hell. The telescope destroyed + the firmament, did away with the heaven of the New Testament, rendered the + ascension of our Lord and the assumption of his Mother infinitely absurd, + crumbled to chaos the gates and palaces of the New Jerusalem, and in their + places gave to man a wilderness of worlds. + </p> + <p> + VIII. WEDNESDAY. + </p> + <p> + We are next informed by the historian of creation, that after God had + finished making the firmament and had succeeded in dividing the waters by + means of an "expanse," he proceeded "to gather the waters on the earth + together in seas, so that the dry land might appear." + </p> + <p> + Certainly the writer of this did not have any conception of the real form + of the earth. He could not have known anything of the attraction of + gravitation. He must have regarded the earth as flat and supposed that it + required considerable force and power to induce the water to leave the + mountains and collect in the valleys. Just as soon as the water was forced + to run down hill, the dry land appeared, and the grass began to grow, and + the mantles of green were thrown over the shoulders of the hills, and the + trees laughed into bud and blossom, and the branches were laden with + fruit. And all this happened before a ray had left the quiver of the sun, + before a glittering beam had thrilled the bosom of a flower, and before + the Dawn with trembling hands had drawn aside the curtains of the East and + welcomed to her arms the eager god of Day. + </p> + <p> + It does not seem to me that grass and trees could grow and ripen into seed + and fruit without the sun. According to the account, this all happened on + the third day. Now, if, as the Christians say, Moses did not mean by the + word day a period of twenty-four hours, but an immense and almost + measureless space of time, and as God did not, according to this view make + any animals until the fifth day, that is, not for millions of years after + he made the grass and trees, for what purpose did he cause the trees to + bear fruit? + </p> + <p> + Moses says that God said on the third day, "Let the earth bring forth + grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his + kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth; and it was so. And the earth + brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree + yielding fruit whose seed was in itself after his kind; and God saw that + it was good, and the evening and the morning were the third day." + </p> + <p> + There was nothing to eat this fruit; not an insect with painted wings + sought the honey of the flowers; not a single living, breathing thing upon + the earth. Plenty of grass, a great variety of herbs, an abundance of + fruit, but not a mouth in all the world. If Moses is right, this state of + things lasted only two days; but if the modern theologians are correct, it + continued for millions of ages. + </p> + <p> + "It is now well known that the organic history of the earth can be + properly divided into five epochs—the Primordial, Primary, + Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary. Each of these epochs is characterized + by animal and vegetable life peculiar to itself. In the First will be + found Algæ and Skulless Vertebrates, in the Second, Ferns and + Fishes, in the Third, Pine Forests and Reptiles, in the Fourth, Foliaceous + Forests and Mammals, and in the Fifth, Man." + </p> + <p> + How much more reasonable this is than the idea that the earth was covered + with grass, and herbs, and trees loaded with fruit for millions of years + before an animal existed. + </p> + <p> + There is, in Nature, an even balance forever kept between the total + amounts of animal and vegetable life. "In her wonderful economy she must + form and bountifully nourish her vegetable progeny—twin-brother life + to her, with that of animals. The perfect balance between plant existences + and animal existences must always be maintained, while matter courses + through the eternal circle, becoming each in turn. If an animal be + resolved into its ultimate constituents in a period according to the + surrounding circumstances, say, of four hours, of four months, of four + years, or even of four thousand years,—for it is impossible to deny + that there may be instances of all these periods during which the process + has continued—those elements which assume the gaseous form mingle at + once with the atmosphere and are taken up from it without delay by the + ever-open mouths of vegetable life. By a thousand pores in every leaf the + carbonic acid which renders the atmosphere unfit for animal life is + absorbed, the carbon being separated, and assimilated to form the + vegetable fibre, which, as wood, makes and furnishes our houses and ships, + is burned for our warmth, or is stored up under pressure for coal. All + this carbon has played its part, and many parts in its time, as animal + existences from monad up to man. Our mahogany of to-day has been many + negroes in its turn, and before the African existed, was integral portions + of many a generation of extinct species." + </p> + <p> + It seems reasonable to suppose that certain kinds of vegetation-and + certain kinds of animals should exist together, and that as the character + of the vegetation changed, a corresponding change would take place in the + animal world. It may be that I am led to these conclusions by "total + depravity," or that I lack the necessary humility of spirit to + satisfactorily harmonize Haeckel and Moses; or that I am carried away by + pride, blinded by reason, given over to hardness of heart that I might be + damned, but I never can believe that the earth was covered with leaves, + and buds, and flowers, and fruits before the sun with glittering spear had + driven back the hosts of Night. + </p> + <p> + IX. THURSDAY. + </p> + <p> + After the world was covered with vegetation, it occurred to Moses that it + was about time to make a sun and moon; and so we are told that on the + fourth day God said, "Let there be light in the firmament of the heaven to + divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons, + and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the + heaven to give light upon the earth; and it was so. And God made two great + lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule + the night; he made the stars also." + </p> + <p> + Can we believe that the inspired writer had any idea of the size of the + sun? Draw a circle five inches in diameter, and by its side thrust a pin + through the paper. The hole made by the pin will sustain about the same + relation to the circle that the earth does to the sun. Did he know that + the sun was eight hundred and sixty thousand miles in diameter; that it + was enveloped in an ocean of fire thousands of miles in depth, hotter even + than the Christian's hell, over which sweep tempests of flame moving at + the rate of one hundred miles a second, compared with which the wildest + storm that ever wrecked the forests of this world was but a calm? Did he + know that the sun every moment of time throws out as much heat as could be + generated by the combustion of millions upon millions of tons of coal? Did + he know that the volume of the earth is less than one-millionth of that of + the sun? Did he know of the one hundred and four planets belonging to our + solar system, all children of the sun? Did he know of Jupiter eighty-five + thousand miles in diameter, hundreds of times as large as our earth, + turning on his axis at the rate of twenty-five thousand miles an hour + accompanied by four moons, making the tour of his orbit in fifty years, a + distance of three thousand million miles? Did he know anything about + Saturn, his rings and his eight moons? Did he have the faintest idea that + all these planets were once a part of the sun; that the vast luminary was + once thousands of millions of miles in diameter; that Neptune, Uranus, + Saturn, Jupiter and Mars were all born before our earth, and that by no + possibility could this world have existed three days, nor three periods, + nor three "good whiles" before its source, the sun? + </p> + <p> + Moses supposed the sun to be about three or four feet in diameter and the + moon about half that size. Compared with the earth they were but simple + specks. This idea seems to have been shared by all the "inspired" men. We + find in the book of Joshua that the sun stood still, and the moon stayed + until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. "So the sun + stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a + whole day." + </p> + <p> + We are told that the sacred writer wrote in common speech as we do when we + talk about the rising and setting of the sun, and that all he intended to + say was that the earth ceased to turn on its axis "for about a whole day." + </p> + <p> + My own opinion is that General Joshua knew no more about the motions of + the earth than he did about mercy and justice. If he had known that the + earth turned upon its axis at the rate of a thousand miles an hour, and + swept in its course about the sun at the rate of sixty-eight thousand + miles an hour, he would have doubled the hailstones, spoken of in the same + chapter, that the Lord cast down from heaven, and allowed the sun and moon + to rise and set in the usual way. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to conceive of a more absurd story than this about the + stopping of the sun and moon, and yet nothing so excites the malice of the + orthodox preacher as to call its truth in question. Some endeavor to + account for the phenomenon by natural causes, while others attempt to show + that God could, by the refraction of light have made the sun visible + although actually shining on the opposite side of the earth. The last + hypothesis has been seriously urged by ministers within the last few + months. The Rev. Henry M. Morey of South Bend, Indiana, says "that the + phenomenon was simply optical. The rotary motion of the earth was not + disturbed, but the light of the sun was prolonged by the same laws of + refraction and reflection by which the sun now appears to be above the + horizon when it is really below. The medium through which the sun's rays + passed may have been miraculously influenced so as to have caused the sun + to linger above the horizon long after its usual time for disappearance." + </p> + <p> + This is the latest and ripest product of Christian scholarship upon this + question no doubt, but still it is not entirely satisfactory to me. + According to the sacred account the sun did not linger, merely, above the + horizon, but stood still "in the midst of heaven for about a whole day," + that is to say, for about twelve hours. If the air was miraculously + changed, so that it would refract the rays of the sun while the earth + turned over as usual for "about a whole day," then, at the end of that + time the sun must have been visible in the east, that is, it must by that + time have been the next morning. According to this, that most wonderful + day must have been at least thirty-six hours in length. We have first, the + twelve hours of natural light, then twelve hours of "refracted and + reflected" light. By that time it would again be morning, and the sun + would shine for twelve hours more in the natural way, making thirty-six + hours in all. + </p> + <p> + If the Rev. Morey would depend a little less on "refraction" and a little + more on "reflection," he would conclude that the whole story is simply a + barbaric myth and fable. + </p> + <p> + It hardly seems reasonable that God, if there is one, would either stop + the globe, change the constitution of the atmosphere or the nature of + light simply to afford Joshua an opportunity to kill people on that day + when he could just as easily have waited until the next morning. It + certainly cannot be very gratifying to God for us to believe such childish + things. + </p> + <p> + It has been demonstrated that force is eternal; that it is forever active, + and eludes destruction by change of form. Motion is a form of force, and + all arrested motion changes instantly to heat. The earth turns upon its + axis at about one thousand miles an hour. Let it be stopped and a force + beyond our imagination is changed to heat. It has been calculated that to + stop the world would produce as much heat as the burning of a solid piece + of coal three times the size of the earth. And yet we are asked to believe + that this was done in order that one barbarian might defeat another. Such + stories never would have been written, had not the belief been general + that the heavenly bodies were as nothing compared with the earth. + </p> + <p> + The view of Moses was acquiesced in by the Jewish people and by the + Christian world for thousands of years. It is supposed that Moses lived + about fifteen hundred years before Christ, and although he was "inspired," + and obtained his information directly from God, he did not know as much + about our solar system as the Chinese did a thousand years before he was + born. "The Emperor Chwenhio adopted as an epoch, a conjunction of the + planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, which has been shown by M. + Bailly to have occurred no less than 2449 years before Christ." The + ancient Chinese knew not only the motions of the planets, but they could + calculate eclipses. "In the reign of the Emperor Chow-Kang, the chief + astronomers, Ho and Hi were condemned to death for neglecting to announce + a solar eclipse which took place 2169 B. C., a clear proof that the + prediction of eclipses was a part of the duty of the imperial + astronomers." + </p> + <p> + Is it not strange that a Chinaman should find out by his own exertions + more about the material universe than Moses could when assisted by its + Creator? + </p> + <p> + About eight hundred years after God gave Moses the principal facts about + the creation of the "heaven and the earth" he performed another miracle + far more wonderful than stopping the world. On this occasion he not only + stopped the earth, but actually caused it to turn the other way. A Jewish + king was sick, and God, in order to convince him that he would ultimately + recover, offered to make the shadow on the dial go forward, or backward + ten degrees. The king thought it was too easy a thing to make the shadow + go forward, and asked that it be turned back. Thereupon, "Isaiah the + prophet cried unto the Lord, and he brought the shadow ten degrees + backward by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz." I hardly see how + this miracle could be accounted for even by "refraction" and "reflection." + </p> + <p> + It seems, from the account, that this stupendous miracle was performed + after the king had been cured. The account of the shadow going backward is + given in the eleventh verse of the twentieth chapter of Second Kings, + while the cure is given in the seventh verse of the same chapter. "And + Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, + and he recovered." + </p> + <p> + Stopping the world and causing it to turn back ten degrees after that, + seems to have been, as the boil was already cured by the figs, a useless + display of power. + </p> + <p> + The easiest way to account for all these wonders is to say that the + "inspired" writers were mistaken. In this way a fearful burden is lifted + from the credulity of man, and he is left free to believe the evidences of + his own senses, and the demonstrations of science. In this way he can + emancipate himself from the slavery of superstition, the control of the + barbaric dead, and the despotism of the church. + </p> + <p> + Only about a hundred years ago, Buffon, the naturalist, was compelled by + the faculty of theology at Paris to publicly renounce fourteen "errors" in + his work on Natural History because they were at variance with the Mosaic + account of creation. The Pentateuch is still the scientific standard of + the church, and ignorant priests, armed with that, pronounce sentence upon + the vast accomplishments of modern thought. + </p> + <p> + X. "HE MADE THE STARS ALSO." + </p> + <p> + Moses came very near forgetting about the stars, and only gave five words + to all the hosts of heaven. Can it be possible that he knew anything about + the stars beyond the mere fact that he saw them shining above him? + </p> + <p> + Did he know that the nearest star, the one we ought to be the best + acquainted with, is twenty-one billion of miles away, and that it is a sun + shining by its own light? Did he know of the next, that is thirty-seven + billion miles distant? Is it possible that he was acquainted with Sirius, + a sun two thousand six hundred and eighty-eight times larger than our own, + surrounded by a system of heavenly bodies, several of which are already + known, and distant from us eighty-two billion miles? Did he know that the + Polar star that tells the mariner his course and guided slaves to liberty + and joy, is distant from this little world two hundred and ninety-two + billion miles, and that Capella wheels and shines one hundred and + thirty-three billion miles beyond? Did he know that it would require about + seventy-two years for light to reach us from this star? Did he know that + light travels one hundred and eighty-five thousand miles a second? Did he + know that some stars are so far away in the infinite abysses that five + millions of years are required for their light to reach this globe? + </p> + <p> + If this is true, and if as the Bible tells us, the stars were made after + the earth, then this world has been wheeling in its orbit for at least + five million years. + </p> + <p> + It may be replied that it was not the intention of God to teach geology + and astronomy. Then why did he say anything upon these subjects? and if he + did say anything, why did he not give the facts? + </p> + <p> + According to the sacred records God created, on the first day, the heaven + and the earth, "moved upon the face of the waters," and made the light. On + the second day he made the firmament or the "expanse" and divided the + waters. On the third day he gathered the waters into seas, let the dry + land appear and caused the earth to bring forth grass, herbs and fruit + trees, and on the fourth day he made the sun, moon and stars and set them + in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth. This division of + labor is very striking. The work of the other days is as nothing when + compared with that of the fourth. Is it possible that it required the same + time and labor to make the grass, herbs and fruit trees, that it did to + fill with countless constellations the infinite expanse of space? + </p> + <p> + XI. FRIDAY. + </p> + <p> + We are then told that on the next day "God the moving creatures that hath + life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of + heaven. And God created great whales and every living creature which the + waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl + after his kind, and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, + saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let + fowl multiply in the earth." + </p> + <p> + Is it true that while the dry land was covered with grass, and herbs, and + trees bearing fruit, the ocean was absolutely devoid of life, and so + remained for millions of years? + </p> + <p> + If Moses meant twenty-four hours by the word day, then it would make but + little difference on which of the six days animals were made; but if the + word said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly day was used to express + millions of ages, during which life was slowly evolved from monad up to + man, then the account becomes infinitely absurd, puerile and foolish. + There is not a scientist of high standing who will say that in his + judgment the earth was covered with fruit-bearing trees before the moners, + the ancestors it may be of the human race, felt in Laurentian seas the + first faint throb of life. Nor is there one who will declare that there + was a single spire of grass before the sun had poured upon the world his + flood of gold. + </p> + <p> + Why should men in the name of religion try to harmonize the contradictions + that exist between Nature and a book? Why should philosophers be denounced + for placing more reliance upon what they know than upon what they have + been told? If there is a God, it is reasonably certain that he made the + world, but it is by no means certain that he is the author of the Bible. + Why then should we not place greater confidence in Nature than in a book? + And even if this God made not only the world but the book besides, it does + not follow that the book is the best part of creation, and the only part + that we will be eternally punished for denying. It seems to me that it is + quite as important to know something of the solar system, something of the + physical history of this globe, as it is to know the adventures of Jonah + or the diet of Ezekiel. For my part, I would infinitely prefer to know all + the results of scientific investigation, than to be inspired as Moses was. + Supposing the Bible to be true; why is it any worse or more wicked for + Freethinkers to deny it, than for priests to deny the doctrine of + evolution, or the dynamic theory of heat? Why should we be damned for + laughing at Samson and his foxes, while others, holding the Nebular + Hypothesis in utter contempt, go straight to heaven? It seems to me that a + belief in the great truths of science are fully as essential to salvation, + as the creed of any church. We are taught that a man may be perfectly + acceptable to God even if he denies the rotundity of the earth, the + Copernican system, the three laws of Kepler, the indestructibility of + matter and the attraction of gravitation. And we are also taught that a + man may be right upon all these questions, and yet, for failing to believe + in the "scheme of salvation," be eternally lost. + </p> + <p> + XII. SATURDAY. + </p> + <p> + On this, the last day of creation, God said;— + </p> + <p> + "Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle and + creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind; and it was so. And + God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their + kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind; and God + saw that it was good." + </p> + <p> + Now, is it true that the seas were filled with fish, the sky with fowls, + and the earth covered with grass, and herbs, and fruit bearing trees, + millions of ages before there was a creeping thing in existence? Must we + admit that plants and animals were the result of the fiat of some + incomprehensible intelligence independent of the operation of what are + known as natural causes? Why is a miracle any more necessary to account + for yesterday than for to-day or for to-morrow? + </p> + <p> + If there is an infinite Power, nothing can be more certain than that this + Power works in accordance with what we call law, that is, by and through + natural causes. If anything can be found without a pedigree of natural + antecedents, it will then be time enough to talk about the fiat of + creation. There must have been a time when plants and animals did not + exist upon this globe. The question, and the only question is, whether + they were naturally produced. If the account given by Moses is true, then + the vegetable and animal existences are the result of certain special + fiats of creation entirely independent of the operation of natural causes. + This is so grossly improbable, so at variance with the experience and + observation of mankind, that it cannot be adopted without abandoning + forever the basis of scientific thought and action. + </p> + <p> + It may be urged that we do not understand the sacred record correctly. To + this it may be replied that for thousands of years the account of the + creation has, by the Jewish and Christian world, been regarded as + literally true. If it was inspired, of course God must have known just how + it would be understood, and consequently must have intended that it should + be understood just as he knew it would be. One man writing to another, may + mean one thing, and yet be understood as meaning something else. Now, if + the writer knew that he would be misunderstood, and also knew that he + could use other words that would convey his real meaning, but did not, we + would say that he used words on purpose to mislead, and was not an honest + man. + </p> + <p> + If a being of infinite wisdom wrote the Bible, or caused it to be written, + he must have known exactly how his words would be interpreted by all the + world, and he must have intended to convey the very meaning that was + conveyed. He must have known that by reading that book, man would form + erroneous views as to the shape, antiquity, and size of this world; that + he would be misled as to the time and order of creation; that he would + have the most childish and contemptible views of the creator; that the + "sacred word" would be used to support slavery and polygamy; that it would + build dungeons for the good, and light fagots to consume the brave, and + therefore he must have intended that these results should follow. He also + must have known that thousands and millions of men and women never could + believe his Bible, and that the number of unbelievers would increase in + the exact ratio of civilization, and therefore, he must have intended that + result. + </p> + <p> + Let us understand this. An honest finite being uses the best words, in his + judgment, to convey his meaning. This is the best he can do, because he + cannot certainly know the exact effect of his words on others. But an + infinite being must know not only the real meaning of the words, but the + exact meaning they will convey to every reader and hearer. He must know + every meaning that they are capable of conveying to every mind. He must + also know what explanations must be made to prevent misconception. If an + infinite being cannot, in making a revelation to man, use such words that + every person to whom a revelation is essential will understand distinctly + what that revelation is, then a revelation from God through the + instrumentality of language is impossible, or it is not essential that all + should understand it correctly. It may be urged that millions have not the + capacity to understand a revelation, although expressed in the plainest + words. To this it seems a sufficient reply to ask, why a being of infinite + power should create men so devoid of intelligence, that he cannot by any + means make known to them his will? We are told that it is exceedingly + plain, and that a wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein. This + statement is refuted by the religious history of the Christian world. + Every sect is a certificate that God has not plainly revealed his will to + man. To each reader the Bible conveys a different meaning. About the + meaning of this book, called a revelation, there have been ages of war, + and centuries of sword and flame. If written by an infinite God, he must + have known that these results must follow; and thus knowing, he must be + responsible for all. + </p> + <p> + Is it not infinitely more reasonable to say that this book is the work of + man, that it is filled with mingled truth and error, with mistakes and + facts, and reflects, too faithfully perhaps, the "very form and pressure + of its time"? + </p> + <p> + If there are mistakes in the Bible, certainly they were made by man. If + there is anything contrary to nature, it was written by man. If there is + anything immoral, cruel, heartless or infamous, it certainly was never + written by a being worthy of the adoration of mankind. + </p> + <p> + XIII. LET US MAKE MAN. + </p> + <p> + We are next informed by the author of the Pentateuch that God said "Let us + make man in our image, after our likeness," and that "God created man in + his own image, in the image of God created he him—male and female + created he them." + </p> + <p> + If this account means anything, it means that man was created in the + physical image and likeness of God. Moses while he speaks of man as having + been made in the image of God, never speaks of God except as having the + form of a man. He speaks of God as "walking in the garden in the cool of + the day;" and that Adam and Eve "heard his voice." He is constantly + telling what God said, and in a thousand passages he refers to him as not + only having the human form, but as performing actions, such as man + performs. The God of Moses was a God with hands, with feet, with the + organs of speech. + </p> + <p> + A God of passion, of hatred, of revenge, of affection, of repentance; a + God who made mistakes:—in other words, an immense and powerful man. + </p> + <p> + It will not do to say that Moses meant to convey the idea that God made + man in his mental or moral image. Some have insisted that man was made in + the moral image of God because he was made pure. Purity cannot be + manufactured. A moral character cannot be made for man by a god. Every man + must make his own moral character. Consequently, if God is infinitely + pure, Adam and Eve were not made in his image in that respect. Others say + that Adam and Eve were made in the mental image of God. If it is meant by + that, that they were created with reasoning powers like, but not to the + extent of those possessed by a god, then this may be admitted. But + certainly this idea was not in the mind of Moses. He regarded the human + form as being in the image of God, and for that reason always spoke of God + as having that form. No one can read the Pentateuch without coming to the + conclusion that the author supposed that man was created in the physical + likeness of Deity. God said "Go to, let us go down." "God smelled a sweet + savor;" "God repented him that he had made man;" "and God said;" and + "walked;" and "talked;" and "rested." All these expressions are + inconsistent with any other idea than that the person using them regarded + God as having the form of man. + </p> + <p> + As a matter of fact, it is impossible for a man to conceive of a personal + God, other than as a being having the human form. No one can think of an + infinite being having the form of a horse, or of a bird, or of any animal + beneath man. It is one of the necessities of the mind to associate forms + with intellectual capacities. The highest form of which we have any + conception is man's, and consequently, his is the only form that we can + find in imagination to give to a personal God, because all other forms + are, in our minds, connected with lower intelligences. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to think of a personal God as a spirit without form. We + can use these words, but they do not convey to the mind any real and + tangible meaning. Every one who thinks of a personal God at all, thinks of + him as having the human form. Take from God the idea of form; speak of him + simply as an all pervading spirit—which means an all pervading + something about which we know nothing—and Pantheism is the result. + </p> + <p> + We are told that God made man; and the question naturally arises, how was + this done? Was it by a process of "evolution," "development;" the + "transmission of acquired habits;" the "survival of the fittest," or was + the necessary amount of clay kneaded to the proper consistency, and then + by the hands of God moulded into form? Modern science tells that man has + been evolved, through countless epochs, from the lower forms; that he is + the result of almost an infinite number of actions, reactions, + experiences, states, forms, wants and adaptations. Did Moses intend to + convey such a meaning, or did he believe that God took a sufficient amount + of dust, made it the proper shape, and breathed into it the breath of + life? Can any believer in the Bible give any reasonable account of this + process of creation? Is it possible to imagine what was really done? Is + there any theologian who will contend that man was created directly from + the earth? Will he say that man was made substantially as he now is, with + all his muscles properly developed for walking and speaking, and + performing every variety of human action? That all his bones were formed + as they now are, and all the relations of nerve, ligament, brain and + motion as they are to-day? + </p> + <p> + Looking back over the history of animal life from the lowest to the + highest forms, we find that there has been a slow and gradual development; + a certain but constant relation between want and production; between use + and form. The Moner is said to be the simplest form of animal life that + has yet been found. It has been described as "an organism without organs." + It is a kind of structureless structure; a little mass of transparent + jelly that can flatten itself out, and can expand and contract around its + food. It can feed without a mouth, digest without a stomach, walk without + feet, and reproduce itself by simple division. By taking this Moner as the + commencement of animal life, or rather as the first animal, it is easy to + follow the development of the organic structure through all the forms of + life to man himself. In this way finally every muscle, bone and joint, + every organ, form and function may be accounted for. In this way, and in + this way only, can the existence of rudimentary organs be explained. Blot + from the human mind the ideas of evolution, heredity, adaptation, and "the + survival of the fittest," with which it has been enriched by Lamarck, + Goethe, Darwin, Haeckel and Spencer, and all the facts in the history of + animal life become utterly disconnected and meaningless. + </p> + <p> + Shall we throw away all that has been discovered with regard to organic + life, and in its place take the statements of one who lived in the rude + morning of a barbaric day? Will anybody now contend that man was a direct + and independent creation, and sustains and bears no relation to the + animals below him? Belief upon this subject must be governed at last by + evidence. Man cannot believe as he pleases. He can control his speech, and + can say that he believes or disbelieves; but after all, his will cannot + depress or raise the scales with which his reason finds the worth and + weight of facts. If this is not so, investigation, evidence, judgment and + reason are but empty words. + </p> + <p> + I ask again, how were Adam and Eve created? In one account they are + created male and female, and apparently at the same time. In the next + account, Adam is made first, and Eve a long time afterwards, and from a + part of the man. Did God simply by his creative fiat cause a rib slowly to + expand, grow and divide into nerve, ligament, cartilage and flesh? How was + the woman created from a rib? How was man created simply from dust? For my + part, I cannot believe this statement. + </p> + <p> + I may suffer for this in the world to come; and may, millions of years + hence, sincerely wish that I had never investigated the subject, but had + been content to take the ideas of the dead. I do not believe that any + deity works in that way. So far as my experience goes, there is an + unbroken procession of cause and effect. Each thing is a necessary link in + an infinite chain; and I cannot conceive of this chain being broken even + for one instant. Back of the simplest moner there is a cause, and back of + that another, and so on, it seems to me, forever. In my philosophy I + postulate neither beginning nor ending. + </p> + <p> + If the Mosaic account is true, we know how long man has been upon this + earth. If that account can be relied on, the first man was made about five + thousand eight hundred and eighty-three years ago. Sixteen hundred and + fifty-six years after the making of the first man, the inhabitants of the + world, with the exception of eight people, were destroyed by a flood. This + flood occurred only about four thousand two hundred and twenty-seven years + ago. If this account is correct, at that time, only one kind of men + existed. Noah and his family were certainly of the same blood. It + therefore follows that all the differences we see between the various + races of men have been caused in about four thousand years. If the account + of the deluge is true, then since that event all the ancient kingdoms of + the earth were founded, and their inhabitants passed through all the + stages of savage, nomadic, barbaric and semi-civilized life; through the + epochs of Stone, Bronze and Iron; established commerce, cultivated the + arts, built cities, filled them with palaces and temples, invented + writing, produced a literature and slowly fell to shapeless ruin. We must + believe that all this has happened within a period of four thousand years. + </p> + <p> + From representations found upon Egyptian granite made more than three + thousand years ago, we know that the negro was as black, his lips as full, + and his hair as closely curled then as now. If we know anything, we know + that there was at that time substantially the same difference between the + Egyptian and the Negro as now. If we know anything, we know that + magnificent statues were made in Egypt four thousand years before our era—that + is to say, about six thousand years ago. There was at the World's + Exposition, in the Egyptian department, a statue of king Cephren, known to + have been chiseled more than six thousand years ago. In other words, if + the Mosaic account must be believed, this statue was made before the + world. We also know, if we know anything, that men lived in v Europe with + the hairy mammoth, the cave bear, the rhinoceros, and the hyena. Among the + bones of these animals have been found the stone hatchets and flint arrows + of our ancestors. In the caves where they lived have been discovered the + remains of these animals that had been conquered, killed and devoured as + food, hundreds of thousands of years ago. + </p> + <p> + If these facts are true, Moses was mistaken. For my part, I have + infinitely more confidence in the discoveries of to-day, than in the + records of a barbarous people. It will not now do to say that man has + existed upon this earth for only about six thousand years. One can hardly + compute in his imagination the time necessary for man to emerge from the + barbarous state, naked and helpless, surrounded by animals far more + powerful than he, to progress and finally create the civilizations of + India, Egypt and Athens. The distance from savagery to Shakespeare must be + measured not by hundreds, but by millions of years. + </p> + <p> + XIV. SUNDAY. + </p> + <p> + "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he + rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God + blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it he had + rested from all his work which God created and made." + </p> + <p> + The great work had been accomplished, the world, the sun, and moon, and + all the hosts of heaven were finished; the earth was clothed in green, the + seas were filled with life, the cattle wandered by the brooks—insects + with painted wings were in the happy air, Adam and Eve were making each + others acquaintance, and God was resting from his work. He was + contemplating the accomplishments of a week. + </p> + <p> + Because he rested on that day he sanctified it, and for that reason and + for that alone, it was by the Jews considered a holy day. If he only + rested on that day, there ought to be some account of what he did the + following Monday. Did he rest on that day? What did he do after he got + rested? Has he done anything in the way of creation since Saturday evening + of the first week? + </p> + <p> + It is now claimed by the "scientific" Christians that the "days" of + creation were not ordinary days of twenty-four hours each, but immensely + long periods of time. If they are right, then how long was the seventh + day? Was that, too, a geologic period covering thousands of ages? That + cannot be, because Adam and Eve were created the Saturday evening before, + and according to the Bible that was about five thousand eight hundred and + eighty-three years ago. I cannot state the time exactly, because there + have been as many as one hundred and forty different opinions given by + learned Biblical students as to the time between the creation of the world + and the birth of Christ. We are quite certain, however, that, according to + the Bible, it is not more than six thousand years since the creation of + Adam. From this it would appear that the seventh day was not a geologic + epoch, but was in fact a period of less than six thousand years, and + probably of only twenty-four hours. + </p> + <p> + The theologians who "answer" these things may take their choice. If they + take the ground that the "days" were periods of twenty-four hours, then + geology will force them to throw away the whole account. If, on the other + hand, they admit that the days were vast "periods," then the sacredness of + the Sabbath must be given up. + </p> + <p> + There is found in the Bible no intimation that there was the least + difference in the days. They are all spoken of in the same way. It may be + replied that our translation is incorrect. If this is so, then only those + who understand Hebrew, have had a revelation from God, and all the rest + have been deceived. + </p> + <p> + How is it possible to sanctify a space of time? Is rest holier than labor? + If there is any difference between days, ought not that to be considered + best in which the most useful labor has been performed? + </p> + <p> + Of all the superstitions of mankind, this insanity about the "sacred + Sabbath" is the most absurd. The idea of feeling it a duty to be solemn + and sad one-seventh of the time! To think that we can please an infinite + being by staying in some dark and sombre room, instead of walking in the + perfumed fields! Why should God hate to see a man happy? Why should it + excite his wrath to see a family in the woods, by some babbling stream, + talking, laughing and loving? Nature works on that "sacred" day. The earth + turns, the rivers run, the trees grow, buds burst into flower, and birds + fill the air with song. Why should we look sad, and think about death, and + hear about hell? Why should that day be filled with gloom instead of joy? + </p> + <p> + A poor mechanic, working all the week in dust and noise, needs a day of + rest and joy, a day to visit stream and wood—a day to live with wife + and child; a day in which to laugh at care, and gather hope and strength + for toils to come. And his weary wife needs a breath of sunny air, away + from street and wall, amid the hills or by the margin of the sea, where + she can sit and prattle with her babe, and fill with happy dreams the + long, glad day. + </p> + <p> + The "Sabbath" was born of asceticism, hatred of human joy, fanaticism, + ignorance, egotism of priests and the cowardice of the people. This day, + for thousands of years, has been dedicated to superstition, to the + dissemination of mistakes, and the establishment of falsehoods. Every + Freethinker, as a matter of duty, should violate this day. He should + assert his independence, and do all within his power to wrest the Sabbath + from the gloomy church and give it back to liberty and joy. Freethinkers + should make the Sabbath a day of mirth and music; a day to spend with wife + and child—a day of games, and books, and dreams—a day to put + fresh flowers above our sleeping dead—a day of memory and hope, of + love and rest. + </p> + <p> + Why should we in this age of the world be dominated by the dead? Why + should barbarian Jews who went down to death and dust three thousand years + ago, control the living world? Why should we care for the superstition of + men who began the Sabbath by paring their nails, "beginning at the fourth + finger, then going to the second, then to the fifth, then to the third, + and ending with the thumb?" How pleasing to God this must have been. The + Jews were very careful of these nail parings. They who threw them upon the + ground were wicked, because Satan used them to work evil upon the earth. + They believed that upon the Sabbath, souls were allowed to leave purgatory + and cool their burning souls in water. Fires were neither allowed to be + kindled nor extinguished, and upon that day it was a sin to bind up + wounds. "The lame might use a staff, but the blind could not." So strict + was the Sabbath kept, that at one time "if a Jew on a journey was + overtaken by the 'sacred day' in a wood, or on the highway, no matter + where, nor under what circumstances, he must sit down," and there remain + until the day was gone. "If he fell down in the dirt, there he was + compelled to stay until the day was done." For violating the Sabbath, the + punishment was death, for nothing short of the offender's blood could + satisfy the wrath of God. There are, in the Old Testament, two reasons + given for abstaining from labor on the Sabbath:—the resting of God, + and the redemption of the Jews from the bondage of Egypt. + </p> + <p> + Since the establishment of the Christian religion, the day has been + changed, and Christians do not regard the day as holy upon which God + actually rested, and which he sanctified. The Christian Sabbath, or the + "Lord's day" was legally established by the murderer Constantine, because + upon that day Christ was supposed to have risen from the dead. + </p> + <p> + It is not easy to see where Christians got the right to disregard the + direct command of God, to labor on the day he sanctified, and keep as + sacred, a day upon which he commanded men to labor. The Sabbath of God is + Saturday, and if any day is to be kept holy, that is the one, and not the + Sunday of the Christian. + </p> + <p> + Let us throw away these superstitions and take the higher, nobler ground, + that every day should be rendered sacred by some loving act, by increasing + the happinesss of man, giving birth to noble thoughts, putting in the path + of toil some flower of joy, helping the unfortunate, lifting the fallen, + dispelling gloom, destroying prejudice, defending the helpless and filling + homes with light and love. + </p> + <p> + XV. THE NECESSITY FOR A GOOD MEMORY. + </p> + <p> + It must not be forgotten that there are two accounts of the creation in + Genesis. The first account stops with the third verse of the second + chapter. The chapters have been improperly divided. In the original Hebrew + the Pentateuch was neither divided into chapters nor verses. There was not + even any system of punctuation. It was written wholly with consonants, + without vowels, and without any marks, dots, or lines to indicate them. + </p> + <p> + These accounts are materially different, and both cannot be true. Let us + see wherein they differ. + </p> + <p> + The second account of the creation begins with the fourth verse of the + second chapter, and is as follows: + </p> + <p> + "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were + created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. + </p> + <p> + "And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb + of the field before it grew; for the Lord God had not caused it to rain + upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. + </p> + <p> + "But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the + ground. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into + his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the + man whom he had formed. + </p> + <p> + "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is + pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the + midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. + </p> + <p> + "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was + parted and became into four heads. + </p> + <p> + "The name of the first is Pison; that is it which compasseth the whole + land of Havilah, where there is gold. + </p> + <p> + "And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. + </p> + <p> + "And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth + the whole land of Ethiopia. + </p> + <p> + "And the name of the third river is Hiddekel; that is it which goeth + toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to + dress it and to keep it. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden + thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, + thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou + shalt surely die. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I + will make him an helpmeet for him. + </p> + <p> + "And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and + every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would + call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the + name thereof. + </p> + <p> + "And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to + every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helpmeet for + him. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and + he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; + </p> + <p> + "And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman and + brought her unto the man. + </p> + <p> + "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she + shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. + </p> + <p> + "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave + unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. + </p> + <p> + "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." + </p> + <p> + Order of creation in the first account: + </p> + <p> + 1. The heaven and the earth, and light were made. + </p> + <p> + 2. The firmament was constructed and the waters divided. + </p> + <p> + 3. The waters gathered into seas—and then came dry land, grass, + herbs and fruit trees. + </p> + <p> + 4. The sun and moon. He made the stars also. + </p> + <p> + 5. Fishes, fowls, and great whales. + </p> + <p> + 6. Beasts, cattle, every creeping thing, man and woman. + </p> + <p> + Order of creation in the second account: + </p> + <p> + 1. The heavens and the earth. + </p> + <p> + 2. A mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole face of the + ground. + </p> + <p> + 3. Created a man out of dust, by the name of Adam. + </p> + <p> + 4. Planted a garden eastward in Eden, and put the man in it. + </p> + <p> + 5. Created the beasts and fowls. + </p> + <p> + 6. Created a woman out of one of the man's ribs. + </p> + <p> + In the second account, man was made <i>before</i> the beasts and fowls. If + this is true, the first account is false. And if the theologians of our + time are correct in their view that the Mosaic day means thousands of + ages, then, according to the second account, Adam existed millions of + years before Eve was formed. He must have lived one Mosaic day before + there were any trees, and another Mosaic day before the beasts and fowls + were created. Will some kind clergymen tell us upon what kind of food Adam + subsisted during these immense periods? + </p> + <p> + In the second account a man is made, and the fact that he was without a + helpmeet did not occur to the Lord God until a couple "of vast periods" + afterwards. The Lord God suddenly coming to an appreciation of the + situation said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make + him an helpmeet for him." + </p> + <p> + Now, after concluding to make "an helpmeet" for Adam, what did the Lord + God do? Did he at once proceed to make a woman? No. What did he do? He + made the beasts, and tried to induce Adam to take one of them for "an + helpmeet." If I am incorrect, read the following account, and tell me what + it means: + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I + will make him an helpmeet for him. + </p> + <p> + "And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and + every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would + call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the + name thereof. + </p> + <p> + "And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to + every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an helpmeet for + him." + </p> + <p> + Unless the Lord God was looking for an helpmeet for Adam, why did he cause + the animals to pass before him? And why did he, after the menagerie had + passed by, pathetically exclaim, "But for Adam there was not found an + helpmeet for him"? + </p> + <p> + It seems that Adam saw nothing that struck his fancy. The fairest ape, the + sprightliest chimpanzee, the loveliest baboon, the most bewitching + orangoutang, the most fascinating gorilla failed to touch with love's + sweet pain, poor Adam's lonely heart. Let us rejoice that this was so. Had + he fallen in love then, there never would have been a Freethinker in this + world. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Adam Clarke, speaking of this remarkable proceeding says:—"God + caused the animals to pass before Adam to show him that no creature yet + formed could make him a suitable companion; that Adam was convinced that + none of these animals could be a suitable companion for him, and that + therefore he must continue in a state that was not good (celibacy) unless + he became a further debtor to the bounty of his maker, for among all the + animals which he had formed, there was not a helpmeet for Adam." + </p> + <p> + Upon this same subject, Dr. Scott informs us "that it was not conducive to + the happiness of the man to remain without the consoling society, and + endearment of tender friendship, nor consistent with the end of his + creation to be without marriage by which the earth might be replenished + and worshipers and servants raised up to render him praise and glory. Adam + seems to have been vastly better acquainted by intuition or revelation + with the distinct properties of every creature than the most sagacious + observer since the fall of man. + </p> + <p> + "Upon this review of the animals, not one was found in outward form his + counterpart, nor one suited to engage his affections, participate in his + enjoyments, or associate with him in the worship of God." + </p> + <p> + Dr. Matthew Henry admits that "God brought all the animals together to see + if there was a suitable match for Adam in any of the numerous families of + the inferior creatures, but there was none. They were all looked over, but + Adam could not be matched among them all. Therefore God created a new + thing to be a helpmeet for him." + </p> + <p> + Failing to satisfy Adam with any of the inferior animals, the Lord God + caused a deep sleep to fall upon him, and while in this sleep took out one + of Adam's ribs and "closed up the flesh instead thereof." And out of this + rib, the Lord God made a woman, and brought her to the man. + </p> + <p> + Was the Lord God compelled to take a part of the man because he had used + up all the original "nothing" out of which the universe was made? Is it + possible for any sane and intelligent man to believe this story? Must a + man be born a second time before this account seems reasonable? + </p> + <p> + Imagine the Lord God with a bone in his hand with which to start a woman, + trying to make up his mind whether to make a blonde or a brunette! + </p> + <p> + Just at this point it may be proper for me to warn all persons from + laughing at or making light of, any stories found in the "Holy Bible." + When you come to die, every laugh will be a thorn in your pillow. At that + solemn moment, as you look back upon the records of your life, no matter + how many men you may have wrecked and ruined; no matter how many women you + have deceived and deserted, all that can be forgiven; but if you remember + then that you have laughed at even one story in God's "sacred book" you + will see through the gathering shadows of death the forked tongues of + devils, and the leering eyes of fiends. + </p> + <p> + These stories must be believed, or the work of regeneration can never be + commenced. No matter how well you act your part, live as honestly as you + may, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, divide your last farthing with the + poor, and you are simply traveling the broad road that leads inevitably to + eternal death, unless at the same time you implicitly believe the Bible to + be the inspired word of God. + </p> + <p> + Let me show you the result of unbelief. Let us suppose, for a moment, that + we are at the Day of Judgment, listening to the trial of souls as they + arrive. The Recording Secretary, or whoever does the cross-examining, says + to a soul: + </p> + <p> + Where are you from? + </p> + <p> + I am from the Earth. + </p> + <p> + What kind of a man were you? + </p> + <p> + Well, I don't like to talk about myself. I suppose you can tell by looking + at your books. + </p> + <p> + No, sir. You must tell what kind of a man you were. + </p> + <p> + Well, I was what you might call a first-rate fellow. I loved my wife and + children. My home was my heaven. My fireside was a paradise to me. To sit + there and see the lights and shadows fall upon the faces of those I loved, + was to me a perfect joy. + </p> + <p> + How did you treat your family? + </p> + <p> + I never said an unkind word. I never caused my wife, nor one of my + children, a moments pain. + </p> + <p> + Did you pay your debts? + </p> + <p> + I did not owe a dollar when I died, and left enough to pay my funeral + expenses, and to keep the fierce wolf of want from the door of those I + loved. + </p> + <p> + Did you belong to any church? + </p> + <p> + No, sir. They were too narrow, pinched and bigoted for me, I never thought + that I could be very happy if other folks were damned. + </p> + <p> + Did you believe in eternal punishment? + </p> + <p> + Well, no. I always thought that God could get his revenge in far less + time. + </p> + <p> + Did you believe the rib story? + </p> + <p> + Do you mean the Adam and Eve business? + </p> + <p> + Yes! Did you believe that? + </p> + <p> + To tell you the God's truth, that was just a little more than I could + swallow. + </p> + <p> + Away with him to hell! + </p> + <p> + Next! + </p> + <p> + Where are you from? + </p> + <p> + I am from the world too. + </p> + <p> + Did you belong to any church? + </p> + <p> + Yes, sir, and to the Young Men's Christian Association besides. + </p> + <p> + What was your business? + </p> + <p> + Cashier in a Savings Bank. + </p> + <p> + Did you ever run away with any money? + </p> + <p> + Where I came from, a witness could not be compelled to criminate himself. + </p> + <p> + The law is different here. Answer the question. Did you run away with any + money? + </p> + <p> + Yes, sir. + </p> + <p> + How much? + </p> + <p> + One hundred thousand dollars. + </p> + <p> + Did you take anything else with you? + </p> + <p> + Yes, sir. + </p> + <p> + Well, what else? + </p> + <p> + I took my neighbor's wife—we sang together in the choir. + </p> + <p> + Did you have a wife and children of your own? Yes, sir. + </p> + <p> + And you deserted them? + </p> + <p> + Yes, sir, but such was my confidence in God that I believed he would take + care of them. + </p> + <p> + Have you heard of them since? + </p> + <p> + No, sir. + </p> + <p> + Did you believe in the rib story? + </p> + <p> + Bless your soul, of course I did. A thousand times I regretted that there + were no harder stories in the Bible, so that I could have shown my wealth + of faith. + </p> + <p> + Do you believe the rib story yet? + </p> + <p> + Yes, with all my heart. + </p> + <p> + Give him a harp! + </p> + <p> + Well, as I was saying, God made a woman from Adam's rib. Of course, I do + not know exactly how this was done, but when he got the woman finished, he + presented her to Adam. He liked her, and they commenced house-keeping in + the celebrated Garden of Eden. + </p> + <p> + Must we, in order to be good, gentle and loving in our lives, believe that + the creation of woman was a second thought? That Jehovah really endeavored + to induce Adam to take one of the lower animals as an helpmeet for him? + After all, is it not possible to live honest and courageous lives without + believing these fables? It is said that from Mount Sinai God gave, amid + thunderings and lightnings, ten commandments for the guidance of mankind; + and yet among them is not found—"Thou shalt believe the Bible." + </p> + <p> + XVI. THE GARDEN. + </p> + <p> + In the first account we are told that God made man, male and female, and + said to them "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and + subdue it." + </p> + <p> + In the second account only the man is made, and he is put in a garden "to + dress it and to keep it." He is not told to subdue the earth, but to dress + and keep a garden. + </p> + <p> + In the first account man is given every herb bearing seed upon the face of + the earth and the fruit of every tree for food, and in the second, he is + given only the fruit of all the trees in the garden with the exception "of + the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" which was a deadly poison. + </p> + <p> + There was issuing from this garden a river that was parted into four + heads. The first of these, Pison, compassed the whole land of Havilah, the + second, Gihon, that compassed the whole land of Ethiopia. + </p> + <p> + The third, Heddekel, that flowed toward the east of Assyria, and the + fourth, the Euphrates. Where are these four rivers now? The brave prow of + discovery has visited every sea; the traveler has pressed with weary feet + the soil of every clime; and yet there has been found no place from which + four rivers sprang. The Euphrates still journeys to the gulf, but where + are Pison, Gihon and the mighty Heddekel? Surely by going to the source of + the Euphrates we ought to find either these three rivers or their ancient + beds. Will some minister when he answers the "Mistakes of Moses" tell us + where these rivers are or were? The maps of the world are incomplete + without these mighty streams. We have discovered the sources of the Nile; + the North Pole will soon be touched by an American; but these three rivers + still rise in unknown hills, still flow through unknown lands, and empty + still in unknown seas. + </p> + <p> + The account of these four rivers is what the Rev. David Swing would call + "a geographical poem." The orthodox clergy cover the whole affair with the + blanket of allegory, while the "scientific" Christian folks talk about + cataclysms, upheavals, earthquakes, and vast displacements of the earth's + crust. + </p> + <p> + The question, then arises, whether within the last six thousand years + there have been such upheavals and displacements? Talk as you will about + the vast "creative periods" that preceded the appearance of man; it is, + according to the Bible, only about six thousand years since man was + created. Moses gives us the generations of men from Adam until his day, + and this account cannot be explained away by calling centuries, days. + </p> + <p> + According to the second account of creation, these four rivers were made + after the creation of man, and consequently they must have been + obliterated by convulsions of Nature within six thousand years. + </p> + <p> + Can we not account for these contradictions, absurdities, and falsehoods + by simply saying that although the writer may have done his level best, he + failed because he was limited in knowledge, led away by tradition, and + depended too implicitly upon the correctness of his imagination? Is not + such a course far more reasonable than to insist that all these things are + true and must stand though every science shall fall to mental dust? + </p> + <p> + Can any reason be given for not allowing man to eat of the fruit of the + tree of knowledge? What kind of tree was that? If it is all an allegory, + what truth is sought to be conveyed? Why should God object to that fruit + being eaten by man? Why did he put it in the midst of the garden? There + was certainly plenty of room outside. If he wished to keep man and this + tree apart, why did he put them together? And why, after he had eaten, was + he thrust out? The only answer that we have a right to give, is the one + given in the Bible. "And the Lord God said, Behold the man has become as + one of us to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and + take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the + Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from + whence he was taken." + </p> + <p> + Will some minister, some graduate of Andover, tell us what this means? Are + we bound to believe it without knowing what the meaning is? If it is a + revelation, what does it reveal? Did God object to education then, and + does that account for the hostile attitude still assumed by theologians + toward all scientific truth? Was there in the garden a tree of life, the + eating of which would have rendered Adam and Eve immortal? Is it true, + that after the Lord God drove them from the garden that he placed upon its + Eastern side "Cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep + the way of the tree of life?" Are the Cherubim and the flaming sword + guarding that tree still, or was it destroyed, or did its rotting trunk, + as the Rev. Robert Collyer suggests, "nourish a bank of violets"? + </p> + <p> + What objection could God have had to the immortality of man? You see that + after all, this sacred record, instead of assuring us of immortality, + shows us only how we lost it. In this there is assuredly but little + consolation. + </p> + <p> + According to this story we have lost one Eden, but nowhere in the Mosaic + books are we told how we may gain another. I know that the Christians tell + us there is another, in which all true believers will finally be gathered, + and enjoy the unspeakable happiness of seeing the unbelievers in hell; but + they do not tell us where it is. + </p> + <p> + Some commentators say that the Garden of Eden was in the third heaven—some + in the fourth, others have located it in the moon, some in the air beyond + the attraction of the earth, some on the earth, some under the earth, some + inside the earth, some at the North Pole, others at the South, some in + Tartary, some in China, some on the borders of the Ganges, some in the + island of Ceylon, some in Armenia, some in Africa, some under the Equator, + others in Mesopotamia, in Syria, Persia, Arabia, Babylon, Assyria, + Palestine and Europe. Others have contended that it was invisible, that it + was an allegory, and must be spiritually understood. + </p> + <p> + But whether you understand these things or not, you must believe them. You + may be laughed at in this world for insisting that God put Adam into a + deep sleep and made a woman out of one of his ribs, but you will be + crowned and glorified in the next. You will also have the pleasure of + hearing the gentlemen howl there, who laughed at you here. While you will + not be permitted to take any revenge, you will be allowed to smilingly + express your entire acquiescence in the will of God. But where is the new + Eden? No one knows. The one was lost, and the other has not been found. + </p> + <p> + Is it true that man was once perfectly pure and innocent, and that he + became degenerate by disobedience? No. The real truth is, and the history + of man shows, that he has advanced. Events, like the pendulum of a clock + have swung forward and back ward, but after all, man, like the hands, has + gone steadily on. Man is growing grander. He is not degenerating. Nations + and individuals fail and die, and make room for higher forms. The + intellectual horizon of the world widens as the centuries pass. Ideals + grow grander and purer; the difference between justice and mercy becomes + less and less; liberty enlarges, and love intensifies as the years sweep + on. The ages of force and fear, of cruelty and wrong, are behind us and + the real Eden is beyond. It is said that a desire for knowledge lost us + the Eden of the past; but whether that is true or not, it will certainly + give us the Eden of the future. + </p> + <p> + XVII. THE FALL. + </p> + <p> + We are told that the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field, + that he had a conversation with Eve, in which he gave his opinion about + the effect of eating certain fruit; that he assured her it was good to + eat, that it was pleasant to the eye, that it would make her wise; that + she was induced to take some; that she persuaded her husband to try it; + that God found it out, that he then cursed the snake; condemning it to + crawl and eat the dust; that he multiplied the sorrows of Eve, cursed the + ground for Adam's sake, started thistles and thorns, condemned man to eat + the herb of the field in the sweat of his face, pronounced the curse of + death, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return," made coats of + skins for Adam and Eve, and drove them out of Eden. + </p> + <p> + Who, and what was this serpent? Dr. Adam Clarke says:—"The serpent + must have walked erect, for this is necessarily implied in his punishment. + That he was endued with the gift of speech, also with reason. That these + things were given to this creature. The woman no doubt having often seen + him walking erect, and talking and reasoning, therefore she testifies no + sort of surprise when he accosts her in the language related in the text. + It therefore appears to me that a creature of the ape or orangoutang kind + is here intended, and that Satan made use of this creature as the most + proper instrument for the accomplishment of his murderous purposes against + the life of the soul of man. Under this creature he lay hid, and by this + creature he seduced our first parents. Such a creature answers to every + part of the description in the text. It is evident from the structure of + its limbs and its muscles that it might have been originally designed to + walk erect, and that nothing else than the sovereign controlling power + could induce it to put down hands—in every respect formed like those + of man—and walk like those creatures whose claw-armed parts prove + them to have been designed to walk on all fours. The stealthy cunning, and + endless variety of the pranks and tricks of these creatures show them even + now to be wiser and more intelligent than any other creature, man alone + excepted. Being obliged to walk on all fours and gather their food from + the ground, they are literally obliged to eat the dust; and though + exceeding cunning, and careful in a variety of instances to separate that + part which is wholesome and proper for food from that which is not so, in + the article of cleanliness they are lost to all sense of propriety. Add to + this their utter aversion to walk upright; it requires the utmost + discipline to bring them to it, and scarcely anything offends or irritates + them more than to be obliged to do it. Long observation of these animals + enables me to state these facts. For earnest, attentive watching, and for + chattering and babbling they (the ape) have no fellows in the animal + world. Indeed, the ability and propensity to chatter, is all they have + left of their original gift of speech, of which they appear to have been + deprived at the fall as a part of their punishment." + </p> + <p> + Here then is the "connecting link" between man and the lower creation. The + serpent was simply an orang-outang that spoke Hebrew with the greatest + ease, and had the outward appearance of a perfect gentleman, seductive in + manner, plausible, polite, and most admirably calculated to deceive. + </p> + <p> + It never did seem reasonable' to me that a long, cold and disgusting snake + with an apple in his mouth, could deceive anybody; and I am glad, even at + this late date to know that the something that persuaded Eve to taste the + forbidden fruit was, at least, in the shape of a man. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Henry does not agree with the zoological explanation of Mr. Clark, but + insists that "it is certain that the devil that beguiled Eve is the old + serpent, a malignant by creation, an angel of light, an immediate + attendant upon God's throne, but by sin an apostate from his first state, + and a rebel against God's crown and dignity. He who attacked our first + parents was surely the prince of devils, the ring leader in rebellion. The + devil chose to act his part in a serpent, because it is a specious + creature, has a spotted, dappled skin, and then, went erect. Perhaps it + was a flying serpent which seemed to come from on high, as a messenger + from the upper world, one of the seraphim; because the serpent is a + subtile creature. What Eve thought of this serpent speaking to her, we are + not likely to tell, and, I believe, she herself did not know what to think + of it. At first, perhaps, she supposed it might be a good angel, and yet + afterwards might suspect something amiss. The person tempted was a woman, + now alone, and at a distance from her husband, but near the forbidden + tree. It was the devil's subtlety to assault the weaker vessel with his + temptations, as we may suppose her inferior to Adam in knowledge, strength + and presence of mind. Some think that Eve received the command not + immediately from God, but at second hand from her husband, and might, + therefore, be the more easily persuaded to discredit it. It was the policy + of the devil to enter into discussion with her when she was alone. He took + advantage by finding her near the forbidden tree. God permitted Satan to + prevail over Eve, for wise and holy ends. Satan teaches men first to + doubt, and then to deny. He makes skeptics first, and by degrees makes + them atheists." + </p> + <p> + We are compelled to admit that nothing could be more attractive to a woman + than a snake walking erect, with a "spotted, dappled skin," unless it were + a serpent with wings. Is it not humiliating to know that our ancestors + believed these things? Why should we object to the Darwinian doctrine of + descent after this? + </p> + <p> + Our fathers thought it their duty to believe, thought it a sin to + entertain the slightest doubt, and really supposed that their credulity + was exceedingly, gratifying to God. To them, the story was entirely real. + They could see the garden, hear the babble of waters, smell the perfume of + flowers. They believed there was a tree where knowledge grew like plums or + pears; and they could plainly see the serpent coiled amid its rustling + leaves, coaxing Eve to violate the laws of God. + </p> + <p> + Where did the serpent come from? On which of the six days was he created? + Who made him? Is it possible that God would make a successful rival? He + must have known that Adam and Eve would fall. He knew what a snake with a + "spotted, dappled skin" could do with an inexperienced woman. Why did he + not defend his children? He knew that if the serpent got into the garden, + Adam and Eve would sin, that he would have to drive them out, that + afterwards the world would be destroyed, and that he himself would die + upon the cross. + </p> + <p> + Again, I ask what and who was this serpent? He was not a man, for only one + man had been made. He was not a woman. He was not a beast of the field, + because "he was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord + God had made." He was neither fish nor fowl, nor snake, because he had the + power of speech, and did not crawl upon his belly until after he was + cursed. Where did this serpent come from? Why was he not kept out of the + garden? Why did not the Lord God take him by the tail and snap his head + off? Why did he not put Adam and Eve on their guard about this serpent? + They, of course, were not acquainted in the neighborhood, and knew nothing + about the serpent's reputation for truth and veracity among his neighbors. + Probably Adam saw him when he was looking for "an helpmeet" and gave him a + name, but Eve had never met him before. She was not surprised to hear a + serpent talk, as that was the first one she had ever met. Every thing + being new to her, and her husband not being with her just at that moment, + it need hardly excite our wonder that she tasted the fruit by way of + experiment. Neither should we be surprised that when she saw it was good + and pleasant to the eye, and a fruit to be desired to make one wise, she + had the generosity to divide with her husband. + </p> + <p> + Theologians have filled thousands of volumes with abuse of this serpent, + but it seems that he told the exact truth. We are told that this serpent + was, in fact, Satan, the greatest enemy of mankind, and that he entered + the serpent, appearing to our first parents in its body. If this is so, + why should the serpent have been cursed? Why should God curse the serpent + for what had really been done by the devil? Did Satan remain in the body + of the serpent, and in some mysterious manner share his punishment? Is it + true that when we kill a snake we also destroy an evil spirit, or is there + but one devil, and did he perish at the death of the first serpent? Is it + on account of that transaction in the Garden of Eden, that all the + descendants of Adam and Eve known as Jews and Christians hate serpents? + </p> + <p> + Do you account for the snake-worship in Mexico, Africa and India in the + same way? + </p> + <p> + What was the form of the serpent when he entered the garden, and in what + way did he move from place to place? Did he walk or fly? Certainly he did + not crawl, because that mode of locomotion was pronounced upon him as a + curse. Upon what food did he subsist before his conversation with Eve? We + know that after that he lived upon dust, but what did he eat before? It + may be that this is all poetic; and the truest poetry is, according to + Touchstone, "the most feigning." + </p> + <p> + In this same chapter we are informed that "unto Adam also and to his wife + did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them." Where did the Lord + God get those skins? He must have taken them from the animals; he was a + butcher. Then he had to prepare them; he was a tanner. Then he made them + into coats; he was a tailor. How did it happen that they needed coats of + skins, when they had been perfectly comfortable in a nude condition? Did + the "fall" produce a change in the climate? + </p> + <p> + Is it really necessary to believe this account in order to be happy here, + or hereafter? Does it tend to the elevation of the human race to speak of + "God" as a butcher, tanner and tailor? + </p> + <p> + And here, let me say once for all, that when I speak of God, I mean the + being described by Moses; the Jehovah of the Jews. There may be for aught + I know, somewhere in the unknown shoreless vast, some being whose dreams + are constellations and within whose thought the infinite exists. About + this being, if such an one exists, I have nothing to say. He has written + no books, inspired no barbarians, required no worship, and has prepared no + hell in which to burn the honest seeker after truth. + </p> + <p> + When I speak of God, I mean that god who prevented man from putting forth + his hand and taking also of the fruit of the tree of life that he might + live forever; of that god who multiplied the agonies of woman, increased + the weary toil of man, and in his anger drowned a world—of that god + whose altars reeked with human blood, who butchered babes, violated + maidens, enslaved men and filled the earth with cruelty and crime; of that + god who made heaven for the few, hell for the many, and who will gloat + forever and ever upon the writhings of the lost and damned. + </p> + <p> + XVIII. DAMPNESS. + </p> + <p> + "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, + and daughters were born unto them. + </p> + <p> + "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and + they took them wives of all which they chose. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that + he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. + </p> + <p> + "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that when + the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children + to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. + </p> + <p> + "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that + every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. + </p> + <p> + "And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it + grieved him at his heart. + </p> + <p> + "And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face + of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls + of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." + </p> + <p> + From this account it seems that driving Adam and Eve out of Eden did not + have the effect to improve them or their children. On the contrary, the + world grew worse and worse. They were under the immediate control and + government of God, and he from time to time made known his will; but in + spite of this, man continued to increase in crime. + </p> + <p> + Nothing in particular seems to have been done. Not a school was + established. There was no written language. There was not a Bible in the + world. The "scheme of salvation" was kept a profound secret. The five + points of Calvinism had not been taught. Sunday schools had not been + opened. In short, nothing had been done for the reformation of the world. + God did not even keep his own sons at home, but allowed them to leave + their abode in the firmament, and make love to the daughters of men. As a + result of this, the world was filled with wickedness and giants to such an + extent that God regretted "that he had made man on the earth, and it + grieved him at his heart." + </p> + <p> + Of course God knew when he made man, that he would afterwards regret it. + He knew that the people would grow worse and worse until destruction would + be the only remedy. He knew that he would have to kill all except Noah and + his family, and it is hard to see why he did not make Noah and his family + in the first place, and leave Adam and Eve in the original dust. He knew + that they would be tempted, that he would have to drive them out of the + garden to keep them from eating of the tree of life; that the whole thing + would be a failure; that Satan would defeat his plan; that he could not + reform the people; that his own sons would corrupt them, and that at last + he would have to drown them all except Noah and his family. Why was the + Garden of Eden planted? Why was the experiment made? Why were Adam and Eve + exposed to the seductive arts of the serpent? Why did God wait until the + cool of the day before looking after his children? Why was he not on hand + in the morning? + </p> + <p> + Why did he fill the world with his own children, knowing that he would + have to destroy them? And why does this same God tell me how to raise my + children when he had to drown his? + </p> + <p> + It is a little curious that when God wished to reform the ante-diluvian + world he said nothing about hell; that he had no revivals, no + camp-meetings, no tracts, no outpourings of the Holy Ghost, no baptisms, + no noon prayer meetings, and never mentioned the great doctrine of + salvation by faith. If the orthodox creeds of the world are true, all + those people went to hell without ever having heard that such a place + existed. If eternal torment is a fact, surely these miserable wretches + ought to have been warned. They were threatened only with water when they + were in fact doomed to eternal fire! + </p> + <p> + Is it not strange that God said nothing to Adam and Eve about a future + life; that he should have kept these "infinite verities" to himself and + allowed millions to live and die without the hope of heaven, or the fear + of hell? + </p> + <p> + It may be that hell was not made at that time. In the six days of creation + nothing is said about the construction of a bottomless pit, and the + serpent himself did not make his appearance until after the creation of + man and woman. Perhaps he was made on the first Sunday, and from that fact + came, it may be, the old couplet, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "And Satan still some mischief finds + For idle hands to do." +</pre> + <p> + The sacred historian failed also to tell us when the cherubim and the + flaming sword were made, and said nothing about two of the persons + composing the Trinity. It certainly would have been an easy thing to + enlighten Adam and his immediate descendants. The world was then only + about fifteen hundred and thirty-six years old, and only about three or + four generations of men had lived. Adam had been dead only about six + hundred and six years, and some of his grandchildren must, at that time, + have been alive and well. + </p> + <p> + It is hard to see why God did not civilize these people. He certainly had + the power to use, and the wisdom to devise the proper means. What right + has a god to fill a world with fiends? Can there be goodness in this? Why + should he make experiments that he knows must fail? Is there wisdom in + this? And what right has a man to charge an infinite being with wickedness + and folly? + </p> + <p> + According to Moses, God made up his mind not only to destroy the people, + but the beasts and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air. What had + the beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds done to excite the + anger of God? Why did he repent having made them? Will some Christian give + us an explanation of this matter? No good man will inflict unnecessary + pain upon a beast; how then can we worship a god who cares nothing for the + agonies of the dumb creatures that he made? + </p> + <p> + Why did he make animals that he knew he would destroy? Does God delight in + causing pain? He had the power to make the beasts, and fowls, and creeping + things in his own good time and way, and it is to be presumed that he made + them according to his wish. Why should he destroy them? They had committed + no sin. They had eaten no forbidden fruit, made no aprons, nor tried to + reach the tree of life. Yet this god, in blind unreasoning wrath destroyed + "all flesh wherein was the breath of life, and every living thing beneath + the sky, and every substance wherein was life that he had made." + </p> + <p> + Jehovah having made up his mind to drown the world, told Noah to make an + Ark of gopher wood three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty + cubits high. A cubit is twenty-two inches; so that the ark was five + hundred and fifty feet long, ninety-one feet and eight inches wide and + fifty-five feet high. This ark was divided into three stories, and had on + top, one window twenty-two inches square. Ventilation must have been one + of Jehovah's hobbies. Think of a ship larger than the Great Eastern with + only one window, and that but twenty-two inches square! + </p> + <p> + The ark also had one door set in the side thereof that shut from the + outside. As soon as this ship was finished, and properly victualed, Noah + received seven days notice to get the animals in the ark. + </p> + <p> + It is claimed by some of the scientific theologians that the flood was + partial, that the waters covered only a small portion of the world, and + that consequently only a few animals were in the ark. It is impossible to + conceive of language that can more clearly convey the idea of a universal + flood than that found in the inspired account. If the flood was only + partial, why did God say he would "destroy all flesh wherein is the breath + of life from under heaven, and that every thing that is in the earth shall + die"? Why did he say "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face + of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping thing and the fowls of + the air"? Why did he say "And every living substance that I have made will + I destroy from off the face of the earth"? Would a partial, local flood + have fulfilled these threats? + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be clearer than that the writer of this account intended to + convey, and did convey the idea that the flood was universal. Why should + Christians try to deprive God of the glory of having wrought the most + stupendous of miracles? Is it possible that the Infinite could not + overwhelm with waves this atom called the earth? Do you doubt his power, + his wisdom or his justice? + </p> + <p> + Believers in miracles should not endeavor to explain them. There is but + one way to explain anything, and that is to account for it by natural + agencies. The moment you explain a miracle, it disappears. You should + depend not upon explanation, but assertion. You should not be driven from + the field because the miracle is shown to be unreasonable. You should + reply that all miracles are unreasonable. Neither should you be in the + least disheartened if it is shown to be impossible. The possible is not + miraculous. You should take the ground that if miracles were reasonable, + and possible, there would be no reward paid for believing them. The + Christian has the goodness to believe, while the sinner asks for evidence. + It is enough for God to work miracles without being called upon to + substantiate them for the benefit of unbelievers. + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago, the Christians believed implicitly in the literal + truth of every miracle recorded in the Bible. Whoever tried to explain + them in some natural way, was looked upon as an infidel in disguise, but + now he is regarded as a benefactor. The credulity of the church is + decreasing, and the most marvelous miracles are now either "explained," or + allowed to take refuge behind the mistakes of the translators, or hide in + the drapery of allegory. + </p> + <p> + In the sixth chapter, Noah is ordered to take "of every living thing of + all flesh, two of every sort into the ark—male and female." In the + seventh chapter the order is changed, and Noah is commanded, according to + the Protestant Bible, as follows: "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to + thee by sevens, the male and his female, and of beasts that are not clean, + by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the + male and the female." + </p> + <p> + According to the Catholic Bible, Noah was commanded—-"Of all clean + beasts take seven and seven, the male and the female. But of the beasts + that are unclean two and two, the male and the female. Of the fowls also + of the air seven and seven, the male and the female." + </p> + <p> + For the purpose of belittling this miracle, many commentators have taken + the ground that Noah was not ordered to take seven males and seven females + of each kind of clean beasts, but seven in all. Many Christians contend + that only seven clean beasts of each kind were taken into the ark—three + and a half of each sex. + </p> + <p> + If the account in the seventh chapter means anything, it means <i>first</i>, + that of each kind of clean beasts, fourteen were to be taken, seven males, + and seven females; <i>second</i>, that of unclean beasts should be taken, + two of each kind, one of each sex, and <i>third</i>, that he should take + of every kind of fowls, seven of each sex. + </p> + <p> + It is equally clear that the command in the 19th and 20th verses of the + 6th chapter, is to take two of each sort, one male and one female. And + this agrees exactly with the account in the 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 15th, and + 16th verses of the 7th chapter. + </p> + <p> + The next question is, how many beasts, fowls and creeping things did Noah + take into the ark? + </p> + <p> + There are now known and classified at least twelve thousand five hundred + species of birds. There are still vast territories in China, South + America, and Africa unknown to the ornithologist. + </p> + <p> + Of the birds, Noah took fourteen of each species, according to the 3d + verse of the 7th chapter, "Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male + and the female," making a total of 175,000 birds. + </p> + <p> + And right here allow me to ask a question. If the flood was simply a + partial flood, why were birds taken into the ark? It seems to me that most + birds, attending strictly to business, might avoid a partial flood. + </p> + <p> + There are at least sixteen hundred and fifty-eight kinds of beasts. Let us + suppose that twenty-five of these are clean. Of the clean, fourteen of + each kind—seven of each sex—were taken. These amount to 350. + Of the unclean—two of each kind, amounting to 3,266. There are some + six hundred and fifty species of reptiles. Two of each kind amount to + 1,300. And lastly, there are of insects including the creeping things, at + least one million species, so that Noah and his folks had to get of these + into the ark about 2,000,000. + </p> + <p> + Animalculæ have not been taken into consideration. There are + probably many hundreds of thousands of species; many of them invisible; + and yet Noah had to pick them out by pairs. Very few people have any just + conception of the trouble Noah had. + </p> + <p> + We know that there are many animals on this continent not found in the Old + World. These must have been carried from here to the ark, and then brought + back afterwards. Were the peccary, armadillo, ant-eater, sloth, agouti, + vampire-bat, marmoset, howling and prehensile-tailed monkey, the raccoon + and muskrat carried by the angels from America to Asia? How did they get + there? Did the polar bear leave his field of ice and journey toward the + tropics? How did he know where the ark was? Did the kangaroo swim or jump + from Australia to Asia? Did the giraffe, hippopotamus, antelope and + orang-outang journey from Africa in search of the ark? Can absurdities go + farther than this? + </p> + <p> + What had these animals to eat while on the journey? What did they eat + while in the ark? What did they drink? When the rain came, of course the + rivers ran to the seas, and these seas rose and finally covered the world. + The waters of the seas, mingled with those of the flood, would make all + salt. It has been calculated that it required, to drown the world, about + eight times as much water as was in all the seas. To find how salt the + waters of the flood must have been, take eight quarts of fresh water, and + add one quart from the sea. Such water would create instead of allaying + thirst. Noah had to take in his ark fresh water for all his beasts, birds + and living things. He had to take the proper food for all. How long was he + in the ark? Three hundred and seventy-seven days! Think of the food + necessary for the monsters of the ante-diluvian world! + </p> + <p> + Eight persons did all the work. They attended to the wants of 175,000 + birds, 3,616 beasts, 1,300 reptiles, and 2,000,000 insects, saying nothing + of countless animalculæ. + </p> + <p> + Well, after they all got in, Noah pulled down the window, God shut the + door, and the rain commenced. + </p> + <p> + How long did it rain? + </p> + <p> + Forty days. + </p> + <p> + How deep did the water get? + </p> + <p> + About five miles and a half. + </p> + <p> + How much did it rain a day? + </p> + <p> + Enough to cover the whole world to a depth of about seven hundred and + forty-two feet. + </p> + <p> + Some Christians say that the fountains of the great deep were broken up. + Will they be kind enough to tell us what the fountains of the great deep + are? Others say that God had vast stores of water in the center of the + earth that he used on that occasion. How did these waters happen to run up + hill? + </p> + <p> + Gentlemen, allow me to tell you once more that you must not try to explain + these things. Your efforts in that direction do no good, because your + explanations are harder to believe than the miracle itself. Take my + advice, stick to assertion, and let explanation alone. + </p> + <p> + Then, as now, Dhawalagiri lifted its crown of snow twenty-nine thousand + feet above the level of the sea, and on the cloudless cliffs of Chimborazo + then, as now, sat the condor; and yet the waters rising seven hundred and + twenty-six feet a day—thirty feet an hour, six inches a minute,—rose + over the hills, over the volcanoes, filled the vast craters, extinguished + all the fires, rose above every mountain peak until the vast world was but + one shoreless sea covered with the innumerable dead. + </p> + <p> + Was this the work of the most merciful God, the father of us all? If there + is a God, can there be the slightest danger of incurring his displeasure + by doubting even in a reverential way, the truth of such a cruel lie? If + we think that God is kinder than he really is, will our poor souls be + burned for that? + </p> + <p> + How many trees can live under miles of water for a year? What became of + the soil washed, scattered, dissolved, and covered with the <i>debris</i> + of a world? How were the tender plants and herbs preserved? How were the + animals preserved after leaving the ark? There was no grass except such as + had been submerged for a year. There were no animals to be devoured by the + carnivorous beasts. What became of the birds that fed on worms and + insects? What became of the birds that devoured other birds? + </p> + <p> + It must be remembered that the pressure of the water when at the highest + point—say twenty-nine thousand feet, would have been about eight + hundred tons on each square foot. Such a pressure certainly would have + destroyed nearly every vestige of vegetable life, so that when the animals + came out of the ark, there was not a mouthful of food in the wide world. + How were they supported until the world was again clothed with grass? How + were those animals taken care of that subsisted on others? Where did the + bees get honey, and the ants seeds? There was not a creeping thing upon + the whole earth; not a breathing creature beneath the whole heavens; not a + living substance. Where did the tenants of the ark get food? + </p> + <p> + There is but one answer, if the story is true. The food necessary not only + during the year of the flood, but sufficient for many months afterwards, + must have been stored in the ark. + </p> + <p> + There is probably not an animal in the world that will not, in a year, eat + and drink ten times its weight. Noah must have provided food and water for + a year while in the ark, and food for at least six months after they got + ashore. It must have required for a pair of elephants, about one hundred + and fifty tons of food and water. A couple of mammoths would have required + about twice that amount. Of course there were other monsters that lived on + trees; and in a year would have devoured quite a forest. + </p> + <p> + How could eight persons have distributed this food, even if the ark had + been large enough to hold it? How was the ark kept clean? We know how it + was ventilated; but what was done with the filth? How were the animals + watered? How were some portions of the ark heated for animals from the + tropics, and others kept cool for the polar bears? How did the animals get + back to their respective countries? Some had to creep back about six + thousand miles, and they could only go a few feet a day. Some of the + creeping things must have started for the ark just as soon as they were + made, and kept up a steady jog for sixteen hundred years. Think of a + couple of the slowest snails leaving a point opposite the ark and starting + for the plains of Shinar, a distance of twelve thousand miles. Going at + the rate of a mile a month, it would take them a thousand years. How did + they get there? Polar bears must have gone several thousand miles, and so + sudden a change in climate must have been exceedingly trying upon their + health. How did they know the way to go? Of course, all the polar bears + did not go. Only two were required. Who selected these? + </p> + <p> + Two sloths had to make the journey from South America. These creatures + cannot travel to exceed three rods a day. At this rate, they would make a + mile in about a hundred days. They must have gone about six thousand five + hundred miles, to reach the ark. Supposing them to have traveled by a + reasonably direct route, in order to complete the journey before Noah + hauled in the plank, they must have started several years before the world + was created. We must also consider that these sloths had to board + themselves on the way, and that most of their time had to be taken up + getting food and water. It is exceedingly doubtful whether a sloth could + travel six thousand miles and board himself in less than three thousand + years. + </p> + <p> + Volumes might be written upon the infinite absurdity of this most + incredible, wicked and foolish of all the fables contained in that + repository of the impossible, called the Bible. To me it is a matter of + amazement, that it ever was for a moment believed by any intelligent human + being. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Adam Clarke says that "the animals were brought to the ark by the + power of God, and their enmities were so removed or suspended, that the + lion could dwell peaceably with the lamb, and the wolf sleep happily by + the side of the kid. There is no positive evidence that animal food was + ever used before the flood. Noah had the first grant of this kind." + </p> + <p> + Dr. Scott remarks, "There seems to have been a very extraordinary miracle, + perhaps by the ministration of angels, in bringing two of every species to + Noah, and rendering them submissive, and peaceful with each other. Yet it + seems not to have made any impression upon the hardened spectators. The + suspension of the ferocity of the savage beasts during their continuance + in the ark, is generally considered as an apt figure of the change that + takes place in the disposition of sinners when they enter the true church + of Christ." + </p> + <p> + He believed the deluge to have been universal. In his day science had not + demonstrated the absurdity of this belief, and he was not compelled to + resort to some theory not found in the Bible. He insisted that "by some + vast convulsion, the very bowels of the earth were forced upwards, and + rain poured down in cataracts and water-spouts, with no intermission for + forty days and nights, and until in every place a universal deluge was + effected. + </p> + <p> + "The presence of God was the only comfort of Noah in his dreary + confinement, and in witnessing the dire devastation of the earth and its + inhabitants, and especially of the human species—of his companions, + his neighbors, his relatives—all those to whom he had preached, for + whom he had prayed and over whom he had wept, and even of many who had + helped to build the ark. + </p> + <p> + "It seems that by a peculiar providential interposition, no animal of any + sort died, although they had been shut up in the ark above a year; and it + does not appear that there had been any increase of them during that time. + </p> + <p> + "The Ark was flat-bottomed—square at each end—roofed like a + house so that it terminated at the top in the breadth of a cubit. It was + divided into many little cabins for its intended inhabitants. Pitched + within and without to keep it tight and sweet, and lighted from the upper + part. But it must, at first sight, be evident that so large a vessel, thus + constructed, with so few persons on board, was utterly unfitted to weather + out the deluge, except it was under the immediate guidance and protection + of the Almighty." + </p> + <p> + Dr. Henry furnished the Christian world with the following:— + </p> + <p> + "As our bodies have in them the humors which, when God pleases, become the + springs and seeds of mortal disease, so the earth had, in its bowels, + those waters which, at God's command, sprung up and flooded it. + </p> + <p> + "God made the world in six days, but he was forty days in destroying it, + because he is slow to anger. + </p> + <p> + "The hostilities between the animals in the ark ceased, and ravenous + creatures became mild and manageable, so that the wolf lay down with the + lamb, and the lion ate straw like an ox. + </p> + <p> + "God shut the door of the ark to secure Noah and to keep him safe, and + because it was necessary that the door should be shut very close lest the + water should break in and sink the ark, and very fast lest others might + break it down. + </p> + <p> + "The waters rose so high that not only the low flat countries were + deluged, but to make sure work and that none might escape, the tops of the + highest mountains were overflowed fifteen cubits. That is, seven and a + half yards, so that salvation was not hoped for from hills or mountains. + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps some of the people got to the top of the ark, and hoped to shift + for themselves there. But either they perished there for want of food, or + the dashing rain washed them off the top. Others, it may be, hoped to + prevail with Noah for admission into the ark, and plead old acquaintance. + </p> + <p> + "'Have we not eaten and drank in thy presence? Hast thou not preached in + our streets?' 'Yea,' said Noah, 'many a time, but to little purpose. I + called but ye refused; and now it is not in my power to help you. God has + shut the door and I cannot open it.' + </p> + <p> + "We may suppose that some of those who perished in the deluge had + themselves assisted Noah, or were employed by him in building the ark. + </p> + <p> + "Hitherto, man had been confined to feed only upon the products of the + earth. Fruits, herbs and roots, and all sorts of greens, and milk, which + was the first grant; but the flood having perhaps washed away much of the + fruits of the earth, and rendered them much less pleasant and nourishing, + God enlarged the grant and allowed him to eat flesh, which perhaps man + never thought of until now, that God directed him to it. Nor had he any + more desire to it than the sheep has to suck blood like the wolf. But now, + man is allowed to feed upon flesh as freely and safely as upon the green + herb." + </p> + <p> + Such was the debasing influence of a belief in the literal truth of the + Bible upon these men, that their commentaries are filled with passages + utterly devoid of common sense. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Clarke speaking of the mammoth says: + </p> + <p> + "This animal, an astonishing proof of God's power, he seems to have + produced merely to show what he could do. And after suffering a few of + them to propagate, he extinguished the race by a merciful providence, that + they might not destroy both man and beast. + </p> + <p> + "We are told that it would have been much easier for God to destroy all + the people and make new ones, but he would not want to waste anything and + no power or skill should be lavished where no necessity exists. + </p> + <p> + "The animals were brought to the ark by the power of God." + </p> + <p> + Again gentlemen, let me warn you of the danger of trying to explain a + miracle. Let it alone. Say that you do not understand it, and do not + expect to until taught in the schools of the New Jerusalem. The more + reasons you give, the more unreasonable the miracle will appear. Through + what you say in defence, people are led to think, and as soon as they + really think, the miracle is thrown away. + </p> + <p> + Among the most ignorant nations you will find the most wonders, among the + most enlightened, the least. It is with individuals, the same as with + nations. Ignorance believes, Intelligence examines and explains. + </p> + <p> + For about seven months the ark, with its cargo of men, animals and + insects, tossed and wandered without rudder or sail upon a boundless sea. + At last it grounded on the mountains of Ararat; and about three months + afterward the tops of the mountains became visible. It must not be + forgotten that the mountain where the ark is supposed to have first + touched bottom, was about seventeen thousand feet high. How were the + animals from the tropics kept warm? When the waters were abated it would + be intensely cold at a point seventeen thousand feet above the level of + the sea. May be there were stoves, furnaces, fire places and steam coils + in the ark, but they are not mentioned in the inspired narrative. How were + the animals kept from freezing? It will not do to say that Ararat was not + very high after all. + </p> + <p> + If you will read the fourth and fifth verses of the eight chapter you will + see that although "the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth + day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat, it was not until the first + day of the tenth month that the tops of the mountains could be seen." From + this it would seem that the ark must have rested upon about the highest + peak in that country. Noah waited forty days more, and then for the first + time opened the window and took a breath of fresh air. He then sent out a + raven that did not return, then a dove that returned. He then waited seven + days and sent forth a dove that returned not. From this he knew that the + waters were abated. Is it possible that he could not see whether the + waters had gone? Is it possible to conceive of a more perfectly childish + way of ascertaining whether the earth was dry? + </p> + <p> + At last Noah "removed the covering of the ark, and looked and behold the + face of the ground was dry," and thereupon God told him to disembark. In + his gratitude Noah built an altar and took of every clean beast and of + every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings. And the Lord smelled a + sweet savor and said in his heart that he would not any more curse the + ground for man's sake. For saying this in his heart the Lord gives as a + reason, not that man is, or will be good, but because "the imagination of + man's heart is evil from his youth." God destroyed man because "the + wickedness of man was great in the earth, and <i>because every imagination + of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually</i>." And he + promised for the same reason not to destroy him again. Will some gentleman + skilled in theology give us an explanation? + </p> + <p> + After God had smelled the sweet savor of sacrifice, he seems to have + changed his idea as to the proper diet for man. When Adam and Eve were + created they were allowed to eat herbs bearing seed, and the fruit of + trees. When they were turned out of Eden, God said to them "Thou shalt eat + the herb of the field." In the first chapter of Genesis the "green herb" + was given for food to the beasts, fowls and creeping things. Upon being + expelled from the garden, Adam and Eve, as to their food, were put upon an + equality with the lower animals. According to this, the ante-diluvians + were vegetarians. This may account for their wickedness and longevity. + </p> + <p> + After Noah sacrificed, and God smelled the sweet savor; he said—"Every + moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you, even as the green herb + have I given you all things." Afterward this same God changed his mind + again, and divided the beasts and birds into clean and unclean, and made + it a crime for man to eat the unclean. Probably food was so scarce when + Noah was let out of the ark that Jehovah generously allowed him to eat + anything and everything he could find. + </p> + <p> + According to the account, God then made a covenant with Noah to the effect + that he would not again destroy the world with a flood, and as the + attesting witness of this contract, a rainbow was set in the cloud. This + bow was placed in the sky so that it might perpetually remind God of his + promise and covenant. Without this visible witness and reminder, it would + seem that Jehovah was liable to forget the contract, and drown the world + again. Did the rainbow originate in this way? Did God put it in the cloud + simply to keep his agreement in his memory? + </p> + <p> + For me it is impossible to believe the story of the deluge. It seems so + cruel, so barbaric, so crude in detail, so absurd in all its parts, and so + contrary to all we know of law, that even credulity itself is shocked. + </p> + <p> + Many nations have preserved accounts of a deluge in which all people, + except a family or two, were destroyed. Babylon was certainly a city + before Jerusalem was founded. Egypt was in the height of her power when + there were only seventy Jews in the world, and India had a literature + before the name of Jehovah had passed the lips of superstition. An account + of a general deluge "was discovered by George Smith, translated from + another account that was written about two thousand years before Christ." + Of course it is impossible to tell how long the story had lived in the + memory of tradition before it was reduced to writing by the Babylonians. + According to this account, which is, without doubt, much older than the + one given by Moses, Tamzi built a ship at the command of the god Hea, and + put in it his family and the beasts of the field. He pitched the ship + inside and outside with bitumen, and as soon as it was finished, there + came a flood of rain and "destroyed all life from the face of the whole + earth. On the seventh day there was a calm, and the ship stranded on the + mountain Nizir." Tamzi waited for seven days more, and then let out a + dove. Afterwards, he let out a swallow, and that, as well as the dove + returned. Then he let out a raven, and as that did not return, he + concluded that the water had dried away, and thereupon left the ship. Then + he made an offering to god, or the gods, and "Hea interceded with Bel," so + that the earth might never again be drowned. + </p> + <p> + This is the Babylonian story, told without the contradictions of the + original. For in that, it seems, there are two accounts, as well as in the + Bible. Is it not a strange coincidence that there should be contradictory + accounts mingled in both the Babylonian and Jewish stories? + </p> + <p> + In the Bible there are two accounts. In one account, Noah was to take two + of all beasts, birds, and creeping things into the ark, while in the + other, he was commanded to take of clean beasts, and all birds by sevens + of each kind. According to one account, the flood only lasted one hundred + and fifty days—as related in the third verse of the eighth chapter; + while the other account fixes the time at three hundred and seventy-seven + days. Both of these accounts cannot be true. Yet in order to be saved, it + is not sufficient to believe one of them—you must believe both. + </p> + <p> + Among the Egyptians there was a story to the effect that the great god Ra + became utterly maddened with the people, and deliberately made up his mind + that he would exterminate mankind. Thereupon he began to destroy, and + continued in the terrible work until blood flowed in streams, when + suddenly he ceased, and took an oath that he would not again destroy the + human race. This myth was probably thousands of years old when Moses was + born. + </p> + <p> + So, in India, there was a fable about the flood. A fish warned Manu that a + flood was coming. Manu built a "box" and the fish towed it to a mountain + and saved all hands. + </p> + <p> + The same kind of stories were told in Greece, and among our own Indian + tribes. At one time the Christian pointed to the fact that many nations + told of a flood, as evidence of the truth of the Mosaic account; but now, + it having been shown that other accounts are much older, and equally + reasonable, that argument has ceased to be of any great value. + </p> + <p> + It is probable that all these accounts had a common origin. They were + likely born of something in nature visible to all nations. The idea of a + universal flood, produced by a god to drown the world on account of the + sins of the people, is infinitely absurd. The solution of all these + stories has been supposed to be, the existence of partial floods in most + countries; and for a long time this solution was satisfactory. But the + fact that these stories are greatly alike, that only one man is warned, + that only one family is saved, that a boat is built, that birds are sent + out to find if the water had abated, tend to show that they had a common + origin. Admitting that there were severe floods in all countries; it + certainly cannot follow that in each instance only one family would be + saved, or that the same story would in each instance be told. It may be + urged that the natural tendency of man to exaggerate calamities, might + account for this agreement in all the accounts, and it must be admitted + that there is some force in the suggestion. I believe, though, that the + real origin of all these myths is the same, and that it was originally an + effort to account for the sun, moon and stars. The sun and moon were the + man and wife, or the god and goddess, and the stars were their children. + From a celestial myth, it became a terrestrial one; the air, or + ether-ocean became a flood, produced by rain, and the sun moon and stars + became man, woman and children. + </p> + <p> + In the original story, the mountain was the place where in the far east + the sky was supposed to touch the earth, and it was there that the ship + containing the celestial passengers finally rested from its voyage. But + whatever may be the origin of the stories of the flood, whether told first + by Hindu, Babylonian or Hebrew, we may rest perfectly assured that they + are all equally false. + </p> + <p> + XIX. BACCHUS AND BABEL. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Noah had disembarked, he proceeded to plant a vineyard, and + began to be a husbandman; and when the grapes were ripe he made wine and + drank of it to excess; cursed his grandson, blessed Shem and Japheth, and + after that lived for three hundred and fifty years. What he did during + these three hundred and fifty years, we are not told. We never hear of him + again. For three hundred and fifty years he lived among his sons, and + daughters, and their descendants. He must have been a venerable man. He + was the man to whom God had made known his intention of drowning the + world. By his efforts, the human race had been saved. He must have been + acquainted with Methuselah for six hundred years, and Methuselah was about + two hundred and forty years old, when Adam died. Noah must himself have + known the history of mankind, and must have been an object of almost + infinite interest; and yet for three hundred and fifty years he is neither + directly nor indirectly mentioned. When Noah died, Abraham must have been + more than fifty years old; and Shem, the son of Noah, lived for several + hundred years after the death of Abraham; and yet he is never mentioned. + Noah when he died, was the oldest man in the whole world by about five + hundred years; and everybody living at the time of his death knew that + they were indebted to him, and yet no account is given of his burial. No + monument was raised to mark the spot. This, however, is no more wonderful + than the fact that no account is given of the death of Adam or of Eve, nor + of the place of their burial. This may all be accounted for by the fact + that the language of man was confounded at the building of the tower of + Babel, whereby all tradition may have been lost, so that even the sons of + Noah could not give an account of their voyage in the ark; and, + consequently, some one had to be directly inspired to tell the story, + after new languages had been formed. + </p> + <p> + It has always been a mystery to me how Adam, Eve, and the serpent were + taught the same language. Where did they get it? We know now, that it + requires a great number of years to form a language; that it is of + exceedingly slow growth. We also know that by language, man conveys to his + fellows the impressions made upon him by what he sees, hears, smells and + touches. We know that the language of the savage consists of a few sounds, + capable of expressing only a few ideas or states of the mind, such as + love, desire, fear, hatred, aversion and contempt. Many centuries are + required to produce a language capable of expressing complex ideas. It + does not seem to me that ideas can be manufactured by a deity and put in + the brain of man. These ideas must be the result of observation and + experience. + </p> + <p> + Does anybody believe that God directly taught a language to Adam and Eve, + or that he so made them that they, by intuition spoke Hebrew, or some + language capable of conveying to each other their thoughts? How did the + serpent learn the same language? Did God teach it to him, or did he happen + to overhear God, when he was teaching Adam and Eve? We are told in the + second chapter of Genesis that God caused all the animals to pass before + Adam to see what he would call them. We cannot infer from this that God + named the animals and informed Adam what to call them. Adam named them + himself. Where did he get his words? We cannot imagine a man just made out + of dust, without the experience of a moment, having the power to put his + thoughts in language. In the first place, we cannot conceive of his having + any thoughts until he has combined, through experience and observation, + the impressions that nature had made upon him through the medium of his + senses. We cannot imagine of his knowing anything, in the first instance, + about different degrees of heat, nor about darkness, if he was made in the + day-time, nor about light, if created at night, until the next morning. + Before a man can have what we call thoughts, he must have had a little + experience. Something must have happened to him before he can have a + thought, and before he can express himself in language. Language is a + growth, not a gift. We account now for the diversity of language by the + fact that tribes and nations have had different experiences, different + wants, different surroundings, and, one result of all these differences + is, among other things, a difference in language. Nothing can be more + absurd than to account for the different languages of the world by saying + that the original language was confounded at the tower of Babel. + </p> + <p> + According to the Bible, up to the time of the building of that tower, the + whole earth was of one language and of one speech, and would have so + remained until the present time had not an effort been made to build a + tower whose top should reach into heaven. Can any one imagine what + objection God would have to the building of such a tower? And how could + the confusion of tongues prevent its construction? How could language be + confounded? It could be confounded only by the destruction of memory. Did + God destroy the memory of mankind at that time, and if so, how? Did he + paralyze that portion of the brain presiding over the organs of + articulation, so that they could not speak the words, although they + remembered them clearly, or did he so touch the brain that they could not + hear? Will some theologian, versed in the machinery of the miraculous, + tell us in what way God confounded the language of mankind? + </p> + <p> + Why would the confounding of the language make them separate? Why would + they not stay together until they could understand each other? People will + not separate, from weakness. When in trouble they come together and desire + the assistance of each other. Why, in this instance, did they separate? + What particular ones would naturally come together if nobody understood + the language of any other person? Would it not have been just as hard to + agree when and where to go, without any language to express the agreement, + as to go on with the building of the tower? + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that any one now believes that the whole world would be of + one speech had the language not been confounded at Babel? Do we not know + that every word was suggested in some way by the experience of men? Do we + not know that words are continually dying, and continually being born; + that every language has its cradle and its cemetery—its buds, its + blossoms, its fruits and its withered leaves? Man has loved, enjoyed, + hated, suffered and hoped, and all words have been born of these + experiences. + </p> + <p> + Why did "the Lord come down to see the city and the tower"? Could he not + see them from where he lived or from where he was? Where did he come down + from? Did he come in the daytime, or in the night? We are taught now that + God is everywhere; that he inhabits immensity; that he is in every atom, + and in every star. If this is true, why did he "come down to see the city + and the tower?" Will some theologian explain this? + </p> + <p> + After all, is it not much easier and altogether more reasonable to say + that Moses was mistaken, that he knew little of the science of language, + and that he guessed a great deal more than he investigated? + </p> + <p> + XX. FAITH IN FILTH. + </p> + <p> + No light whatever is shed upon what passed in the world after the + confounding of language at Babel, until the birth of Abraham. But, before + speaking of the history of the Jewish people, it may be proper for me to + say that many things are recounted in Genesis, and other books attributed + to Moses, of which I do not wish to speak. There are many pages of these + books unfit to read, many stories not calculated, in my judgment, to + improve the morals of mankind. I do not wish even to call the attention of + my readers to these things, except in a general way. It is to be hoped + that the time will come when such chapters and passages as cannot be read + without leaving the blush of shame upon the cheek of modesty, will be left + out, and not published as a part of the Bible. If there is a God, it + certainly is blasphemous to attribute to him the authorship of pages too + obscene, beastly and vulgar to be read in the presence of men and women. + </p> + <p> + The believers in the Bible are loud in their denunciation of what they are + pleased to call the immoral literature of the world; and yet few books + have been published containing more moral filth than this inspired word of + God. These stories are not redeemed by a single flash of wit or humor. + They never rise above the dull details of stupid vice. For one, I cannot + afford to soil my pages with extracts from them; and all such portions of + the Scriptures I leave to be examined, written upon, and explained by the + clergy. Clergymen may know some way by which they can extract honey from + these flowers. Until these passages are expunged from the Old Testament, + it is not a fit book to be read by either old or young. It contains pages + that no minister in the United States would read to his congregation for + any reward whatever. There are chapters that no gentleman would read in + the presence of a lady. There are chapters that no father would read to + his child. There are narratives utterly unfit to be told; and the time + will come when mankind will wonder that such a book was ever called + inspired. + </p> + <p> + I know that in many books besides the Bible, there are immodest lines. + Some of the greatest writers have soiled their pages with indecent words. + We account for this by saying that the authors were human; that they + catered to the taste and spirit of their times. We make excuses, but at + the same time regret that in their works they left an impure word. But + what shall we say of God? Is it possible that a being of infinite purity—the + author of modesty, would smirch the pages of his book with stories lewd, + licentious and obscene? If God is the author of the Bible, it is, of + course, the standard by which all other books can, and should be measured. + If the Bible is not obscene, what book is? Why should men be imprisoned + simply for imitating God? The Christian world should never say another + word against immoral books until it makes the inspired volume clean. These + vile and filthy things were not written for the purpose of conveying and + enforcing moral truth, but seem to have been written because the author + loved an unclean thing. There is no moral depth below that occupied by the + writer or publisher of obscene books, that stain with lust, the loving + heart of youth. Such men should be imprisoned and their books destroyed. + The literature of the world should be rendered decent, and no book should + be published that cannot be read by, and in the hearing of the best and + purest people. But as long as the Bible is considered as the work of God, + it will be hard to make all men too good and pure to imitate it; and as + long as it is imitated there will be vile and filthy books. The literature + of our country will not be sweet and clean until the Bible ceases to be + regarded as the production of a god. + </p> + <p> + We are continually told that the Bible is the very foundation of modesty + and morality; while many of its pages are so immodest and immoral that a + minister, for reading them in the pulpit, would be instantly denounced as + an unclean wretch. Every woman would leave the church, and if the men + stayed, it would be for the purpose of chastising the minister. + </p> + <p> + Is there any saving grace in hypocrisy? Will men become clean in speech by + believing that God is unclean? Would it not be far better to admit that + the Bible was written by barbarians in a barbarous, coarse and vulgar age? + Would it not be safer to charge Moses with vulgarity, instead of God? Is + it not altogether more probable that some ignorant Hebrew would write the + vulgar words? The Christians tell me that God is the author of these vile + and stupid things? I have examined the question to the best of my ability, + and as to God my verdict is:—Not guilty. Faith should not rest in + filth. + </p> + <p> + Every foolish and immodest thing should be expunged from the Bible. Let us + keep the good. Let us preserve every great and splendid thought, every + wise and prudent maxim, every just law, every elevated idea, and every + word calculated to make man nobler and purer, and let us have the courage + to throw the rest away. The souls of children should not be stained and + soiled. The charming instincts of youth should not be corrupted and + defiled. The girls and boys should not be taught that unclean words were + uttered by "inspired" lips. Teach them that these words were born of + savagery and lust. Teach them that the unclean is the unholy, and that + only the pure is sacred. + </p> + <p> + XXI. THE HEBREWS. + </p> + <p> + After language had been confounded and the people scattered, there + appeared in the land of Canaan a tribe of Hebrews ruled by a chief or + sheik called Abraham. They had a few cattle, lived in tents, practiced + polygamy, wandered from place to place, and were the only folks in the + whole world to whom God paid the slightest attention. At this time there + were hundreds of cities in India filled with temples and palaces; millions + of Egyptians worshiped Isis and Osiris, and had covered their land with + marvelous monuments of industry, power and skill. But these civilizations + were entirely neglected by the Deity, his whole attention being taken up + with Abraham and his family. + </p> + <p> + It seems, from the account, that God and Abraham were intimately + acquainted, and conversed frequently upon a great variety of subjects. By + the twelfth chapter of Genesis it appears that he made the following + promises to Abraham. "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless + thee, and make thy name great: and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will + bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee." + </p> + <p> + After receiving this communication from the Almighty, Abraham went into + the land of Canaan, and again God appeared to him and told him to take a + heifer three years old, a goat of the same age, a sheep of equal + antiquity, a turtle dove and a young pigeon. Whereupon Abraham killed the + animals "and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against + another." And it came to pass that when the sun went down and it was dark, + behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp that passed between the raw + and bleeding meat. The killing of these animals was a preparation for + receiving a visit from God. Should an American missionary in Central + Africa find a negro chief surrounded by a butchered heifer, a goat and a + sheep, with which to receive a communication from the infinite God, my + opinion is, that the missionary would regard the proceeding as the direct + result of savagery. And if the chief insisted that he had seen a smoking + furnace and a burning lamp going up and down between the pieces of meat, + the missionary would certainly conclude that the chief was not altogether + right in his mind. + </p> + <p> + If the Bible is true, this same God told Abraham to take and sacrifice his + only son, or rather the only son of his wife, and a murder would have been + committed had not God, just at the right moment, directed him to stay his + hand and take a sheep instead. + </p> + <p> + God made a great number of promises to Abraham, but few of them were ever + kept. He agreed to make him the father of a great nation, but he did not. + He solemnly promised to give him a great country, including all the land + between the river of Egypt and the Euphrates, but he did not. + </p> + <p> + In due time Abraham passed away, and his son Isaac took his place at the + head of the tribe. Then came Jacob, who "watered stock" and enriched + himself with the spoil of Laban. Joseph was sold into Egypt by his jealous + brethren, where he became one of the chief men of the kingdom, and in a + few years his father and brothers left their own country and settled in + Egypt. At this time there were seventy Hebrews in the world, counting + Joseph and his children. They remained in Egypt two hundred and fifteen + years. It is claimed by some that they were in that country for four + hundred and thirty years. This is a mistake. Josephus says they were in + Egypt two hundred and fifteen years, and this statement is sustained by + the best biblical scholars of all denominations. According to the 17th + verse of the 3rd chapter of Galatians, it was four hundred and thirty + years from the time the promise was made to Abraham to the giving of the + law, and as the Hebrews did not go to Egypt for two hundred and fifteen + years after the making of the promise to Abraham, they could in no event + have been in Egypt more than two hundred and fifteen years. In our Bible + the 40th verse of the 12th chapter of Exodus, is as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was + four hundred and thirty years." + </p> + <p> + This passage does not say that the sojourning was all done in Egypt; + neither does it say that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt four + hundred and thirty years; but it does say that the sojourning of the + children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. + The Vatican copy of the Septuagint renders the same passage as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "The sojourning of the children of Israel which they sojourned in Egypt, + and in the land of Canaan, was four hundred and thirty years." + </p> + <p> + The Alexandrian version says:—"The sojourning of the children of + Israel which they and their fathers sojourned in Egypt, and in the land of + Canaan, was four hundred and thirty years." + </p> + <p> + And in the Samaritan Bible we have:—"The sojourning of the children + of Israel and of their fathers which they sojourned in the land of Canaan, + and in the land of Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years." + </p> + <p> + There were seventy souls when they went down into Egypt, and they remained + two hundred and fifteen years, and at the end of that time they had + increased to about three million. How do we know that there were three + million at the end of two hundred and fifteen years? We know it because we + are informed by Moses that "there were six hundred thousand men of war." + Now, to each man of war, there must have been at least five other people. + In every State in this Union there will be to each voter, five other + persons at least, and we all know that there are always more voters than + men of war. If there were six hundred thousand men of war, there must have + been a population of at least three million. Is it possible that seventy + people could increase to that extent in two hundred and fifteen years? You + may say that it was a miracle; but what need was there of working a + miracle? Why should God miraculously increase the number of slaves? If he + wished miraculously to increase the population, why did he not wait until + the people were free? + </p> + <p> + In 1776, we had in the American Colonies about three millions of people. + In one hundred years we doubled four times: that is to say, six, twelve, + twenty-four, forty-eight million,—our present population. + </p> + <p> + We must not forget that during all these years there has been pouring into + our country a vast stream of emigration, and that this, taken in + connection with the fact that our country is productive beyond all others, + gave us only four doubles in one hundred years. Admitting that the Hebrews + increased as rapidly without emigration as we, in this country, have with + it, we will give to them four doubles each century, commencing with + seventy people, and they would have, at the end of two hundred years, a + population of seventeen thousand nine hundred and twenty. Giving them + another double for the odd fifteen years and there would be, provided no + deaths had occurred, thirty-five thousand eight hundred and forty people. + And yet we are told that instead of having this number, they had increased + to such an extent that they had six hundred thousand men of war; that is + to say, a population of more than three millions? + </p> + <p> + Every sensible man knows that this account is not, and cannot be true. We + know that seventy people could not increase to three million in two + hundred and fifteen years. + </p> + <p> + About this time the Hebrews took a census, and found that there were + twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three first-born males. It is + reasonable to suppose that there were about as many first-born females. + This would make forty-four thousand five hundred and forty-six first-born + children. Now, there must have been about as many mothers as there were + first-born children. If there were only about forty-five thousand mothers + and three millions of people, the mothers must have had on an average + about sixty-six children apiece. + </p> + <p> + At this time, the Hebrews were slaves, and had been for two hundred and + fifteen years. A little while before, an order had been made by the + Egyptians that all the male children of the Hebrews should be killed. One, + contrary to this order, was saved in an ark made of bullrushes daubed with + slime. This child was found by the daughter of Pharaoh, and was adopted, + it seems, as her own, and, may be, was. He grew to be a man, sided with + the Hebrews, killed an Egyptian that was smiting a slave, hid the body in + the sand, and fled from Egypt to the land of Midian, became acquainted + with a priest who had seven daughters, took the side of the daughters + against the ill-mannered shepherds of that country, and married Zipporah, + one of the girls, and became a shepherd for her father. Afterward, while + tending his flock, the Lord appeared to him in a burning bush, and + commanded him to go to the king of Egypt and demand from him the + liberation of the Hebrews. In order to convince him that the something + burning in the bush was actually God, the rod in his hand was changed into + a serpent, which, upon being caught by the tail, became again a rod. Moses + was also told to put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out it was + as leprous as snow. Quite a number of strange things were performed, and + others promised. Moses then agreed to go back to Egypt provided his + brother could go with him. Whereupon the Lord appeared to Aaron, and + directed him to meet Moses in the wilderness. They met at the mount of + God, went to Egypt, gathered together all the elders of the children of + Israel, spake all the words which God had spoken unto Moses, and did all + the signs in the sight of the people. The Israelites believed, bowed their + heads and worshiped; and Moses and Aaron went in and told their message to + Pharaoh the king. + </p> + <p> + XXII. THE PLAGUES. + </p> + <p> + Three millions of people were in slavery. They were treated with the + utmost rigor, and so fearful were their masters that they might, in time, + increase in numbers sufficient to avenge themselves, that they took from + the arms of mothers all the male children and destroyed them. If the + account given is true, the Egyptians were the most cruel, heartless and + infamous people of which history gives any record. God finally made up his + mind to free the Hebrews; and for the accomplishment of this purpose he + sent, as his agents, Moses and Aaron, to the king of Egypt. In order that + the king might know that these men had a divine mission, God gave Moses + the power of changing a stick into a serpent, and water into blood. Moses + and Aaron went before the king, stating that the Lord God of Israel + ordered the king of Egypt to let the Hebrews go that they might hold a + feast with God in the wilderness. Thereupon Pharaoh, the king, enquired + who the Lord was, at the same time stating that he had never made his + acquaintance, and knew nothing about him. To this they replied that the + God of the Hebrews had met with them, and they asked to go a three days + journey into the desert and sacrifice unto this God, fearing that if they + did not he would fall upon them with pestilence or the sword. This + interview seems to have hardened Pharaoh, for he ordered the tasks of the + children of Israel to be increased; so that the only effect of the first + appeal was to render still worse the condition of the Hebrews. Thereupon, + Moses returned unto the Lord and said, "Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil + entreated this people? Why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came + to Pharaoh to speak in thy name he hath done evil to this people; neither + hast thou delivered thy people at all." + </p> + <p> + Apparently stung by this reproach, God answered:— + </p> + <p> + "Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharoah; for with a strong hand + shall he let them go; and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of + his land." + </p> + <p> + God then recounts the fact that he had appeared unto Abraham, Isaac and + Jacob, that he had established a covenant with them to give them the land + of Canaan, that he had heard the groanings of the children of Israel in + Egyptian bondage; that their groanings had put him in mind of his + covenant, and that he had made up his mind to redeem the children of + Israel with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments. Moses then spoke + to the children of Israel again, but they would listen to him no more. His + first effort in their behalf had simply doubled their trouble and they + seemed to have lost confidence in his power. Thereupon Jehovah promised + Moses that he would make him a god unto Pharaoh, and that Aaron should be + his prophet, but at the same time informed him that his message would be + of no avail; that he would harden the heart of Pharaoh so that he would + not listen; that he would so harden his heart that he might have an excuse + for destroying the Egyptians. Accordingly, Moses and Aaron again went + before Pharaoh. Moses said to Aaron;—"Cast down your rod before + Pharaoh," which he did, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh not in the + least surprised, called for his wise men and his sorcerers, and they threw + down their rods and changed them into serpents. The serpent that had been + changed from Aaron's rod was, at this time crawling upon the floor, and it + proceeded to swallow the serpents that had been produced by the magicians + of Egypt. What became of these serpents that were swallowed, whether they + turned back into sticks again, is not stated. Can we believe that the + stick was changed into a real living serpent, or did it assume simply the + appearance of a serpent? If it bore only the appearance of a serpent it + was a deception, and could not rise above the dignity of legerdemain. Is + it necessary to believe that God is a kind of prestigiator—a + sleight-of-hand performer, a magician or sorcerer? Can it be possible that + an infinite being would endeavor to secure the liberation of a race by + performing a miracle that could be equally performed by the sorcerers and + magicians of a barbarian king? + </p> + <p> + Not one word was said by Moses or Aaron as to the wickedness of depriving + a human being of his liberty. Not a word was said in favor of liberty. Not + the slightest intimation that a human being was justly entitled to the + product of his own labor. Not a word about the cruelty of masters who + would destroy even the babes of slave mothers. It seems to me wonderful + that this God did not tell the king of Egypt that no nation could enslave + another, without also enslaving itself; that it was impossible to put a + chain around the limbs of a slave, without putting manacles upon the brain + of the master. Why did he not tell him that a nation founded upon slavery + could not stand? Instead of declaring these things, instead of appealing + to justice, to mercy and to liberty, he resorted to feats of jugglery. + Suppose we wished to make a treaty with a barbarous nation, and the + President should employ a sleight-of-hand performer as envoy + extraordinary, and instruct him, that when he came into the presence of + the savage monarch, he should cast down an umbrella or a walking stick, + which would change into a lizard or a turtle; what would we think? Would + we not regard such a performance as beneath the dignity even of a + President? And what would be our feelings if the savage king sent for his + sorcerers and had them perform the same feat? If such things would appear + puerile and foolish in the President of a great republic, what shall be + said when they were resorted to by the creator of all worlds? How small, + how contemptible such a God appears! Pharaoh, it seems, took about this + view of the matter, and he would not be persuaded that such tricks were + performed by an infinite being. + </p> + <p> + Again, Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh as he was going to the river's + bank, and the same rod which had changed to a serpent, and, by this time + changed back, was taken by Aaron, who, in the presence of Pharaoh, smote + the water of the river, which was immediately turned to blood, as well as + all the water in all the streams, ponds, and pools, as well as all water + in vessels of wood and vessels of stone in the entire land of Egypt. As + soon as all the waters in Egypt had been turned into blood, the magicians + of that country did the same with their enchantments. We are not informed + where they got the water to turn into blood, since all the water in Egypt + had already been so changed. It seems from the account that the fish in + the Nile died, and the river emitted a stench, and there was not a drop of + water in the land of Egypt that had not been changed into blood. In + consequence of this, the Egyptians digged "around about the river" for + water to drink. Can we believe this story? Is it necessary to salvation to + admit that all the rivers, pools, ponds and lakes of a country were + changed into blood, in order that a king might be induced to allow the + children of Israel the privilege of going a three days journey into the + wilderness to make sacrifices to their God? + </p> + <p> + It seems from the account that Pharaoh was told that the God of the + Hebrews would, if he refused to let the Israelites go, change all the + waters of Egypt into blood, and that, upon his refusal, they were so + changed. This had, however, no influence upon him, for the reason that his + own magicians did the same. It does not appear that Moses and Aaron + expressed the least surprise at the success of the Egyptian sorcerers. At + that time it was believed that each nation had its own god. The only claim + that Moses and Aaron made for their God was, that he was the greatest and + most powerful of all the gods, and that with anything like an equal chance + he could vanquish the deity of any other nation. + </p> + <p> + After the waters were changed to blood Moses and Aaron waited for seven + days. At the end of that time God told Moses to again go to Pharaoh and + demand the release of his people, and to inform him that, if he refused, + God would strike all the borders of Egypt with frogs. That he would make + frogs so plentiful that they would go into the houses of Pharaoh, into his + bedchamber, upon his bed, into the houses of his servants, upon his + people, into their ovens, and even into their kneading troughs. This + threat had no effect whatever upon Pharaoh. And thereupon Aaron stretched + out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered + the land. The magicians of Egypt did the same, and with their enchantments + brought more frogs upon the land of Egypt. + </p> + <p> + These magicians do not seem to have been original in their ideas, but so + far as imitation is concerned, were perfect masters of their art. The + frogs seem to have made such an impression upon Pharaoh that he sent for + Moses and asked him to entreat the Lord that he would take away the frogs. + Moses agreed to remove them from the houses and the land, and allow them + to remain only in the rivers. Accordingly the frogs died out of the + houses, and out of the villages, and out of the fields, and the people + gathered them together in heaps. As soon as the frogs had left the houses + and fields, the heart of Pharaoh became again hardened, and he refused to + let the people go. + </p> + <p> + Aaron then, according to the command of God, stretched out his hand, + holding the rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in + man and in beast, and all the dust became lice throughout the land of + Egypt. Pharaoh again sent for his magicians, and they sought to do the + same with their enchantments, but they could not. Whereupon the sorcerers + said unto Pharaoh: "This is the finger of God." + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding this, however, Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews go. God + then caused a grievous swarm of flies to come into the house of Pharaoh + and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt, to such an + extent that the whole land was corrupted by reason of the flies. But into + that part of the country occupied by the children of Israel there came no + flies. Thereupon Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said to them: "Go, + and sacrifice to your God in this land." They were not willing to + sacrifice in Egypt, and asked permission to go on a journey of three days + into the wilderness. To this Pharaoh acceded, and in consideration of this + Moses agreed to use his influence with the Lord to induce him to send the + flies out of the country. He accordingly told the Lord of the bargain he + had made with Pharaoh, and the Lord agreed to the compromise, and removed + the flies from Pharaoh and from his servants and from his people, and + there remained not a single fly in the land of Egypt. As soon as the flies + were gone, Pharaoh again changed his mind, and concluded not to permit the + children of Israel to depart. The Lord then directed Moses to go to + Pharaoh and tell him that if he did not allow the children of Israel to + depart, he would destroy his cattle, his horses, his camels and his sheep; + that these animals would be afflicted with a grievous disease, but that + the animals belonging to the Hebrews should not be so afflicted. Moses did + as he was bid. On the next day all the cattle of Egypt died; that is to + say, all the horses, all the asses, all the camels, all the oxen and all + the sheep; but of the animals owned by the Israelites, not one perished. + This disaster had no effect upon Pharaoh, and he still refused to let the + children of Israel go. The Lord then told Moses and Aaron to take some + ashes out of a furnace, and told Moses to sprinkle them toward the heavens + in the sight of Pharaoh; saying that the ashes should become small dust in + all the land of Egypt, and should be a boil breaking forth with blains + upon man and upon beast throughout all the land. + </p> + <p> + How these boils breaking out with blains, upon cattle that were already + dead, should affect Pharaoh, is a little hard to understand. It must not + be forgotten that all the cattle and all beasts had died with the murrain + before the boils had broken out. + </p> + <p> + This was a most decisive victory for Moses and Aaron. The boils were upon + the magicians to that extent that they could not stand before Moses. But + it had no effect upon Pharaoh, who seems to have been a man of great + firmness. The Lord then instructed Moses to get up early in the morning + and tell Pharaoh that he would stretch out his hand and smite his people + with a pestilence, and would, on the morrow, cause it to rain a very + grievous hail, such as had never been known in the land of Egypt. He also + told Moses to give notice, so that they might get all the cattle that were + in the fields under cover. It must be remembered that all these cattle had + recently died of the murrain, and their dead bodies had been covered with + boils and blains. This, however, had no effect, and Moses stretched forth + his hand toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder, and hail and lightning, + and fire that ran along the ground, and the hail fell upon all the land of + Egypt, and all that were in the fields, both man and beast, were smitten, + and the hail smote every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the + country except that portion inhabited by the children of Israel; there, + there was no hail. + </p> + <p> + During this hail storm Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and admitted that + he had sinned, that the Lord was righteous, and that the Egyptians were + wicked, and requested them to ask the Lord that there be no more + thunderings and hail, and that he would let the Hebrews go. Moses agreed + that as soon as he got out of the city he would stretch forth his hands + unto the Lord, and that the thunderings should cease and the hail should + stop. But, when the rain and the hail and the thundering ceased, Pharaoh + concluded that he would not let the children of Israel go. + </p> + <p> + Again, God sent Moses and Aaron, instructing them to tell Pharaoh that if + he refused to let the people go, the face of the earth would be covered + with locusts, so that man would not be able to see the ground, and that + these locusts would eat the residue of that which escaped from the hail; + that they would eat every tree out of the field; that they would fill the + houses of Pharaoh and the houses of all his servants, and the houses of + all the Egyptians. Moses delivered the message, and went out from Pharaoh. + Some of Pharaoh's servants entreated their master to let the children of + Israel go. Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and asked them, who wished to + go into the wilderness to sacrifice. They replied that they wished to go + with the young and old; with their sons and daughters, with flocks and + herds. Pharaoh would not consent to this, but agreed that the men might + go. Thereupon Pharaoh drove Moses and Aaron out of his sight. Then God + told Moses to stretch forth his hand upon the land of Egypt for the + locusts, that they might come up and eat every herb, even all that the + hail had left. "And Moses stretched out his rod over the land of Egypt, + and the Lord brought an east wind all that day and all that night; and + when it was morning the east wind brought the locusts; and they came up + over all the land of Egypt and rested upon all the coasts covering the + face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every + herb and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left, and there + remained not any green thing on the trees or in the herbs of the field + throughout the land of Egypt." Pharaoh then called for Moses and Aaron in + great haste, admitted that he had sinned against the Lord their God and + against them, asked their forgiveness and requested them to intercede with + God that he might take away the locusts. They went out from his presence + and asked the Lord to drive the locusts away, "And the Lord made a strong + west wind which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea so + that there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt." + </p> + <p> + As soon as the locusts were gone, Pharaoh changed his mind, and, in the + language of the sacred text, "the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he + would not let the children of Israel go." + </p> + <p> + The Lord then told Moses to stretch out his hand toward heaven that there + might be darkness over the land of Egypt, "even darkness which might be + felt." "And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a + thick darkness over the land of Egypt for three days during which time + they saw not each other, neither arose any of the people from their places + for three days; but the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." + </p> + <p> + It strikes me that when the land of Egypt was covered with thick darkness—so + thick that it could be felt, and when light was in the dwellings of the + Israelites, there could have been no better time for the Hebrews to have + left the country. + </p> + <p> + Pharaoh again called for Moses, and told him that his people could go and + serve the Lord, provided they would leave their flocks and herds. Moses + would not agree to this, for the reason that they needed the flocks and + herds for sacrifices and burnt offerings, and he did not know how many of + the animals God might require, and for that reason he could not leave a + single hoof. Upon the question of the cattle, they divided, and Pharaoh + again refused to let the people go. God then commanded Moses to tell the + Hebrews to borrow, each of his neighbor, jewels of silver and gold. By a + miraculous interposition the Hebrews found favor in the sight of the + Egyptians so that they loaned the articles asked for. After this, Moses + again went to Pharaoh and told him that all the first-born in the land of + Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh upon the throne, unto the first-born + of the maid-servant who was behind the mill, as well as the first-born of + beasts, should die. + </p> + <p> + As all the beasts had been destroyed by disease and hail, it is + troublesome to understand the meaning of the threat as to their + first-born. + </p> + <p> + Preparations were accordingly made for carrying this frightful threat into + execution. Blood was put on the door-posts of all houses inhabited by + Hebrews, so that God, as he passed through that land, might not be + mistaken and destroy the first-born of the Jews. "And it came to pass that + at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, the + first-born of Pharaoh who sat on the throne, and the first-born of the + captive who was in the dungeon. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, and all + his servants, and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, + for there was not a house where there was not one dead." + </p> + <p> + What had these children done? Why should the babes in the cradle be + destroyed on account of the crime of Pharaoh? Why should the cattle be + destroyed because man had enslaved his brother? In those days women and + children and cattle were put upon an exact equality, and all considered as + the property of the men; and when man in some way excited the wrath of + God, he punished them by destroying all their cattle, their wives, and + their little ones. Where can words be found bitter enough to describe a + god who would kill wives and babes because husbands and fathers had failed + to keep his law? Every good man, and every good woman, must hate and + despise such a deity. + </p> + <p> + Upon the death of all the first-born Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and + not only gave his consent that they might go with the Hebrews into the + wilderness, but besought them to go at once. + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that an infinite God, creator of all worlds and sustainer + of all life, said to Pharaoh, "If you do not let my people go, I will turn + all the water of your country into blood," and that upon the refusal of + Pharaoh to release the people, God did turn all the waters into blood? Do + you believe this? + </p> + <p> + Do you believe that Pharaoh even after all the water was turned to blood, + refused to let the Hebrews go, and that thereupon God told him he would + cover his land with frogs? Do you believe this? + </p> + <p> + Do you believe that after the land was covered with frogs Pharaoh still + refused to let the people go, and that God then said to him, "I will cover + you and all your people with lice?" Do you believe God would make this + threat? + </p> + <p> + Do you also believe that God told Pharaoh, "It you do not let these people + go, I will fill all your houses and cover your country with flies?" Do you + believe God makes such threats as this? + </p> + <p> + Of course God must have known that turning the waters into blood, covering + the country with frogs, infesting all flesh with lice, and filling all + houses with flies, would not accomplish his object, and that all these + plagues would have no effect whatever upon the Egyptian king. + </p> + <p> + Do you believe that, failing to accomplish anything by the flies, God told + Pharaoh that if he did not let the people go he would kill his cattle with + murrain? Does such a threat sound God-like? + </p> + <p> + Do you believe that, failing to effect anything by killing the cattle, + this same God then threatened to afflict all the people with boils, + including the magicians who had been rivaling him in the matter of + miracles; and failing to do anything by boils, that he resorted to hail? + Does this sound reasonable? The hail experiment having accomplished + nothing, do you believe that God murdered the first-born of animals and + men? Is it possible to conceive of anything more utterly absurd, stupid, + revolting, cruel and senseless, than the miracles said to have been + wrought by the Almighty for the purpose of inducing Pharaoh to liberate + the children of Israel? + </p> + <p> + Is it not altogether more reasonable to say that the Jewish people, being + in slavery, accounted for the misfortunes and calamities, suffered by the + Egyptians, by saying that they were the judgments of God? + </p> + <p> + When the Armada of Spain was wrecked and scattered by the storm, the + English people believed that God had interposed in their behalf, and + publicly gave thanks. When the battle of Lepanto was won, it was believed + by the Catholic world that the victory was given in answer to prayer. So, + our fore-fathers in their Revolutionary struggle saw, or thought they saw, + the hand of God, and most firmly believed that they achieved their + independence by the interposition of the Most High. + </p> + <p> + Now, it may be that while the Hebrews were enslaved by the Egyptians, + there were plagues of locusts and flies. It may be that there were some + diseases by which many of the cattle perished. It may be that a pestilence + visited that country so that in nearly every house there was some one + dead. If so, it was but natural for the enslaved and superstitious Jews to + account for these calamities by saying that they were punishments sent by + their God. Such ideas will be found in the history of every country. + </p> + <p> + For a long time the Jews held these opinions, and they were handed from + father to son simply by tradition. By the time a written language had been + produced, thousands of additions had been made, and numberless details + invented; so that we have not only an account of the plagues suffered by + the Egyptians, but the whole woven into a connected story, containing the + threats made by Moses and Aaron, the miracles wrought by them, the + promises of Pharaoh, and finally the release of the Hebrews, as a result + of the marvelous things performed in their behalf by Jehovah. + </p> + <p> + In any event it is infinitely more probable that the author was + misinformed, than that the God of this universe was guilty of these + childish, heartless and infamous things. The solution of the whole matter + is this:—Moses was mistaken. + </p> + <p> + XXIII. THE FLIGHT. + </p> + <p> + Three millions of people, with their flocks and herds, with borrowed + jewelry and raiment, with unleavened dough in kneading troughs bound in + their clothes upon their shoulders, in one night commenced their journey + for the land of promise. We are not told how they were informed of the + precise time to start. With all the modern appliances, it would require + months of time to inform three millions of people of any fact. + </p> + <p> + In this vast assemblage there were six hundred thousand men of war, and + with them were the old, the young, the diseased and helpless. Where were + those people going? They were going to the desert of Sinai, compared with + which Sahara is a garden. Imagine an ocean of lava torn by storm and vexed + by tempest, suddenly gazed at by a Gorgon and changed instantly to stone! + Such was the desert of Sinai. + </p> + <p> + All of the civilized nations of the world could not feed and support three + millions of people on the desert of Sinai for forty years. It would cost + more than one hundred thousand millions of dollars, and would bankrupt + Christendom. They had with them their flocks and herds, and the sheep were + so numerous that the Israelites sacrificed, at one time, more than one + hundred and fifty thousand first-born lambs. How were these flocks + supported? What did they eat? Where were meadows and pastures for them? + There was no grass, no forests—nothing! There is no account of its + having rained baled hay, nor is it even claimed that they were + miraculously fed. To support these flocks, millions of acres of pasture + would have been required. God did not take the Israelites through the land + of the Philistines, for fear that when they saw the people of that country + they would return to Egypt, but he took them by the way of the wilderness + to the Red Sea, going before them by day in a pillar of cloud, and by + night, in a pillar of fire. + </p> + <p> + When it was told Pharaoh that the people had fled, he made ready and took + six hundred chosen chariots of Egypt, and pursued after the children of + Israel, overtaking them by the sea. As all the animals had long before + that time been destroyed, we are not informed where Pharaoh obtained the + horses for his chariots. The moment the children of Israel saw the hosts + of Pharaoh, although they had six hundred thousand men of war, they + immediately cried unto the Lord for protection. It is wonderful to me that + a land that had been ravaged by the plagues described in the Bible, still + had the power to put in the field an army that would carry terror to the + hearts of six hundred thousand men of war. Even with the help of God, it + seems, they were not strong enough to meet the Egyptians in the open + field, but resorted to strategy. Moses again stretched forth his wonderful + rod over the waters of the Red Sea, and they were divided, and the Hebrews + passed through on dry land, the waters standing up like a wall on either + side. The Egyptians pursued them; "and in the morning watch the Lord + looked into the hosts of the Egyptians, through the pillar of fire," and + proceeded to take the wheels off their chariots. As soon as the wheels + were off, God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. Moses did + so, and immediately "the waters returned and covered the chariots and + horsemen and all the hosts of Pharaoh that came into the sea, and there + remained not so much as one of them." + </p> + <p> + This account may be true, but still it hardly looks reasonable that God + would take the wheels off the chariots. How did he do it? Did he pull out + the linch-pins, or did he just take them off by main force? + </p> + <p> + What a picture this presents to the mind! God the creator of the universe, + maker of every shining, glittering star, engaged in pulling off the wheels + of wagons, that he might convince Pharaoh of his greatness and power! + </p> + <p> + Where were these people going? They were going to the promised land. How + large a country was that? About twelve thousand square miles. About + one-fifth the size of the State of Illinois. It was a frightful country, + covered with rocks and desolation. How many people were in the promised + land already? Moses tells us there were seven nations in that country + mightier than the Jews. As there were at least three millions of Jews, + there must have been at least twenty-one millions of people already in + that country. These had to be driven out in order that room might be made + for the chosen people of God. + </p> + <p> + It seems, however, that God was not willing to take the children of Israel + into the promised land immediately. They were not fit to inhabit the land + of Canaan; so he made up his mind to allow them to wander upon the desert + until all except two, who had left Egypt, should perish. Of all the slaves + released from Egyptian bondage, only two were allowed to reach the + promised land! + </p> + <p> + As soon as the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea, they found themselves without + food, and with water unfit to drink by reason of its bitterness, and they + began to murmur against Moses, who cried unto the Lord, and "the Lord + showed him a tree." Moses cast this tree into the waters, and they became + sweet. "And it came to pass in the morning the dew lay around about the + camp; and when the dew that lay was gone, behold, upon the face of the + wilderness lay a small round thing, small as the hoar-frost upon the + ground. And Moses said unto them, this is the bread which the Lord hath + given you to eat." This manna was a very peculiar thing. It would melt in + the sun, and yet they could cook it by seething and baking. One would as + soon think of frying snow or of broiling icicles. But this manna had + another remarkable quality. No matter how much or little any person + gathered, he would have an exact omer; if he gathered more, it would + shrink to that amount, and if he gathered less, it would swell exactly to + that amount. What a magnificent substance manna would be with which to + make a currency—shrinking and swelling according to the great laws + of supply and demand! + </p> + <p> + "Upon this manna the children of Israel lived for forty years, until they + came to a habitable land. With this meat were they fed until they reached + the borders of the land of Canaan." We are told in the twenty-first + chapter of Numbers, that the people at last became tired of' the manna, + complained of God, and asked Moses why he brought them out of the land of + Egypt to die in the wilderness. And they said:—"There is no bread, + nor have we any water. Our soul loatheth this light food." + </p> + <p> + We are told by some commentators that the Jews lived on manna for forty + years; by others that they lived upon it for only a short time. As a + matter of fact the accounts differ, and this difference is the opportunity + for commentators. It also allows us to exercise faith in believing that + both accounts are true. If the accounts agreed, and were reasonable, they + would be believed by the wicked and unregenerated. But as they are + different and unreasonable, they are believed only by the good. Whenever a + statement in the Bible is unreasonable, and you believe it, you are + considered quite a good Christian. If the statement is grossly absurd and + infinitely impossible, and you still believe it, you are a saint. + </p> + <p> + The children of Israel were in the desert, and they were out of water. + They had nothing to eat but manna, and this they had had so long that the + soul of every person abhorred it. Under these circumstances they + complained to Moses. Now, as God is infinite, he could just as well have + furnished them with an abundance of the purest and coolest of water, and + could, without the slightest trouble to himself, have given them three + excellent meals a day, with a generous variety of meats and vegetables, it + is very hard to see why he did not do so. It is still harder to conceive + why he fell into a rage when the people mildly suggested that they would + like a change of diet. Day after day, week after week, month after month, + year after year, nothing but manna. No doubt they did the best they could + by cooking it in different ways, but in spite of themselves they began to + loathe its sight and taste, and so they asked Moses to use his influence + to secure a change in the bill of fare. + </p> + <p> + Now, I ask, whether it was unreasonable for the Jews to suggest that a + little meat would be very gratefully received? It seems, however, that as + soon as the request was made, this God of infinite mercy became infinitely + enraged, and instead of granting it, went into partnership with serpents, + for the purpose of punishing the hungry wretches to whom he had promised a + land flowing with milk and honey. + </p> + <p> + Where did these serpents come from? How did God convey the information to + the serpents, that he wished them to go to the desert of Sinai and bite + some Jews? It may be urged that these serpents were created for the + express purpose of punishing the children of Israel for having had the + presumption, like Oliver Twist, to ask for more. + </p> + <p> + There is another account in the eleventh chapter of Numbers, of the people + murmuring because of their food. They remembered the fish, the cucumbers, + the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic of Egypt, and they asked + for meat. The people went to the tent of Moses and asked him for flesh. + Moses cried unto the Lord and asked him why he did not take care of the + multitude. God thereupon agreed that they should have meat, not for a day + or two, but for a month, until the meat should come out of their nostrils + and become loathsome to them. He then caused a wind to bring quails from + beyond the sea, and cast them into the camp, on every side of the camp + around about for the space of a days journey. And the people gathered + them, and while the flesh was yet between their teeth the wrath of God + being provoked against them, struck them with an exceeding great plague. + Serpents, also, were sent among them, and thousands perished for the crime + of having been hungry. + </p> + <p> + The Rev. Alexander Cruden commenting upon this account says:— + </p> + <p> + "God caused a wind to rise that drove the quails within and about the camp + of the Israelites; and it is in this that the miracle consists, that they + were brought so seasonably to this place, and in so great numbers as to + suffice above a million of persons above a month. Some authors affirm, + that in those eastern and southern countries, quails are innumerable, so + that in one part of Italy within the compass of five miles, there were + taken about an hundred thousand of them every day for a month together; + and that sometimes they fly so thick over the sea, that being weary they + fall into ships, sometimes in such numbers, that they sink them with their + weight." + </p> + <p> + No wonder Mr. Cruden believed the Mosaic account. + </p> + <p> + Must we believe that God made an arrangement with hornets for the purpose + af securing their services in driving the Canaanites from the land of + promise? Is this belief necessary unto salvation? Must we believe that God + said to the Jews that he would send hornets before them to drive out the + Canaanites, as related in the twenty-third chapter of Exodus, and the + second chapter of Deuteronomy? How would the hornets know a Canaanite? In + what way would God put it in the mind of a hornet to attack a Canaanite? + Did God create hornets for that especial purpose, implanting an instinct + to attack a Canaanite, but not a Hebrew? Can we conceive of the Almighty + granting letters of marque and reprisal to hornets? Of course it is + admitted that nothing in the world would be better calculated to make a + man leave his native land than a few hornets. Is it possible for us to + believe that an infinite being would resort to such expedients in order to + drive the Canaanites from their country? He could just as easily have + spoken the Canaanites out of existence as to have spoken the hornets in. + In this way a vast amount of trouble, pain and suffering would have been + saved. Is it possible that there is, in this country, an intelligent + clergyman who will insist that these stories are true; that we must + believe them in in order to be good people in this world, and glorified + souls in the next? + </p> + <p> + We are also told that God instructed the Hebrews to kill the Canaanites + slowly, giving as a reason that the beasts of the field might increase + upon his chosen people. When we take into consideration the fact that the + Holy Land contained only about eleven or twelve thousand square miles, and + was at that time inhabited by at least twenty-one millions of people, it + does not seem reasonable that the wild beasts could have been numerous + enough to cause any great alarm. The same ratio of population would give + to the State of Illinois at least one hundred and twenty millions of + inhabitants. Can anybody believe that, under such circumstances, the + danger from wild beasts could be very great? What would we think of a + general, invading such a State, if he should order his soldiers to kill + the people slowly, lest the wild beasts might increase upon them? Is it + possible that a God capable of doing the miracles recounted in the Old + Testament could not, in some way, have disposed of the wild beasts? After + the Canaanites were driven out, could he not have employed the hornets to + drive out the wild beasts? Think of a God that could drive twenty-one + millions of people out of the promised land, could raise up innumerable + stinging flies, and could cover the earth with fiery serpents, and yet + seems to have been perfectly powerless against the wild beasts of the land + of Canaan! + </p> + <p> + Speaking of these hornets, one of the good old commentators, whose views + have long been considered of great value by the believers in the + inspiration of the Bible, uses the following language:—"Hornets are + a sort of strong flies, which the Lord used as instruments to plague the + enemies of his people. They are of themselves very troublesome and + mischievous, and those the Lord made use of were, it is thought, of an + extraordinary bigness and perniciousness. It is said they live as the + wasps, and that they have a king or captain, and pestilent stings as bees, + and that, if twenty-seven of them sting man or beast, it is certain death + to either. Nor is it strange that such creatures did drive out the + Canaanites from their habitations; for many heathen writers give instances + of some people driven from their seats by frogs, others by mice, others by + bees and wasps. And it is said that a Christian city, being besieged by + Sapores, king of Persia, was delivered by hornets; for the elephants and + beasts being stung by them, waxed unruly, and so the whole army fled." + </p> + <p> + Only a few years ago, all such stories were believed by the Christian + world; and it is a historical fact, that Voltaire was the third man of any + note in Europe, who took the ground that the mythologies of Greece and + Rome were without foundation. Until his time, most Christians believed as + thoroughly in the miracles ascribed to the Greek and Roman gods as in + those of Christ and Jehovah. The Christian world cultivated credulity, not + only as one of the virtues, but as the greatest of them all. But, when + Luther and his followers left the Church of Rome, they were compelled to + deny the power of the Catholic Church, at that time, to suspend the laws + of nature, but took the ground that such power ceased with the apostolic + age. They insisted that all things now happened in accordance with the + laws of nature, with the exception of a few special interferences in favor + of the Protestant Church in answer to prayer. They taught their children a + double philosophy: by one, they were to show the impossibility of Catholic + miracles, because opposed to the laws of nature; by the other, the + probability of the miracles of the apostolic age, because they were in + conformity with the statements of the Scriptures. They had two + foundations: one, the law of nature, and the other, the word of God. The + Protestants have endeavored to carry on this double process of reasoning, + and the result has been a gradual increase of confidence in the law of + nature, and a gradual decrease of confidence in the word of God. + </p> + <p> + We are told, in this inspired account, that the clothing of the Jewish + people did not wax old, and that their shoes refused to wear out. Some + commentators have insisted that angels attended to the wardrobes of the + Hebrews, patched their garments, and mended their shoes. Certain it is, + however, that the same clothes lasted them for forty years, during the + entire journey from Egypt to the Holy Land. Little boys starting out with + their first pantaloons, grew as they traveled, and their clothes grew with + them. + </p> + <p> + Can it be necessary to believe a story like this? Will men make better + husbands, fathers, neighbors, and citizens, simply by giving credence to + these childish and impossible things? Certainly an infinite God could have + transported the Jews to the Holy Land in a moment, and could, as easily, + have removed the Canaanites to some other country. Surely there was no + necessity for doing thousands and thousands of petty miracles, day after + day for forty years, looking after the clothes of three millions of + people, changing the nature of wool and linen and leather, so that they + would not "wax old." Every step, every motion, would wear away some part + of the clothing, some part of the shoes. Were these parts, so worn away, + perpetually renewed, or was the nature of things so changed that they + could not wear away? We know that whenever matter comes in contact with + matter, certain atoms, by abrasion, are lost. Were these atoms gathered up + every night by angels, and replaced on the soles of the shoes, on the + elbows of coats, and on the knees of pantaloons, so that the next morning + they would be precisely in the condition they were on the morning before? + There must be a mistake somewhere. + </p> + <p> + Can we believe that the real God, if there is one, ever ordered a man to + be killed simply for making hair oil, or ointment? We are told in the + thirtieth chapter of Exodus, that the Lord commanded Moses to take myrrh, + cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil, and make a holy ointment + for the purpose of anointing the tabernacle, tables, candlesticks and + other utensils, as well as Aaron and his sons; saying, at the same time, + that whosoever compounded any like it, or whoever put any of it on a + stranger, should be put to death. In the same chapter, the Lord furnishes + Moses with a recipe for making a perfume, saying, that whoever should make + any which smelled like it, should be cut off from his people. This, to me, + sounds so unreasonable that I cannot believe it. Why should an infinite + God care whether mankind made ointments and perfumes like his or not? Why + should the Creator of all things threaten to kill a priest who approached + his altar without having washed his hands and feet? These commandments and + these penalties would disgrace the vainest tyrant that ever sat, by + chance, upon a throne. There must be some mistake. I cannot believe that + an infinite Intelligence appeared to Moses upon Mount Sinai having with + him a variety of patterns for making a tabernacle, tongs, snuffers and + dishes. Neither can I believe that God told Moses how to cut and trim a + coat for a priest. Why should a God care about such things? Why should he + insist on having buttons sewed in certain rows, and fringes of a certain + color? Suppose an intelligent civilized man was to overhear, on Mount + Sinai, the following instructions from God to Moses:— + </p> + <p> + "You must consecrate my priests as follows:—You must kill a bullock + for a sin offering, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the + head of the bullock. Then you must take the blood and put it upon the + horns of the altar round about with your finger, and pour some blood at + the bottom of the altar to make a reconciliation; and of the fat that is + upon the inwards, the caul above the liver and two kidneys, and their fat, + and burn them upon the altar. You must get a ram for a burnt offering, and + Aaron and his sons must lay their hands upon the head of the ram. Then you + must kill it and sprinkle the blood upon the altar, and cut the ram into + pieces, and burn the head, and the pieces, and the fat, and wash the + inwards and the lungs in water and then burn the whole ram upon the altar + for a sweet savor unto me. Then you must get another ram, and have Aaron + and his sons lay their hands upon the head of that, then kill it and take + of its blood, and put it on the top of Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb + of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. And you must + also put a little of the blood upon the top of the right ears of Aaron's + sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of + their right feet. And then you must take of the fat that is on the + inwards, and the caul above the liver and the two kidneys, and their fat, + and the right shoulder, and out of a basket of unleavened bread you must + take one unleavened cake and another of oil bread, and one wafer, and put + them on the fat of the right shoulder. And you must take of the anointing + oil, and of the blood, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and + on his sons' garments, and sanctify them and all their clothes."—Do + you believe that he would have even suspected that the creator of the + universe was talking? + </p> + <p> + Can any one now tell why God commanded the Jews, when they were upon the + desert of Sinai, to plant trees, telling them at the same time that they + must not eat any of the fruit of such trees until after the fourth year? + Trees could not have been planted in that desert, and if they had been, + they could not have lived. Why did God tell Moses, while in the desert, to + make curtains of fine linen? Where could he have obtained his flax? There + was no land upon which it could have been produced. Why did he tell him to + make things of gold, and silver, and precious stones, when they could not + have been in possession of these things? There is but one answer, and that + is, the Pentateuch was written hundreds of years after the Jews had + settled in the Holy Land, and hundreds of years after Moses was dust and + ashes. + </p> + <p> + When the Jews had a written language, and that must have been long after + their flight from Egypt, they wrote out their history and their laws. + Tradition had filled the infancy of the nation with miracles and special + interpositions in their behalf by Jehovah. Patriotism would not allow + these wonders to grow small, and priestcraft never denied a miracle. There + were traditions to the effect that God had spoken face to face with Moses; + that he had given him the tables of the law, and had, in a thousand ways, + made known his will; and whenever the priests wished to make new laws, or + amend old ones, they pretended to have found something more that God said + to Moses at Sinai. In this way obedience was more easily secured. Only a + very few of the people could read, and, as a consequence, additions, + interpolations and erasures had no fear of detection. In this way we + account for the fact that Moses is made to speak of things that did not + exist in his day, and were unknown for hundreds of years after his death. + </p> + <p> + In the thirtieth chapter of Exodus, we are told that the people, when + numbered, must give each one a half shekel after the shekel of the <i>sanctuary</i>. + At that time no such money existed, and consequently the account could + not, by any possibility, have been written until after there was a shekel + of the sanctuary, and there was no such thing until long after the death + of Moses. If we should read that Cæsar paid his troops in pounds, + shillings and pence, we would certainly know that the account was not + written by Cæsar, nor in his time, but we would know that it was + written after the English had given these names to certain coins. + </p> + <p> + So, we find, that when the Jews were upon the desert it was commanded that + every mother should bring, as a sin offering, a couple of doves to the + priests, and the priests were compelled to eat these doves in the most + holy place. At the time this law appears to have been given, there were + three million people, and only three priests, Aaron, Eleazer and Ithamar. + Among three million people there would be, at least, three hundred births + a day. Certainly we are not expected to believe that these three priests + devoured six hundred pigeons every twenty-four hours. + </p> + <p> + Why should a woman ask pardon of God for having been a mother? Why should + that be considered a crime in Exodus, which is commanded as a duty in + Genesis? Why should a mother be declared unclean? Why should giving birth + to a daughter be regarded twice as criminal as giving birth to a son? Can + we believe that such laws and ceremonies were made and instituted by a + merciful and intelligent God? If there is anything in this poor world + suggestive of, and standing for, all that is sweet, loving and pure, it is + a mother holding in her thrilled and happy arms her prattling babe. Read + the twelfth chapter of Leviticus, and you will see that when a woman + became the mother of a boy she was so unclean that she was not allowed to + touch a hallowed thing, nor to enter the sanctuary for forty days. If the + babe was a girl, then the mother was unfit for eighty days, to enter the + house of God, or to touch the sacred tongs and snuffers. These laws, born + of barbarism, are unworthy of our day, and should be regarded simply as + the mistakes of savages. + </p> + <p> + Just as low in the scale of intelligence are the directions given in the + fifth chapter of Numbers, for the trial of a wife of whom the husband was + jealous. This foolish chapter has been the foundation of all appeals to + God for the ascertainment of facts, such as the corsned, trial by battle, + by water, and by fire, the last of which is our judicial oath. It is very + easy to believe that in those days a guilty woman would be afraid to drink + the water of jealousy and take the oath, and that, through fear, she might + be made to confess. Admitting that the deception tended not only to + prevent crime, but to discover it when committed, still, we cannot admit + that an honest god would, for any purpose, resort to dishonest means. In + all countries fear is employed as a means of getting at the truth, and in + this there is nothing dishonest, provided falsehood is not resorted to for + the purpose of producing the fear. Protestants laugh at Catholics because + of their belief in the efficacy of holy water, and yet they teach their + children that a little holy water, in which had been thrown some dust from + the floor of the sanctuary, would, work a miracle in a woman's flesh. For + hundreds of years our fathers believed that a perjurer could not swallow a + piece of sacramental bread. Such stories belong to the childhood of our + race, and are now believed only by mental infants and intellectual babes. + </p> + <p> + I cannot believe that Moses had in his hands a couple of tables of stone, + upon which God had written the Ten Commandments, and that when he saw the + golden calf, and the dancing, that he dashed the tables to the earth and + broke them in pieces. Neither do I believe that Moses took a golden calf, + burnt it, ground it to powder, and made the people drink it with water, as + related in the thirty-second chapter of Exodus. + </p> + <p> + There is another account of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses, + in the nineteenth and twentieth chapters of Exodus. In this account not + one word is said about the people having made a golden calf, nor about the + breaking of the tables of stone. In the thirty-fourth chapter of Exodus, + there is an account of the renewal of the broken tables of the law, and + the commandments are given, but they are not the same commandments + mentioned in the twentieth chapter. There are two accounts of the same + transaction. Both of these stories cannot be true, and yet both must be + believed. Any one who will take the trouble to read the nineteenth and + twentieth chapters, and the last verse of the thirty-first chapter, the + thirty-second, thirty-third, and thirty-fourth chapters of Exodus, will be + compelled to admit that both accounts cannot be true. + </p> + <p> + From the last account it appears that while Moses was upon Mount Sinai + receiving the commandments from God, the people brought their jewelry to + Aaron and he cast for them a golden calf. This happened before any + commandment against idolatry had been given. A god ought, certainly, to + publish his laws before inflicting penalties for their violation. To + inflict punishment for breaking unknown and unpublished laws is, in the + last degree, cruel and unjust. It may be replied that the Jews knew better + than to worship idols, before the law was given. If this is so, why should + the law have been given? In all civilized countries, laws are made and + promulgated, not simply for the purpose of informing the people as to what + is right and wrong, but to inform them of the penalties to be visited upon + those who violate the laws. When the Ten Commandments were given, no + penalties were attached. Not one word was written on the tables of stone + as to the punishments that would be inflicted for breaking any or all of + the inspired laws. The people should not have been punished for violating + a commandment before it was given. And yet, in this case, Moses commanded + the sons of Levi to take their swords and slay every man his brother, his + companion, and his neighbor. The brutal order was obeyed, and three + thousand men were butchered.. The Levites consecrated themselves unto the + Lord by murdering their sons, and their brothers, for having violated a + commandment before it had been given. + </p> + <p> + It has been contended for many years that the Ten Commandments are the + foundation of all ideas of justice and of law. Eminent jurists have bowed + to popular prejudice, and deformed their works by statements to the effect + that the Mosaic laws are the fountains from which sprang all ideas of + right and wrong. Nothing can be more stupidly false than such assertions. + Thousands of years before Moses was born, the Egyptians had a code of + laws. They had laws against blasphemy, murder, adultery, larceny, perjury, + laws for the collection of debts, the enforcement of contracts, the + ascertainment of damages, the redemption of property pawned, and upon + nearly every subject of human interest. The Egyptian code was far better + than the Mosaic. + </p> + <p> + Laws spring from the instinct of self-preservation. Industry objected to + supporting idleness, and laws were made against theft. Laws were made + against murder, because a very large majority of the people have always + objected to being murdered. All fundamental laws were born simply of the + instinct of self-defence. Long before the Jewish savages assembled at the + foot of Sinai, laws had been made and enforced, not only in Egypt and + India, but by every tribe that ever existed. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible for human beings to exist together, without certain rules + of conduct, certain ideas of the proper and improper, of the right and + wrong, growing out of the relation. Certain rules must be made, and must + be enforced. This implies law, trial and punishment. Whoever produces + anything by weary labor, does not need a revelation from heaven to teach + him that he has a right to the thing produced. Not one of the learned + gentlemen who pretend that the Mosaic laws are filled with justice and + intelligence, would live, for a moment, in any country where such laws + were in force. + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be more wonderful than the medical ideas of Jehovah. He had + the strangest notions about the cause and cure of disease. With him + everything was miracle and wonder. In the fourteenth chapter of Leviticus, + we find the law for cleansing a leper:—"Then shall the priest take + for him that is to be cleansed, two birds, alive and clean, and cedar + wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. And the priest shall command that one of + the birds be killed in an <i>earthen</i> vessel, over <i>running</i> + water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and + the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them, and the living bird, in + the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. And he shall + sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy, seven times, + and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into + the open field." + </p> + <p> + We are told that God himself gave these directions to Moses. Does anybody + believe this? Why should the bird be killed in an <i>earthen</i> vessel? + Would the charm be broken if the vessel was of wood? Why over <i>running</i> + water? What would be thought of a physician now, who would give a + prescription like that? + </p> + <p> + Is it not strange that God, although he gave hundreds of directions for + the purpose of discovering the presence of leprosy, and for cleansing the + leper after he was healed, forgot to tell how that disease could be cured? + Is it not wonderful that while God told his people what animals were fit + for food, he failed to give a list of plants that man might eat? Why did + he leave his children to find out the hurtful and the poisonous by + experiment, knowing that experiment, in millions of cases, must be death? + </p> + <p> + When reading the history of the Jewish people, of their flight from + slavery to death, of their exchange of tyrants, I must confess that my + sympathies are all aroused in their behalf. They were cheated, deceived + and abused. Their god was quick-tempered, unreasonable, cruel, revengeful + and dishonest. He was always promising but never performed. He wasted time + in ceremony and childish detail, and in the exaggeration of what he had + done. It is impossible for me to conceive of a character more utterly + detestable than that of the Hebrew god. He had solemnly promised the Jews + that he would take them from Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey. + He had led them to believe that in a little while their troubles would be + over, and that they would soon in the land of Canaan, surrounded by their + wives and little ones, forget, the stripes and tears of Egypt. After + promising the poor wanderers again and again that he would lead them in + safety to the promised land of joy and plenty, this God, forgetting every + promise, said to the wretches in his power:—"Your carcasses shall + fall in this wilderness and your children shall wander until your + carcasses be wasted." This curse was the conclusion of the whole matter. + Into this dust of death and night faded all the promises of God. Into this + rottenness of wandering despair fell all the dreams of liberty and home. + Millions of corpses were left to rot in the desert, and each one certified + to the dishonesty of Jehovah. I cannot believe these things. They are so + cruel and heartless, that my blood is chilled and my sense of justice + shocked. A book that is equally abhorrent to my head and heart, cannot be + accepted as a revelation from God. + </p> + <p> + When we think of the poor Jews, destroyed, murdered, bitten by serpents, + visited by plagues, decimated by famine, butchered by each other, + swallowed by the earth, frightened, cursed, starved, deceived, robbed and + outraged, how thankful we should be that we are not the chosen people of + God. No wonder that they longed for the slavery of Egypt, and remembered + with sorrow the unhappy day when they exchanged masters. Compared with + Jehovah, Pharaoh was a benefactor, and the tyranny of Egypt was freedom to + those who suffered the liberty of God. + </p> + <p> + While reading the Pentateuch, I am filled with indignation, pity and + horror. Nothing can be sadder than the history of the starved and + frightened wretches who wandered over the desolate crags and sands of + wilderness and desert, the prey of famine, sword, and plague. Ignorant and + superstitious to the last degree, governed by falsehood, plundered by + hypocrisy, they were the sport of priests, and the food of fear. God was + their greatest enemy, and death their only friend. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to conceive of a more thoroughly despicable, hateful, and + arrogant being, than the Jewish god. He is without a redeeming feature. In + the mythology of the world he has no parallel. He, only, is never touched + by agony and tears. He delights only in blood and pain. Human affections + are naught to him. He cares neither for love nor music, beauty nor joy. A + false friend, an unjust judge, a braggart, hypocrite, and tyrant, sincere + in hatred, jealous, vain, and revengeful, false in promise, honest in + curse, suspicious, ignorant, and changeable, infamous and hideous:—such + is the God of the Pentateuch. + </p> + <p> + XXIV. CONFESS AND AVOID + </p> + <p> + The scientific Christians now admit that the Bible is not inspired in its + astronomy, geology, botany, zoology, nor in any science. In other words, + they admit that on these subjects, the Bible cannot be depended upon. If + all the statements in the Scriptures were true, there would be no + necessity for admitting that some of them are not inspired. A Christian + will not admit that a passage in the Bible is uninspired, until he is + satisfied that it is untrue. Orthodoxy itself has at last been compelled + to say, that while a passage may be true and uninspired, it cannot be + inspired if false. + </p> + <p> + If the people of Europe had known as much of astronomy and geology when + the Bible was introduced among them, as they do now, there never could + have been one believer in the doctrine of inspiration. If the writers of + the various parts of the Bible had known as much about the sciences as is + now known by every intelligent man, the book never could have been + written. It was produced by ignorance, and has been believed and defended + by its author. It has lost power in the proportion that man has gained + knowledge. A few years ago, this book was appealed to in the settlement of + all scientific questions; but now, even the clergy confess that in such + matters, it has ceased to speak with the voice of authority. For the + establishment of facts, the word of man is now considered far better than + the word of God. In the world of science, Jehovah was superseded by + Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler. All that God told Moses, admitting the + entire account to be true, is dust and ashes compared to the discoveries + of Descartes, Laplace, and Humboldt. In matters of fact, the Bible has + ceased to be regarded as a standard. Science has succeeded in breaking the + chains of theology. A few years ago, Science endeavored to show that it + was not inconsistent with the Bible. The tables have been turned, and now, + Religion is endeavoring to prove that the Bible is not inconsistent with + Science. The standard has been changed. + </p> + <p> + For many ages, the Christians contended that the Bible, viewed simply as a + literary performance, was beyond all other books, and that man without the + assistance of God could not produce its equal. This claim was made when + but few books existed, and the Bible, being the only book generally known, + had no rival. But this claim, like the other, has been abandoned by many, + and soon will be, by all. Com pared with Shakespeare's "book and volume of + the brain," the "sacred" Bible shrinks and seems as feebly impotent and + vain, as would a pipe of Fan, when some great organ, voiced with every + tone, from the hoarse thunder of the sea to the winged warble of a mated + bird, floods and fills cathedral aisles with all the wealth of sound. + </p> + <p> + It is now maintained—and this appears to be the last fortification + behind which the doctrine of inspiration skulks and crouches—that + the Bible, although false and mistaken in its astronomy, geology, + geography, history and philosophy, is inspired in its morality. It is now + claimed that had it not been for this book, the world would have been + inhabited only by savages, and that had it not been for the Holy + Scriptures, man never would have even dreamed of the unity of God. A + belief in one God is claimed to be a dogma of almost infinite importance, + that with out this belief civilization is impossible, and that this fact + is the sun around which all the virtues revolve. For my part, I think it + infinitely more important to believe in man. Theology is a superstition—Humanity + a religion. + </p> + <p> + XXV. "INSPIRED" SLAVERY + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the Bible was inspired upon the subject of human slavery. Is + there, in the civilized world, to-day, a clergyman who believes in the + divinity of slavery? Does the Bible teach man to enslave his brother? If + it does, is it not blasphemous to say that it is inspired of God? If you + find the institution of slavery upheld in a book said to have been written + by God, what would you expect to find in a book inspired by the devil? + Would you expect to find that book in favor of liberty? Modern Christians, + ashamed of the God of the Old Testament, endeavor now to show that slavery + was neither commanded nor opposed by Jehovah. Nothing can be plainer than + the following passages from the twenty-fifth chapter of Leviticus. + "Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of + them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they + begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take + them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a + possession, they shall be your bondmen forever. Both thy bondmen, and thy + bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round + about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen, and bondmaids." + </p> + <p> + Can we believe in this, the Nineteenth Century, that these infamous + passages were inspired by God? that God approved not only of human + slavery, but instructed his chosen people to buy the women, children and + babes of the heathen round about them? If it was right for the Hebrews to + buy, it was also right for the heathen to sell. This God, by commanding + the Hebrews to buy, approved of the selling of sons and daughters. The + Canaanite who, tempted by gold, lured by avarice, sold from the arms of + his wife the dimpled babe, simply made it possible for the Hebrews to obey + the orders of their God. If God is the author of the Bible, the reading of + these passages ought to cover his cheeks with shame. I ask the Christian + world to-day, was it right for the heathen to sell their children? Was it + right for God not only to uphold, but to command the infamous traffic in + human flesh? Could the most revengeful fiend, the most malicious vagrant + in the gloom of hell, sink to a lower moral depth than this? + </p> + <p> + According to this God, his chosen people were not only commanded to buy of + the heathen round about them, but were also permitted to buy each other + for a term of years. The law governing the purchase of Jews is laid down + in the twenty-first chapter of Exodus. "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six + years shall he serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. + If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, + then his wife shall go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, + and she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall + be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. And if the servant shall + plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out + free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring + him to the door, or unto the door-post: and his master shall bore his ear + through with an awl: and he shall serve him forever." + </p> + <p> + Do you believe that God was the author of this infamous law? Do you + believe that the loving father of us all, turned the dimpled arms of babes + into manacles of iron? Do you believe that he baited the dungeon of + servitude with wife and child? Is it possible to love a God who would make + such laws? Is it possible not to hate and despise him? + </p> + <p> + The heathen are not spoken of as human beings. Their rights are never + mentioned. They were the rightful food of the sword, and their bodies were + made for stripes and chains. + </p> + <p> + In the same chapter of the same inspired book, we are told that, "if a man + smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he dies under his hand, he + shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he + shall not be punished, for he is his money." + </p> + <p> + Must we believe that God called some of his children the money of others? + Can we believe that God made lashes upon the naked back, a legal tender + for labor performed? Must we regard the auction block as an altar? Were + blood hounds apostles? Was the slave-pen a temple? Were the stealers and + whippers of babes and women the justified children of God? + </p> + <p> + It is now contended that while the Old Testament is touched with the + barbarism of its time, that the New Testament is morally perfect, and that + on its pages can be found no blot or stain. As a matter of fact, the New + Testament is more decidedly in favor of human slavery than the old. + </p> + <p> + For my part, I never will, I never can, worship a God who upholds the + institution of slavery. Such a God I hate and defy. I neither want his + heaven, nor fear his hell. + </p> + <p> + XXXVI. "INSPIRED" MARRIAGE + </p> + <p> + Is there an orthodox clergyman in the world, who will now declare that he + believes the institution of polygamy to be right? Is there one who will + publicly declare that, in his judgment, that institution ever was right? + Was there ever a time in the history of the world when it was right to + treat woman simply as property? Do not attempt to answer these questions + by saying, that the Bible is an exceedingly good book, that we are + indebted for our civilization to the sacred volume, and that without it, + man would lapse into savagery, and mental night. This is no answer. Was + there a time when the institution of polygamy was the highest expression + of human virtue? Is there a Christian woman, civilized, intelligent, and + free, who believes in the institution of polygamy? Are we better, purer, + and more intelligent than God was four thousand years ago? Why should we + imprison Mormons, and worship God? Polygamy is just as pure in Utah, as it + could have been in the promised land. Love and Virtue are the same the + whole world round, and Justice is the same in every star. All the + languages of the world are not sufficient to express the filth of + polygamy. It makes of man, a beast, of woman, a trembling slave. It + destroys the fireside, makes virtue an outcast, takes from human speech + its sweetest words, and leaves the heart a den, where crawl and hiss the + slimy serpents of most loathsome lust. Civilization rests upon the family. + The good family is the unit of good government. The virtues grow about the + holy hearth of home—they cluster, bloom, and shed their perfume + round the fireside where the one man loves the one woman. Lover—husband—wife—mother—father—child—home!—? + without these sacred words, the world is but a lair, and men and women + merely beasts. + </p> + <p> + Why should the innocent maiden and the loving mother worship the heartless + Jewish God? Why should they, with pure and stainless lips, read the vile + record of inspired lust? + </p> + <p> + The marriage of the one man to the one woman is the citadel and fortress + of civilization. Without this, woman becomes the prey and slave of lust + and power, and man goes back to savagery and crime. From the bottom of my + heart I hate, abhor and execrate all theories of life, of which the pure + and sacred home is not the corner-stone. Take from the world the family, + the fireside, the children born of wedded love, and there is nothing left. + The home where virtue dwells with love is like a lily with a heart of fire—the + fairest flower in all the world. + </p> + <p> + XXVII. "INSPIRED" WAR + </p> + <p> + If the Bible be true, God commanded his chosen people to destroy men + simply for the crime of defending their native land. They were not allowed + to spare trembling and white-haired age, nor dimpled babes clasped in the + mothers' arms. They were ordered to kill women, and to pierce, with the + sword of war, the unborn child. "Our heavenly Father" commanded the + Hebrews to kill the men and women, the fathers, sons and brothers, but to + preserve the girls alive. Why were not the maidens also killed? Why were + they spared? Read the thirty-first chapter of Numbers, and you will find + that the maidens were given to the soldiers and the priests. Is there, in + all the history of war, a more infamous thing than this? Is it possible + that God permitted the violets of modesty, that grow and shed their + perfume in the maiden's heart, to be trampled beneath the brutal feet of + lust? If this was the order of God, what, under the same circumstances, + would have been the command of a devil? When, in this age of the world, a + woman, a wife, a mother, reads this record, she should, with scorn and + loathing, throw the book away. A general, who now should make such an + order, giving over to massacre and rapine a conquered people, would be + held in execration by the whole civilized world. Yet, if the Bible be + true, the supreme and infinite God was once a savage. + </p> + <p> + A little while ago, out upon the western plains, in a little path leading + to a cabin, were found the bodies of two children and their mother. Her + breast was filled with wounds received in the defence of her darlings. + They had been murdered by the savages. Suppose when looking at their + lifeless forms, some one had said, "This was done by the command of God!" + In Canaan there were countless scenes like this. There was no pity in + inspired war. God raised the black flag, and commanded his soldiers to + kill even the smiling infant in its mother's arms. Who is the blasphemer; + the man who denies the existence of God, or he who covers the robes of the + Infinite with innocent blood? + </p> + <p> + We are told in the Pentateuch, that God, the father of us all, gave + thousands of maidens, after having killed their fathers, their mothers, + and their brothers, to satisfy the brutal lusts of savage men. If there be + a God, I pray him to write in his book, opposite my name, that I denied + this lie for him. + </p> + <p> + XXVIII. "INSPIRED" RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. + </p> + <p> + According to the Bible, God selected the Jewish people through whom to + make known the great fact, that he was the only true and living God. For + this purpose, he appeared on several occasions to Moses—came down to + Sinai's top clothed in cloud and fire, and wrought a thousand miracles for + the preservation and education of the Jewish people. In their presence he + opened the waters of the sea. For them he caused bread to rain from + heaven. To quench their thirst, water leaped from the dry and barren rock. + Their enemies were miraculously destroyed; and for forty years, at least, + this God took upon himself the government of the Jews. But, after all + this, many of the people had less confidence in him than in gods of wood + and stone. In moments of trouble, in periods of disaster, in the darkness + of doubt, in the hunger and thirst of famine, instead of asking this God + for aid, they turned and sought the help of senseless things. This God, + with all his power and wisdom, could not even convince a few wandering and + wretched savages that he was more potent than the idols of Egypt. This God + was not willing that the Jews should think and investigate for themselves. + For heresy, the penalty was death. Where this God reigned, intellectual + liberty was unknown. He appealed only to brute force; he collected taxes + by threatening plagues; he demanded worship on pain of sword and fire; + acting as spy, inquisitor, judge and executioner. + </p> + <p> + In the thirteenth chapter of Deuteronomy, we have the ideas of God as to + mental freedom. "If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or the + wife of thy bosom, or thy friend which is as thine own soul, entice thee + secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not + known, thou nor thy fathers; namely of the gods of the people which are + around about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end + of the earth even unto the other end of the earth, Thou shalt not consent + unto him, nor hearken unto him, neither shall thine eye pity him, neither + shalt thou spare him, neither shalt thou conceal him. But thou shalt + surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, + and afterward the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with + stones that he die." + </p> + <p> + This is the religious liberty of God; the toleration of Jehovah. If I had + lived in Palestine at that time, and my wife, the mother of my children, + had said to me, "I am tired of Jehovah, he is always asking for blood; he + is never weary of killing; he is always telling of his might and strength; + always telling what he has done for the Jews, always asking for + sacrifices; for doves and lambs—blood, nothing but blood.—Let + us worship the sun. Jehovah is too revengeful, too malignant, too + exacting. Let us worship the sun. The sun has clothed the world in beauty; + it has covered the earth with flowers; by its divine light I first saw + your face, and my beautiful babe."—If I had obeyed the command of + God, I would have killed her. My hand would have been first upon her, and + after that the hands of all the people, and she would have been stoned + with stones until she died. For my part, I would never kill my wife, even + if commanded so to do by the real God of this universe. Think of taking up + some ragged rock and hurling it against the white bosom filled with love + for you; and when you saw oozing from the bruised lips of the death wound, + the red current of her sweet life—think of looking up to heaven and + receiving the congratulations of the infinite fiend whose commandment you + had obeyed! + </p> + <p> + Can we believe that any such command was ever given by a merciful and + intelligent God? Suppose, however, that God did give this law to the Jews, + and did tell them that whenever a man preached a heresy, or proposed to + worship any other God that they should kill him; and suppose that + afterward this same God took upon himself flesh, and came to this very + chosen people and taught a different religion, and that thereupon the Jews + crucified him; I ask you, did he not reap exactly what he had sown? What + right would this God have to complain of a crucifixion suffered in + accordance with his own command? + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be more infamous than intellectual tyranny. To put chains upon + the body is as nothing compared with putting shackles on the brain. No god + is entitled to the worship or the respect of man who does not give, even + to the meanest of his children, every right that he claims for himself. + </p> + <p> + If the Pentateuch be true, religious persecution is a duty. The dungeons + of the Inquisition were temples, and the clank of every chain upon the + limbs of heresy was music in the ear of God. If the Pentateuch was + inspired, every heretic should be destroyed; and every man who advocates a + fact inconsistent with the sacred book, should be consumed by sword and + flame. + </p> + <p> + In the Old Testament no one is told to reason with a heretic, and not one + word is said about relying upon argument, upon education, nor upon + intellectual development—nothing except simple brute force. Is there + to-day a Christian who will say that four thousand years ago, it was the + duty of a husband to kill his wife if she differed with him upon the + subject of religion? Is there one who will now say that, under such + circumstances, the wife ought to have been killed? Why should God be so + jealous of the wooden idols of the heathen? Could he not compete with + Baal? Was he envious of the success of the Egyptian magicians? Was it not + possible for him to make such a convincing display of his power as to + silence forever the voice of unbelief? Did this God have to resort to + force to make converts? Was he so ignorant of the structure of the human + mind as to believe all honest doubt a crime? If he wished to do away with + the idolatry of the Canaanites, why did he not appear to them? Why did he + not give them the tables of the law? Why did he only make known his will + to a few wandering savages in the desert of Sinai? Will some theologian + have the kindness to answer these questions? Will some minister, who now + believes in religious liberty, and eloquently denounces the intolerance of + Catholicism, explain these things; will he tell us why he worships an + intolerant God? Is a god who will burn a soul forever in another world, + better than a Christian who burns the body for a few hours in this? Is + there no intellectual liberty in heaven? Do the angels all discuss + questions on the same side? Are all the investigators in perdition? Will + the penitent thief, winged and crowned, laugh at the honest folks in hell? + Will the agony of the damned increase or decrease the happiness of God? + Will there be, in the universe, an eternal <i>auto da fe?</i> + </p> + <p> + XXIX. CONCLUSION + </p> + <p> + If the Pentateuch is not inspired in its astronomy, geology, geography, + history or philosophy, if it is not inspired concerning slavery, polygamy, + war, law, religious or political liberty, or the rights of men, women and + children, what is it inspired in, or about? The unity of God?—that + was believed long before Moses was born. Special providence?—that + has been the doctrine of ignorance in all ages. The rights of property?—theft + was always a crime. The sacrifice of animals?—that was a custom + thousands of years before a Jew existed. The sacredness of life?—there + have always been laws against murder. The wickedness of perjury?—truthfulness + has always been a virtue. The beauty of chastity?—the Pentateuch + does not teach it. Thou shalt worship no other God?—that has been + the burden of all religions. + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that the Pentateuch could not have been written by + uninspired men? that the assistance of God was necessary to produce these + books? Is it possible that Galileo ascertained the mechanical principles + of "Virtual Velocity," the laws of falling bodies and of all motion; that + Copernicus ascertained the true position of the earth and accounted for + all celestial phenomena; that Kepler discovered his three laws—discoveries + of such importance that the 8th of May, 1618, may be called the birthday + of modern science; that Newton gave to the world the Method of Fluxions, + the Theory of Universal Gravitation, and the Decomposition of Light; that + Euclid, Cavalieri, Descartes, and Leibnitz, almost completed the science + of mathematics; that all the discoveries in optics, hydrostatics, + pneumatics and chemistry, the experiments, discoveries, and inventions of + Galvani, Volta, Franklin and Morse, of Trevethick, Watt and Fulton and of + all the pioneers of progress—that all this was accomplished by + uninspired men, while the writer of the Pentateuch was directed and + inspired by an infinite God? Is it possible that the codes of China, + India, Egypt, Greece and Rome were made by man, and that the laws recorded + in the Pentateuch were alone given by God? Is it possible that �?schylus + and Shakespeare, Burns, and Beranger, Goethe and Schiller, and all the + poets of the world, and all their wondrous tragedies and songs, are but + the work of men, while no intelligence except the infinite God could be + the author of the Pentateuch? Is it possible that of all the books that + crowd the libraries of the world, the books of science, fiction, history + and song, that all save only one, have been produced by man? Is it + possible that of all these, the Bible only is the work of God? + </p> + <p> + If the Pentateuch is inspired, the civilization of our day is a mistake + and crime. There should be no political liberty. Heresy should be trodden + out beneath the bigot's brutal feet. Husbands should divorce their wives + at will, and make the mothers of their children houseless and weeping + wanderers. Polygamy ought to be practiced; women should become slaves; we + should buy the sons and daughters of the heathen and make them bondmen and + bondwomen forever. We should sell our own flesh and blood, and have the + right to kill our slaves. Men and women should be stoned to death for + laboring on the seventh day. "Mediums," such as have familiar spirits, + should be burned with fire. Every vestige of mental liberty should be + destroyed, and reason's holy torch extinguished in the martyr's blood. + </p> + <p> + Is it not far better and wiser to say that the Pentateuch while containing + some good laws, some truths, some wise and useful things is, after all, + deformed and blackened by the savagery of its time? Is it not far better + and wiser to take the good and throw the bad away? + </p> + <p> + Let us admit what we know to be true; that Moses was mistaken about a + thousand things; that the story of creation is not true; that the Garden + of Eden is a myth; that the serpent and the tree of knowledge, and the + fall of man are but fragments of old mythologies lost and dead; that woman + was not made out of a rib; that serpents never had the power of speech; + that the sons of God did not marry the daughters of men; that the story of + the flood and ark is not exactly true; that the tower of Babel is a + mistake; that the confusion of tongues is a childish thing; that the + origin of the rainbow is a foolish fancy; that Methuselah did not live + nine hundred and sixty-nine years; that Enoch did not leave this world, + taking with him his flesh and bones; that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah + is somewhat improbable; that burning brimstone never fell like rain; that + Lot's wife was not changed into chloride of sodium; that Jacob did not, in + fact, put his hip out of joint wrestling with God; that the history of + Tamar might just as well have been left out; that a belief in Pharaoh's + dreams is not essential to salvation; that it makes but little difference + whether the rod of Aaron was changed to a serpent or not; that of all the + wonders said to have been performed in Egypt, the greatest is, that + anybody ever believed the absurd account; that God did not torment the + innocent cattle on account of the sins of their owners; that he did not + kill the first born of the poor maid behind the mill because of Pharaoh's + crimes; that flies and frogs were not ministers of God's wrath; that lice + and locusts were not the executors of his will; that seventy people did + not, in two hundred and fifteen years, increase to three million; that + three priests could not eat six hundred pigeons in a day; that gazing at a + brass serpent could not extract poison from the blood; that God did not go + in partnership with hornets; that he did not murder people simply because + they asked for something to eat; that he did not declare the making of + hair oil and ointment an offence to be punished with death; that he did + not miraculously preserve cloth and leather; that he was not afraid of + wild beasts; that he did not punish heresy with sword and fire; that he + was not jealous, revengeful, and unjust; that he knew all about the sun, + moon, and stars; that he did not threaten to kill people for eating the + fat of an ox; that he never told Aaron to draw cuts to see which of two + goats should be killed; that he never objected to clothes made of woolen + mixed with linen; that if he objected to dwarfs, people with flat noses + and too many fingers, he ought not to have created such folks; that he did + not demand human sacrifices as set forth in the last chapter of Leviticus; + that he did not object to the raising of horses; that he never commanded + widows to spit in the faces of their brothers-in-law; that several + contradictory accounts of the same transaction cannot all be true; that + God did not talk to Abraham as one man talks to another; that angels were + not in the habit of walking about the earth eating veal dressed with milk + and butter, and making bargains about the destruction of cities; that God + never turned himself into a flame of fire, and lived in a bush; that he + never met Moses in a hotel and tried to kill him; that it was absurd to + perform miracles to induce a king to act in a certain way and then harden + his heart so that he would refuse; that God was not kept from killing the + Jews by the fear that the Egyptians would laugh at him; that he did not + secretly bury a man and then allow the corpse to write an account of the + funeral; that he never believed the firmament to be solid; that he knew + slavery was and always would be a frightful crime; that polygamy is but + stench and filth; that the brave soldier will always spare an unarmed foe; + that only cruel cowards slay the conquered and the helpless; that no + language can describe the murderer of a smiling babe; that God did not + want the blood of doves and lambs; that he did not love the smell of + burning flesh; that he did not want his altars daubed with blood; that he + did not pretend that the sins of a people could be transferred to a goat; + that he did not believe in witches, wizards, spooks, and devils; that he + did not test the virtue of woman with dirty water; that he did not suppose + that rabbits chewed the cud; that he never thought there were any + four-footed birds; that he did not boast for several hundred years that he + had vanquished an Egyptian king; that a dry stick did not bud, blossom, + and bear almonds in one night; that manna did not shrink and swell, so + that each man could gather only just one omer; that it was never wrong to + "countenance the poor man in his cause;" that God never told a people not + to live in peace with their neighbors; that he did not spend forty days + with Moses on Mount Sinai giving him patterns for making clothes, tongs, + basins, and snuffers; that maternity is not a sin; that physical deformity + is not a crime; that an atonement cannot be made for the soul by shedding + innocent blood; that killing a dove over running water will not make its + blood a medicine; that a god who demands love knows nothing of the human + heart; that one who frightens savages with loud noises is unworthy the + love of civilized men; that one who destroys children on account of the + sins of their fathers is a monster; that an infinite god never threatened + to give people the itch; that he never sent wild beasts to devour babes; + that he never ordered the violation of maidens; that he never regarded + patriotism as a crime; that he never ordered the destruction of unborn + children; that he never opened the earth and swallowed wives and babes + because husbands and fathers had displeased him; that he never demanded + that men should kill their sons and brothers, for the purpose of + sanctifying themselves; that we cannot please God by believing the + improbable; that credulity is not a virtue; that investigation is not a + crime; that every mind should be free; that all religious persecution is + infamous in God, as well as man; that without liberty, virtue is + impossible; that without freedom, even love cannot exist; that every man + should be allowed to think and to express his thoughts; that woman is the + equal of man; that children should be governed by love and reason; that + the family relation is sacred; that war is a hideous crime; that all + intolerance is born of ignorance and hate; that the freedom of today is + the hope of to-morrow; that the enlightened present ought not to fall upon + its knees and blindly worship the barbaric past; and that every free, + brave and enlightened man should publicly declare that all the ignorant, + infamous, heartless, hideous things recorded in the "inspired" Pentateuch + are not the words of God, but simply "Some Mistakes of Moses." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0003" id="link0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + SOME REASONS WHY + </h2> + <h3> + I. + </h3> + <p> + RELIGION makes enemies instead of friends. That one word, "religion," + covers all the horizon of memory with visions of war, of outrage, of + persecution, of tyranny, and death. That one word brings to the mind every + instrument with which man has tortured man. In that one word are all the + fagots and flames and dungeons of the past, and in that word is the + infinite and eternal hell of the future. + </p> + <p> + In the name of universal benevolence Christians have hated their + fellow-men. Although they have been preaching universal love, the + Christian nations are the warlike nations of the world. The most + destructive weapons of war have been invented by Christians. The musket, + the revolver, the rifled canon, the bombshell, the torpedo, the explosive + bullet, have been invented by Christian brains. + </p> + <p> + Above all other arts, the Christian world has placed the art of war. + </p> + <p> + A Christian nation has never had the slightest respect for the rights of + barbarians; neither has any Christian sect any respect for the rights of + other sects. Anciently, the sects discussed with fire and sword, and even + now, something happens almost every day to show that the old spirit that + was in the Inquisition still slumbers in the Christian breast. + </p> + <p> + Whoever imagines himself a favorite with God, holds other people in + contempt. + </p> + <p> + Whenever a man believes that he has the exact truth from God, there is in + that man no spirit of compromise. He has not the modesty born of the + imperfections of human nature; he has the arrogance of theological + certainty and the tyranny born of ignorant assurance. Believing himself to + be the slave of God, he imitates his master, and of all tyrants, the worst + is a slave in power. + </p> + <p> + When a man really believes that it is necessary to do a certain thing to + be happy forever, or that a certain belief is necessary to ensure eternal + joy, there is in that man no spirit of concession. He divides the whole + world into saints and sinners, into believers and unbelievers, into God's + sheep and Devil's goats, into people who will be glorified and people who + will be damned. + </p> + <p> + A Christian nation can make no compromise with one not Christian; it will + either compel that nation to accept its doctrine, or it will wage war. If + Christ, in fact, said "I came not to bring peace but a sword," it is the + only prophecy in the New Testament that has been literally fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + II. DUTIES TO GOD. + </p> + <p> + RELIGION is supposed to consist in a discharge of the duties we owe to + God. In other words, we are taught that God is exceedingly anxious that we + should believe a certain thing. For my part, I do not believe that there + is any infinite being to whom we owe anything. The reason I say this is, + we can not owe any duty to any being who requires nothing—to any + being that we cannot possibly help, to any being whose happiness we cannot + increase. If God is infinite, we cannot make him happier than he is. If + God is infinite, we can neither give, nor can he receive, anything. + Anything that we do or fail to do, cannot, in the slightest degree, affect + an infinite God; consequently, no relations can exist between the finite + and the Infinite, if by relations is meant mutual duties and obligations. + </p> + <p> + Some tell us that it is the desire of God that we should worship him. What + for? Why does he desire worship? Others tell us that we should sacrifice + something to him. What for? Is he in want? Can we assist him? Is he + unhappy? Is he in trouble? Does he need human sympathy? We cannot assist + the Infinite, but we can assist our fellow-men. We can feed the hungry and + clothe the naked, and enlighten the ignorant, and we can help, in some + degree at least, toward covering this world with the mantle of joy. + </p> + <p> + I do not believe there is any being in this universe who gives rain for + praise, who gives sunshine for prayer, or who blesses a man simply because + he kneels. + </p> + <p> + The Infinite cannot receive praise or worship. + </p> + <p> + The Infinite can neither hear nor answer prayer. + </p> + <p> + An Infinite personality is an infinite impossibility. + </p> + <p> + III. INSPIRATION. + </p> + <p> + WE are told that we have in our possession the inspired will of God. What + is meant by the word "inspired" is not exactly known; but whatever else it + may mean, certainly it means that the "inspired" must be the true. If it + is true, there is, in fact, no need of its being inspired—the truth + will take care of itself. + </p> + <p> + The church is forced to say that the Bible differs from all other books; + it is forced to say that it contains the actual will of God. Let us then + see what inspiration really is. A man looks at the sea, and the sea says + something to him. It makes an impression upon his mind. It awakens memory, + and this impression depends upon the man's experience—upon his + intellectual capacity. Another looks upon the same sea. He has a different + brain; he has had a different experience. The sea may speak to him of joy, + to the other of grief and tears. The sea cannot tell the same thing to any + two human beings, because no two human beings have had the same + experience. + </p> + <p> + A year ago, while the cars were going from Boston to Gloucester, we passed + through Manchester. As the cars stopped, a lady sitting opposite, speaking + to her husband, looking out of the window and catching, for the first + time, a view of the sea, cried out, "Is it not beautiful!" and the husband + replied, "I'll bet you could dig clams right here!" + </p> + <p> + Another, standing upon the shore, listening to what the great Greek + tragedian called "the multitudinous laughter of the sea," may say: Every + drop has visited all the shores of the earth; every one has been frozen in + the vast and icy North; every one has fallen in snow, has been whirled by + storms around mountain peaks; every one has been kissed to vapor by the + sun; every one has worn the seven-hued garment of light; every one has + fallen in pleasant rain, gurgled from springs and laughed in brooks while + lovers wooed upon the banks, and every one has rushed with mighty rivers + back to the sea's embrace. Everything in nature tells a different story to + all eyes that see and to all ears that hear. + </p> + <p> + Once in my life, and once only, I heard Horace Greeley deliver a lecture. + I think its title was, "Across the Continent." At last he reached the + mammoth trees of California, and I thought "Here is an opportunity for the + old man to indulge his fancy. Here are trees that have outlived a thousand + human governments. There are limbs above his head older than the pyramids. + While man was emerging from barbarism to something like civilization, + these trees were growing. Older than history, every one appeared to be a + memory, a witness, and a prophecy. The same wind that filled the sails of + the Argonauts had swayed these trees." But these trees said nothing of + this kind to Mr. Greeley. Upon these subjects not a word was told to him. + Instead, he took his pencil, and after figuring awhile, remarked: "One of + these trees, sawed into inch-boards, would make more than three hundred + thousand feet of lumber." + </p> + <p> + I was once riding on the cars in Illinois. There had been a violent + thunder-storm. The rain had ceased, the sun was going down. The great + clouds had floated toward the west, and there they assumed most wonderful + architectural shapes. There were temples and palaces domed and turreted, + and they were touched with silver, with amethyst and gold. They looked + like the homes of the Titans, or the palaces of the gods. A man was + sitting near me. I touched him and said, "Did you ever see anything so + beautiful!" He looked out. He saw nothing of the cloud, nothing of the + sun, nothing of the color; he saw only the country and replied, "Yes, it + is beautiful; I always did like rolling land." On another occasion I was + riding in a stage. There had been a snow, and after the snow a sleet, and + all the trees were bent, and all the boughs were arched. Every fence, + every log cabin had been transfigured, touched with a glory almost beyond + this world. The great fields were a pure and perfect white; the forests, + drooping beneath their load of gems, made wonderful caves, from which one + almost expected to see troops of fairies come. The whole world looked like + a bride, jewelled from head to foot. A German on the back seat, hearing + our talk, and our exclamations of wonder leaned forward, looked out of the + stage window and said: "Yes, it looks like a clean table cloth!" + </p> + <p> + So, when we look upon a flower, a painting, a statue, a star, or a violet, + the more we know, the more we have experienced, the more we have thought, + the more we remember, the more the statue, the star, the painting, the + violet has to tell. Nature says to me all that I am capable of + understanding—gives all that I can receive. + </p> + <p> + As with star, or flower, or sea, so with a book. A man reads Shakespeare. + What does he get from him? All that he has the mind to understand. He gets + his little cup full. Let another read him who knows nothing of the drama, + nothing of the impersonations of passion, and what does he get? Almost + nothing. Shakespeare has a different story for each reader. He is a world + in which each recognizes his acquaintances—he may know a few, he may + know all. + </p> + <p> + The impression that nature makes upon the mind, the stories told by sea + and star and flower, must be the natural food of thought. Leaving out for + the moment the impression gained from ancestors, the hereditary fears and + drifts and trends—the natural food of thought must be the impression + made upon the brain by coming in contact through the medium of the five + senses with what we call the outward world. The brain is natural. Its food + is natural. The result, thought, must be natural. The supernatural can be + constructed with no material except the natural. Of the supernatural we + can have no conception. Thought may be deformed, and the thought of one + may be strange to, and denominated as unnatural by, another; but it cannot + be supernatural. It may be weak, it may be insane, but it is not + supernatural. Above the natural man cannot rise, even with the aid of + fancy's wings. There can can be deformed ideas, as there are deformed + persons. There can be religions monstrous and misshapen, but they must be + naturally produced. Some people have ideas about what they are pleased to + call the supernatural; but what they call the supernatural is simply the + deformed. The world is to each man according to each man. It takes the + world as it really is and that man to make that man's world, and that + man's world cannot exist without that man. + </p> + <p> + You may ask, and what of all this? I reply, as with everything in nature, + so with the Bible. It has a different story for each reader. Is then the + Bible a different book to every human being who reads it? It is. Can God + then, through the Bible, make the same revelation to two persons? He + cannot. Why? Because the man who reads it is the man who inspires. + Inspiration is in the man, as well as in the book. God should have + inspired readers as well as writers. + </p> + <p> + You may reply: "God knew that his book would be understood differently by + each one, and that he really intended that it should be understood as it + is understood by each." If this is so, then my understanding of the Bible + is the real revelation to me. If this is so, I have no right to take the + understanding of another. I must take the revelation made to me through my + understanding, and by that revelation I must stand. Suppose then, that I + do read this Bible honestly, fairly, and when I get through I am compelled + to say, "The book is not true." If this is the honest result, then you are + compelled to say, either that God has made no revelation to me, or that + the revelation that it is not true, is the revelation made to me, and by + which I am bound. If the book and my brain are both the work of the same + Infinite God, whose fault is it that the book and the brain do not agree? + Either God should have written a book to fit my brain, or should have made + my brain to fit his book. + </p> + <p> + The inspiration of the Bible depends upon the ignorance of him who reads. + There was a time when its geology, its astronomy, its natural history, + were inspired. That time has passed. There was a time when its morality + satisfied the men who ruled mankind. That time has passed. There was a + time when the tyrant regarded its laws as good; when the master believed + in its liberty; when strength gloried in its passages; but these laws + never satisfied the oppressed, they were never quoted by the slave. + </p> + <p> + We have a sacred book, an inspired Bible, and I am told that this book was + written by the same being who made every star, and who peopled infinite + space with infinite worlds. I am also told that God created man, and that + man is totally depraved. It has always seemed to me that an infinite being + has no right to make imperfect things. I may be mistaken; but this is the + only planet I have ever been on; I live in what might be called one of the + rural districts of this universe, consequently I may be mistaken; I simply + give the best and largest thought I have. + </p> + <p> + IV. GOD'S EXPERIMENT WITH THE JEWS + </p> + <p> + THE Bible tells us that men became so bad that God destroyed them all with + the exception of eight persons; that afterwards he chose Abraham and some + of his kindred, a wandering tribe, for the purpose of seeing whether or no + they could be civilized. He had no time to waste with all the world. The + Egyptians at that time, a vast and splendid nation, having a system of + laws and free schools, believing in the marriage of the one man to the one + woman; believing, too, in the rights of woman—a nation that had + courts of justice and understood the philosophy of damages—these + people had received no revelation from God,—they were left to grope + in Nature's night. He had no time to civilize India, wherein had grown a + civilization that fills the world with wonder still—a people with a + language as perfect as ours, a people who had produced philosophers, + scientists, poets. He had no time to waste on them; but he took a few, the + tribe of Abraham. He established a perfect despotism—with no + schools, with no philosophy, with no art, with no music—nothing but + the sacrifices of dumb beasts—nothing but the abject worship of a + slave. Not a word upon geology, upon astronomy; nothing, even, upon the + science of medicine. Thus God spent hours and hours with Moses upon the + top of Sinai, giving directions for ascertaining the presence of leprosy + and for preventing its spread, but it never occurred to Jehovah to tell + Moses how it could be cured. He told them a few things about what they + might eat—prohibiting among other things four-footed birds, and one + thing upon the subject of cooking. From the thunders and lightnings of + Sinai he proclaimed this vast and wonderful fact: "Thou shalt not seethe a + kid in its mother's milk." He took these people, according to our sacred + Scriptures, under his immediate care, and for the purpose of controlling + them he wrought wonderful miracles in their sight. + </p> + <p> + Is it not a little curious that no priest of one religion has ever been + able to astonish a priest of another religion by telling a miracle? Our + missionaries tell the Hindoos the miracles of the Bible, and the Hindoo + priests, without the movement of a muscle, hear them and then recite + theirs, and theirs do not astonish our missionaries in the least! Is it + not a little curious that the priests of one religion never believe the + priests of another? Is it not a little strange that the believers in + sacred books regard all except their own as having been made by hypocrites + and fools? + </p> + <p> + I heard the other day a story. A gentleman was telling some wonderful + things and the listeners, with one exception, were saying, as he proceeded + with his tale, "Is it possible?" "Did you ever hear anything so + wonderful?" and when he had concluded, there was a kind of chorus of "Is + it possible?" and "Can it be?" One man, however, sat perfectly quiet, + utterly unmoved. Another listener said to him "Did you hear that?" and he + replied "Yes." "Well," said the other, "You did not manifest much + astonishment." "Oh, no," was the answer, "I am a liar myself." + </p> + <p> + I am told by the sacred Scriptures that, as a matter of fact, God, even + with the help of miracles, failed to civilize the Jews, and this shows of + how little real benefit, after all, it is, to have a ruler much above the + people, or to simply excite the wonder of mankind. Infinite wisdom, if the + account be true, could not civilize a single tribe. Laws made by Jehovah + himself were not obeyed, and every effort of Jehovah failed. It is claimed + that God made known his law and inspired men to write and teach his will, + and yet, it was found utterly impossible to reform mankind. + </p> + <p> + V. CIVILIZED COUNTRIES + </p> + <p> + IN all civilized countries, it is now passionately asserted that slavery + is a crime; that a war of conquest is murder; that polygamy enslaves + woman, degrades man and destroys home; that nothing is more infamous than + the slaughter of decrepit men, of helpless mothers, and of prattling + babes; that captured maidens should not be given to their captors; that + wives should not be stoned to death for differing with their husbands on + the subject of religion. We know that there was a time, in the history of + most nations, when all these crimes were regarded as divine institutions. + Nations entertaining this view now are regarded as savage, and, with the + exception of the South Sea Islanders, Feejees, a few tribes in Central + Africa, and some citizens of Delaware, no human beings are found degraded + enough to agree upon these subjects with Jehovah. + </p> + <p> + The only evidence we can have that a nation has ceased to be savage, is + that it has abandoned these doctrines of savagery. + </p> + <p> + To every one except a theologian, it is easy to account for these mistakes + and crimes by saying that civilization is a painful growth; that the moral + perceptions are cultivated through ages of tyranny, of crime, and of + heroism; that it requires centuries for man to put out the eyes of self + and hold in lofty and in equal poise the golden scales of Justice. + Conscience is born of suffering. Mercy is the child of the imagination. + Man advances as he becomes acquainted with his surroundings, with the + mutual obligations of life, and learns to take advantage of the forces of + nature. + </p> + <p> + The believer in the inspiration of the Bible is compelled to say, that + there was a time when slavery was right, when women could sell their + babes, when polygamy was the highest form of virtue, when wars of + extermination were waged with the sword of mercy, when religious + toleration was a crime, and when death was the just penalty for having + expressed an honest thought. He is compelled to insist that Jehovah is as + bad now as he was then; that he is as good now as he was then. Once, all + the crimes that I have mentioned were commanded by God; now they are + prohibited. Once, God was in favor of them all; now the Devil is their + defender. In other words, the Devil entertains the same opinion to-day + that God held four thousand years ago. The Devil is as good now as Jehovah + was then, and God was as bad then as the Devil is now. Other nations + besides the Jews had similar laws and ideas—believed in and + practiced the same crimes, and yet, it is not claimed that they received a + revelation. They had no knowledge of the true God, and yet they practiced + the same crimes, of their own motion, that the Jews did by command of + Jehovah. From this it would seem that man can do wrong without a special + revelation. + </p> + <p> + The passages upholding slavery, polygamy, war and religious persecution + are certainly not evidences of the inspiration of that book. Suppose + nothing had been in the Old Testament upholding these crimes, would the + modern Christian suspect that it was not inspired on that account? Suppose + nothing had been in the Old Testament except laws in favor of these + crimes, would it still be insisted that it was inspired? If the Devil had + inspired a book, will some Christian tell us in what respect, on the + subjects of slavery, polygamy, war and liberty, it would have differed + from some parts of the Old Testament? Suppose we knew that after inspired + men had finished the Bible the Devil had gotten possession of it and had + written a few passages, what part would Christians now pick out as being + probably his work? Which of the following passages would be selected as + having been written by the Devil: "Love thy neighbor as thyself," or "Kill + all the males among the little ones, and kill every woman, but all the + women children keep alive for yourselves"? + </p> + <p> + Is there a believer in the Bible who does not now wish that God, amid the + thunders and lightnings of Sinai, had said to Moses that man should not + own his fellow-man; that women should not sell their babes; that all men + should be allowed to think and investigate for themselves, and that the + sword never should be unsheathed to shed innocent blood? Is there a + believer who would not be delighted to find that every one of the infamous + passages are interpolations, and that the skirts of God were never + reddened by the blood of maiden, wife, or babe? Is there an honest man who + does not regret that God commanded a husband to stone his wife for + suggesting the worship of some other God? Surely we do not need an + inspired book to teach us that slavery is right, that polygamy is virtue, + and that intellectual liberty is a crime. + </p> + <p> + VI. A COMPARISON OF BOOKS + </p> + <p> + LET us compare the gems of Jehovah with Pagan paste. It may be that the + best way to illustrate what I have said, is to compare the supposed + teachings of Jehovah with those of persons who never wrote an inspired + line. In all ages of which any record has been preserved, men have given + their ideas of justice, charity, liberty, love and law. If the Bible is + the work of God, it should contain the sublimest truths, it should excel + the works of man, it should contain the loftiest definitions of justice, + the best conceptions of human liberty, the clearest outlines of duty, the + tenderest and noblest thoughts. Upon every page should be found the + luminous evidence of its divine origin. It should contain grander and more + wonderful things than man has written. + </p> + <p> + It may be said that it is unfair to call attention to bad things in the + Bible. To this it may be replied that a divine being ought not to put bad + things in his book. If the Bible now upholds what we call crimes, it will + not do to say that it is not verbally inspired. If the words are not + inspired, what is? It may be said, that the thoughts are inspired. This + would include only thoughts expressed without words. If ideas are + inspired, they must be expressed by inspired words—that is to say, + by an inspired arrangement of words. If a sculptor were inspired of God to + make a statue, we would not say that the marble was inspired, but the + statue—that is to say, the relation of part to part, the married + harmony of form and function. The language, the words, take the place of + the marble, and it is the arrangement of the words that Christians claim + to be inspired. If there is an uninspired word, or a word in the wrong + place, until that word is known a doubt is cast on every word the book + contains. + </p> + <p> + If it was worth God's while to make a revelation at all, it was certainly + worth his while to see that it was correctly made—that it was + absolutely preserved. + </p> + <p> + Why should God allow an inspired book to be interpolated? If it was worth + while to inspire men to write it, it was worth while to inspire men to + preserve it; and why should he allow another person to interpolate in it + that which was not inspired? He certainly would not have allowed the man + he inspired to write contrary to the inspiration. He should have preserved + his revelation. Neither will it do to say that God adapted his revelation + to the prejudices of man. It was necessary for him to adapt his revelation + to the capacity of man, but certainly God would not confirm a barbarian in + his prejudices. He would not fortify a heathen in his crimes.... + </p> + <p> + If a revelation is of any importance, it is to eradicate prejudice. They + tell us now that the Jews were so ignorant, so bad, that God was compelled + to justify their crimes, in order to have any influence with them. They + say that if he had declared slavery and polygamy to be crimes, the Jews + would have refused to receive the Ten Commandments. They tell us that God + did the best he could; that his real intention was to lead them along + slowly, so that in a few hundred years they would be induced to admit that + larceny and murder and polygamy and slavery were not virtues. I suppose if + we now wished to break a cannibal of the bad habit of devouring + missionaries, we would first induce him to cook them in a certain way, + saying: "To eat cooked missionary is one step in advance of eating your + missionary raw. After a few years, a little mutton could be cooked with + missionary, and year after year the amount of mutton could be increased + and the amount of missionary decreased, until in the fullness of time the + dish could be entirely mutton, and after that the missionaries would be + absolutely safe." + </p> + <p> + If there is anything of value, it is liberty—liberty of body, + liberty of mind. The liberty of body is the reward of labor. Intellectual + liberty is the air of the soul, the sunshine of the mind, and without it, + the world is a prison, the universe a dungeon. + </p> + <p> + If the Bible is really inspired, Jehovah commanded the Jewish people to + buy the children of the strangers that sojourned among them, and ordered + that the children thus bought should be an inheritance for the children of + the Jews, and that they should be bondmen and bondwomen forever. Yet + Epictetus, a man to whom no revelation was ever made, a man whose soul + followed only the light of nature, and who had never heard of the Jewish + God, was great enough to say: "Will you not remember that your servants + are by nature your brothers, the children of God? In saying that you have + bought them, you look down on the earth, and into the pit, on the wretched + law of men long since dead, but you see not the laws of the gods." + </p> + <p> + We find that Jehovah, speaking to his chosen people, assured them that + their bondmen and their bondmaids must be "of the heathen that were round + about them." "Of them," said Jehovah, "shall ye buy bondmen and + bondmaids." And yet Cicero, a pagan, Cicero, who had never been + enlightened by reading the Old Testament, had the moral grandeur to + declare: "They who say that we should love our fellow-citizens but not + foreigners, destroy the universal brotherhood of mankind, with which + benevolence and justice would perish forever." + </p> + <p> + If the Bible is inspired, Jehovah, God of all worlds, actually said: "And + if a man smite his servant or his maid with a rod, and he die under his + hand, he shall be sorely punished; notwithstanding, if he continue a day + or two, he shall not be punished, for he is his money." And yet Zeno, + founder of the Stoics, centuries before Christ was born, insisted that no + man could be the owner of another, and that the title was bad, whether the + slave had become so by conquest or by purchase. + </p> + <p> + Jehovah ordered a Jewish general to make war, and gave, among others, this + command: "When the Lord thy God shall drive them before thee, thou shalt + smite them and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with + them, nor show mercy unto them." And yet Epictetus, whom we have already + quoted, gave this marvelous rule for the guidance of human conduct: "Live + with thy inferiors as thou wouldst have thy superiors live with thee." + </p> + <p> + Is it possible, after all, that a being of infinite goodness and wisdom + said: "I will heap mischief upon them; I will send mine arrows upon them; + they shall be burned with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with + bitter destruction. I will send the tooth of beasts upon them, with the + poison of serpents of the dust. The sword without, and terror within, + shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also, with + the man of gray hairs" while Seneca, an uninspired Roman, said: "The wise + man will not pardon any crime that ought to be punished, but he will + accomplish, in a nobler way, all that is sought in pardoning. He will + spare some and watch over some, because of their youth, and others on + account of their ignorance. His clemency will not fall short of justice, + but will fulfill it perfectly." + </p> + <p> + Can we believe that God ever said to any one: "Let his children be + fatherless and his wife a widow; let his children be continually + vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their bread also out of their desolate + places; let the extortioner catch all that he hath, and let the stranger + spoil his labor; let there be none to extend mercy unto him, neither let + there be any to favor his fatherless children." If he ever said these + words, surely he had never heard this line, this strain of music from the + Hindu: "Sweet is the lute to those who have not heard the prattle of their + own children." + </p> + <p> + Jehovah, "from the clouds and darkness of Sinai," said to the Jews: "Thou + shalt have no other gods before me.... Though shalt not bow down thyself + to them nor serve them; for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, + visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third + and fourth generation of them that hate me." Contrast this with the words + put by the Hindu in the mouth of Brahma: "I am the same to all mankind. + They who honestly serve other gods involuntarily worship me. I am he who + partakest of all worship, and I am the reward of all worshipers." + </p> + <p> + Compare these passages; the first a dungeon where crawl the things begot + of jealous slime; the other, great as the domed firmament inlaid with + suns. Is it possible that the real God ever said: + </p> + <p> + "And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I, the Lord, + have deceived that prophet; and I will stretch out my hand upon him and + will destroy him from the midst of my people." Compare that passage with + one from a Pagan. + </p> + <p> + "It is better to keep silence for the remainder of your life than to speak + falsely." + </p> + <p> + Can we believe that a being of infinite mercy gave this command: + </p> + <p> + "Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate, + throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his + companion, and every man his neighbor; consecrate yourselves to-day to the + Lord, even every man upon his son and upon his brother, that he may bestow + a blessing upon you this day." + </p> + <p> + Surely, that God was not animated by so great and magnanimous a spirit as + was Antoninus, a Roman emperor, who declared that, "he had rather keep a + single Roman citizen alive than slay a thousand enemies." + </p> + <p> + Compare the laws given to the children of Israel, as it is claimed by the + Creator of us all, with the following from Marcus Aurelius: + </p> + <p> + "I have formed the ideal of a state, in which there is the same law for + all, and equal rights, and equal liberty of speech established; an empire + where nothing is honored so much as the freedom of the citizen." + </p> + <p> + In the Avesta I find this: "I belong to five: to those who think good, to + those who speak good, to those who do good, to those who hear, and to + those who are pure." + </p> + <p> + "Which is the one prayer which in greatness, goodness, and beauty is worth + all that is between heaven and earth and between this earth and the stars? + And he replied: To renounce all evil thoughts and words and works." + </p> + <p> + VII. + </p> + <p> + IT is claimed by the Christian world that one of the great reasons for + giving an inspired book to the Jews was, that through them the world might + learn that there is but one God. This piece of information has been + supposed to be of infinite value. As a matter of fact, long before Moses + was born, the Egyptians believed and taught that there was but one God—that + is to say, that above all intelligences there was the one Supreme. They + were guilty, too, of the same inconsistencies of modern Christians. They + taught the doctrine of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Mother, + and God the Son. God was frequently represented as father, mother and + babe. They also taught that the soul had a divine origin; that after death + it was to be judged according to the deeds done in the body; that those + who had done well passed into perpetual joy, and those who had done evil + into endless pain. In this they agreed with the most approved divine of + the nineteenth century. Women were the equals of men, and Egypt was often + governed by queens. In this, her government was vastly better than the one + established by God. The laws were administered by courts much like ours. + In Egypt there was a system of schools that gave the son of poverty a + chance of advancement, and the highest offices were open to the successful + scholar. The Egyptian married one wife. The wife was called "the lady of + the house." The women were not secluded. The people were not divided into + castes. There was nothing to prevent the rise of able and intelligent + Egyptians. But like the Jehovah of the Jews, they made slaves of the + captives of war. + </p> + <p> + The ancient Persians believed in one God; and women helped to found the + Parsee religion. Nothing can exceed some of the maxims of Zoroaster. The + Hindoos taught that above all, and over all, was one eternal Supreme. They + had a code of laws. They understood the philosophy of evidence and of + damages. They knew better than to teach the doctrine of an eye for an eye, + and a tooth for a tooth. + </p> + <p> + They knew that when one man maimed another, it was not to the interest of + society to have that man maimed, thus burdening the people with two + cripples, but that it was better to make the man who maimed the other work + to support him. In India, upon the death of a father, the daughters + received twice as much from the estate as the sons. + </p> + <p> + The Romans built temples to Truth, Faith, Valor, Concord, Modesty, and + Charity, in which they offered sacrifices to the highest conceptions of + human excellence. Women had rights; they presided in the temple; they + officiated in holy offices; they guarded the sacred fires upon which the + safety of Rome depended; and when Christ came, the grandest figure in the + known world was the Roman mother. + </p> + <p> + It will not do to say that some rude statue was made by an inspired + sculptor, and that the Apollo of Belvidere, Venus de Milo, and the + Gladiator were made by unaided men; that the daubs of the early ages were + painted by divine assistance, while the Raphaels, the Angelos, and the + Rembrandts did what they did without the help of heaven. It will not do to + say, that the first hut was built by God, and the last palace by degraded + man; that the hoarse songs of the savage tribes were made by the Deity, + but that Hamlet and Lear were written by man; that the pipes of Pan were + invented in heaven, and all other musical instruments on the earth. + </p> + <p> + If the Jehovah of the Jews had taken upon himself flesh, and dwelt as a + man among the people had he endeavored to govern, had he followed his own + teachings, he would have been a slaveholder, a buyer of babes, and a + beater of women. He would have waged wars of extermination. He would have + killed grey-haired and trembling age, and would have sheathed his sword, + in prattling, dimpled babes. He would have been a polygamist, and would + have butchered his wife for differing with him on the subject of religion. + </p> + <p> + VIII. THE NEW TESTAMENT. + </p> + <p> + NE great objection to the Old Testament is the cruelty said to have been + commanded by God. All these cruelties ceased with death. The vengeance of + Jehovah stopped at the tomb. He never threatened to punish the dead; and + there is not one word, from the first mistake in Genesis to the last curse + of Malachi, containing the slightest intimation that God will take his + revenge in another world. It was reserved for the New Testament to make + known the doctrine of eternal pain. The teacher of universal benevolence + rent the veil between time and eternity, and fixed the horrified gaze of + man upon the lurid gulf of hell. Within the breast of non-resistance + coiled the worm that never dies. Compared with this, the doctrine of + slavery, the wars of extermination, the curses, the punishments of the Old + Testament were all merciful and just. + </p> + <p> + There is no time to speak of the conflicting statements in the various + books composing the New Testament—no time to give the history of the + manuscripts, the errors in translation, the interpolations made by the + fathers and by their successors, the priests, and only time to speak of a + few objections, including some absurdities and some contradictions. + </p> + <p> + Where several witnesses testify to the same transaction, no matter how + honest they may be, they will disagree upon minor matters, and such + testimony is generally considered as evidence that the witnesses have not + conspired among themselves. The differences in statement are accounted for + from the facts that all do not see alike, and that all have not equally + good memories; but when we claim that the witnesses are inspired, we must + admit that he who inspired them did know exactly what occurred, and + consequently there should be no disagreement, even in the minutest detail. + The accounts should not only be substantially, but they should be + actually, the same. The differences and contradictions can be accounted + for by the weaknesses of human nature, but these weaknesses cannot be + predicated of divine wisdom. + </p> + <p> + And here let me ask: Why should there have been more than one correct + account of what really happened? Why were four gospels necessary? It seems + to me that one inspired gospel, containing all that happened, was enough. + Copies of the one correct one could have been furnished to any extent. + According to Doctor Davidson, Irenæus argues that the gospels were + four in number, because there are four universal winds, four corners of + the globe. Others have said, because there are four seasons; and these + gentlemen might have added, because a donkey has four legs. For my part, I + cannot even conceive of a reason for more than one gospel. + </p> + <p> + According to one of these gospels, and according to the prevalent + Christian belief, the Christian religion rests upon the doctrine of the + atonement. If this doctrine is without foundation, the fabric falls; and + it is without foundation, for it is repugnant to justice and mercy. The + church tells us that the first man committed a crime for which all others + are responsible. This absurdity was the father and mother of another—that + a man can be rewarded for the good action of another. We are told that God + made a law, with the penalty of eternal death. All men, they tell us, have + broken this law. The law had to be vindicated. This could be done by + damning everybody, but through what is known as the atonement the + salvation of a few was made possible. They insist that the law demands the + extreme penalty, that justice calls for its victim, that mercy ceases to + plead, and that God by allowing the innocent to suffer in the place of the + guilty settled satisfactory with the law. To carry out this scheme God was + born as a babe, grew in stature, increased in knowledge, and at the age of + thirty-three years having lived a life filled with kindness, having + practiced every virtue, he was sacrificed as an atonement for man. It is + claimed that he took our place, bore our sins, our guilt, and in this way + satisfied the justice of God. + </p> + <p> + Under the Mosaic dispensation there was no remission of sin except through + the shedding of blood. When a man sinned he must bring to the priest a + lamb, a bullock, a goat, or a pair of turtle-doves. + </p> + <p> + The priest would lay his hand upon the animal and the sin of the man would + be transferred to the beast. Then the animal would be killed in place of + the sinner, and the blood thus shed would be sprinkled upon the altar. In + this way Jehovah was satisfied. The greater the crime, the greater the + sacrifice. There was a ratio between the value of the animal and the + enormity of the sin. + </p> + <p> + The most minute directions were given as to the killing of these animals. + Every priest became a butcher, every synagogue a slaughter-house. Nothing + could be more utterly shocking to a refined soul, nothing better + calculated to harden the heart, than the continual shedding of innocent + blood. This terrible system culminated in the sacrifice of Christ. His + blood took the place of all other. It is not necessary to shed any more. + The law at last is satisfied, satiated, surfeited. + </p> + <p> + The idea that God wants blood is at the bottom of the atonement, and rests + upon the most fearful savagery; and yet the Mosaic dispensation was better + adapted to prevent the commission of sin than the Christian system. Under + that dispensation, if you committed a sin, you had to bring a sacrifice—dove, + sheep, or bullock, now, when a sin is committed, the Christian says, + "Charge it," "Put it on the slate, If I don't pay it the Savior will." In + this way, rascality is sold on a credit, and the credit system of religion + breeds extravagance in sin. The Mosaic dispensation was based upon far + better business principles. The debt had to be paid, and by the man who + owed it. We are told that the sinner is in debt to God, and that the + obligation is discharged by the Savior. The best that can be said of such + a transaction is that the debt is transferred, not paid. As a matter of + fact, the sinner is in debt to the person he has injured. If you injure a + man, it is not enough to get the forgiveness of God—you must get the + man's forgiveness, you must get your own. If a man puts his hand in the + fire and God forgives him, his hand will smart just as badly. You must + reap what you sow. No God can give you wheat when you sow tares, and no + Devil can give you tares when you sow wheat. We must remember that in + nature there are neither rewards nor punishments—there are + consequences. The life and death of Christ do not constitute an atonement. + They are worth the example, the moral force, the heroism of benevolence, + and in so far as the life of Christ produces emulation in the direction of + goodness, it has been of value to mankind. + </p> + <p> + To make innocence suffer is the greatest sin, and it may be the only sin. + How, then, is it possible to make the consequences of sin an atonement for + sin, when the consequences of sin are to be borne by one who has not + sinned, and the one who has sinned is to reap the reward of virtue? No + honorable man should be willing that another should suffer for him. No + good law can accept the sufferings of innocence as an atonement for the + guilty; and besides, if there was no atonement until the crucifixion of + Christ, what became of the countless millions who died before that time? + We must remember that the Jews did not kill animals for the Gentiles. + Jehovah hated foreigners. There was no way provided for the forgiveness of + a heathen. What has become of the millions who have died since, without + having heard of the atonement? What becomes of those who hear and do not + believe? Can there be a law that demands that the guilty be rewarded. And + yet, to reward the guilty is far nearer justice than to punish the + innocent. If the doctrine of the atonement is true, there would have been + no heaven had no atonement been made. + </p> + <p> + If Judas had understood the Christian system, if he knew that Christ must + be betrayed, and that God was depending on him to betray him, and that + without the betrayal no human soul could be saved, what should Judas have + done? + </p> + <p> + Jehovah took special charge of the Jewish people. He did this for the + purpose of civilizing them. If he had succeeded in civilizing them, he + would have made the damnation of the entire human race a certainty; + because if the Jews had been a civilized people when Christ appeared—a + people who had not been hardened by the laws of Jehovah—they would + not have crucified Christ, and as a consequence, the world would have been + lost. If the Jews had believed in religious freedom, in the rights of + thought and speech, if the Christian religion is true, not a human soul + ever could have been saved. If, when Christ was on his way to Calvary, + some brave soul had rescued him from the pious mob, he would not only have + been damned for his pains, but would have rendered impossible the + salvation of any human being. + </p> + <p> + The Christian world has been trying for nearly two thousand years to + explain the atonement, and every effort has ended in an admission that it + cannot be understood, and a declaration that it must be believed. Has the + promise and hope of forgiveness ever prevented the commission of a sin? + Can men be made better by being taught that sin gives happiness here; that + to live a virtuous life is to bear a cross; that men can repent between + the last sin and the last breath; and that repentance washes every stain + of the soul away? Is it good to teach that the serpent of regret will not + hiss in the ear of memory; that the saved will not even pity the victims + of their crimes; and that sins forgiven cease to affect the unhappy + wretches sinned against? + </p> + <p> + Another objection is, that a certain belief is necessary to save the soul. + This doctrine, I admit, is taught in the gospel according to John, and in + many of the epistles; I deny that it is taught in Matthew, Mark, or Luke. + It is, however, asserted by the church that to believe is the only safe + way. To this, I reply: Belief is not a voluntary thing. A man believes or + disbelieves in spite of himself. They tell us that to believe is the safe + way; but I say, the safe way is to be honest. Nothing can be safer than + that. No man in the hour of death ever regretted having been honest. No + man when the shadows of the last day were gathering about the pillow of + death, ever regretted that he had given to his fellow-man his honest + thought. No man, in the presence of eternity, ever wished that he had been + a hypocrite. No man ever then regretted that he did not throw away his + reason. It certainly cannot be necessary to throw away your reason to save + your soul, because after that, your soul is not worth saving. The soul has + a right to defend itself. My brain is my castle; and when I waive the + right to defend it, I become an intellectual serf and slave. + </p> + <p> + I do not admit that a man by doing me an injury can place me under + obligations to do him a service. To render benefits for injuries is to + ignore all distinctions between actions. He who treats friends and enemies + alike has neither love nor justice. The idea of non-resistance never + occurred to a man with power to defend himself. The mother of this + doctrine was weakness. To allow a crime to be committed, even against + yourself, when you can prevent it, is next to committing the crime + yourself. The church has preached the doctrine of non-resistance, and + under that banner has shed the blood of millions. In the folds of her + sacred vestments have gleamed for centuries the daggers of assassination. + With her cunning hands she wove the purple for hypocrisy and placed the + crown upon the brow of crime. For more than a thousand years larceny held + the scales of justice, hypocrisy wore the mitre and tiara, while beggars + scorned the royal sons of toil, and ignorant fear denounced the liberty of + thought. + </p> + <p> + XI. CHRIST'S MISSION. + </p> + <p> + HE came, they tell us, to make a revelation, and what did he reveal? "Love + thy neighbor as thyself"? That was in the Old Testament. "Love God with + all thy heart"? That was in the Old Testament. "Return good for evil"? + That was said by Buddha, seven hundred years before Christ was born. "Do + unto others as ye would that they should do unto you"? That was the + doctrine of Lao-tsze. Did he come to give a rule of action? Zoroaster had + done this long before: "Whenever thou art in doubt as to whether an action + is good or bad, abstain from it." Did he come to tell us of another world? + The immortality of the soul had been taught by the Hindoos, Egyptians, + Greeks, and Romans hundreds of years before he was born. What argument did + he make in favor of immortality? What facts did he furnish? What star of + hope did he put above the darkness of this world? Did he come simply to + tell us that we should not revenge ourselves upon our enemies? Long + before, Socrates had said: "One who is injured ought not to return the + injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; and it is + not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we + have suffered from him." And Cicero had said: "Let us not listen to those + who think we ought to be angry with our enemies, and who believe this to + be great and manly. Nothing is so praiseworthy, nothing so clearly shows a + great and noble soul, as clemency and readiness to forgive." Is there + anything in the literature of the world more nearly perfect than this + thought? + </p> + <p> + Was it from Christ the world learned the first lesson of forbearance, when + centuries and centuries before, Chrishna had said, "If a man strike thee, + and in striking drop his staff, pick it up and hand it to him again?" Is + it possible that the son of God threatened to say to a vast majority, of + his children, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared + for the devil and his angels," while the Buddhist was great and tender + enough to say: + </p> + <p> + "Never will I seek nor receive private individual salvation; never enter + into final peace alone; but forever and everywhere will I live and strive + for the universal redemption of every creature throughout all worlds. + Never will I leave this world of sin and sorrow and struggle until all are + delivered. Until then, I will remain and suffer where I am?" + </p> + <p> + Is there anything in the New Testament as beautiful as this, from a Sufi?—"Better + one moment of silent contemplation and inward love than seventy thousand + years of outward worship." + </p> + <p> + Is there anything comparable to this?—"Whoever carelessly treads on + a worm that crawls on the earth, that heartless one is darkly alienate + from God." + </p> + <p> + Is there anything in the New Testament more beautiful than the story of + the Sufi? + </p> + <p> + For seven years a Sufi practised every virtue, and then he mounted the + three steps that lead to the doors of Paradise. He knocked and a voice + said: "Who is there?" The Sufi replied: "Thy servant, O God." But the + doors remained closed. + </p> + <p> + Yet seven other years the Sufi engaged in every good work. He comforted + the sorrowing and divided his substance with the poor. Again he mounted + the three steps, again knocked at the doors of Paradise, and again the + voice asked: "Who is there?" and the Sufi replied: "Thy slave, O God."—But + the doors remained closed. + </p> + <p> + Yet seven other years the Sufi spent in works of charity, in visiting the + imprisoned and the sick. Again he mounted the steps, again knocked at the + celestial doors. Again he heard the question: "Who is there?" and he + replied: "Thyself, O God."—The gates wide open flew. + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that St. Paul was inspired of God, when he said: "Let the + women learn in silence, with all subjection."—"Neither was the man + created for the woman, but the woman for the man?" + </p> + <p> + And is it possible that Epictetus, without the slightest aid from heaven, + gave to the world this gem of love: + </p> + <p> + "What is more delightful than to be so dear to your wife, as to be on that + account dearer to yourself?" + </p> + <p> + Did St. Paul express the sentiments of God when he wrote— + </p> + <p> + "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the + head of every woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. Wives, + submit yourselves unto your husbands as unto the Lord?" + </p> + <p> + And was the author of this, a poor despised heathen?— + </p> + <p> + "In whatever house the husband is contented with the wife, and the wife + with the husband, in that house will fortune dwell; but upon the house + where women are not honored, let a curse be pronounced. Where the wife is + honored, there the gods are truly worshiped." + </p> + <p> + Is there anything in the New Testament as beautiful as this?— + </p> + <p> + "Shall I tell thee where nature is most blest and fair? It is where those + we love abide. Though that space be small, it is ample above kingdoms; + though it be a desert, through it run the rivers of Paradise." + </p> + <p> + After reading the curses pronounced in the Old + </p> + <p> + Testament upon Jew and heathen, the descriptions of slaughter, of + treachery and of death, the destruction of women and babes; after you + shall have read all the chapters of horror in the New Testament, the + threatenings of fire and flame, then read this, from the greatest of human + beings: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The quality of mercy is not strained: + It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven + Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed; + It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. + 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes + The throned monarch better than his crown." +</pre> + <p> + X. ETERNAL PAIN + </p> + <p> + UPON passages in the New Testament rests the doctrine of eternal pain. + This doctrine subverts every idea of justice. A finite being can neither + commit an infinite sin, nor a sin against the Infinite. A being of + infinite goodness and wisdom has no right to create any being whose life + is not a blessing. Infinite wisdom has no right to create a failure, and + surely a man destined to everlasting failure is not a conspicuous success. + The doctrine of eternal punishment is the most infamous of all doctrines—born + of ignorance, cruelty and fear. Around the angel of immortality, + Christianity has coiled this serpent. + </p> + <p> + Upon Love's breast the church has placed the eternal asp. And yet in the + same book in which is taught this most frightful of dogmas, we are assured + that "the Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his + works." + </p> + <p> + A few days ago upon the wide sea, was found a barque called "The Tiger," + Captain Kreuger, in command. The vessel had been one hundred and + twenty-six days upon the sea. For days the crew had been without water, + without food, and were starving. For nine days not a drop had passed their + lips. The crew consisted of the captain, a mate, and eleven men. At the + end of one hundred and eighteen days from Liverpool they killed the + captain's Newfoundland dog. This lasted them four days. During the next + five days they had nothing. For weeks they had had no light and were + unable to see the compass at night. On the one hundred and twenty-fifth + day Captain Kreuger, a German, took a revolver in his hand, stood up + before the men, and placing the weapon at his temple said: "Boys, we can't + stand this much longer, and to save you all, I am willing to die." The + mate grasped the revolver and begged the captain to wait another day. The + next day, upon the horizon of their despair, they saw the smoke of the + steamship Nebo. They were rescued. + </p> + <p> + Suppose that Captain Kreuger was not a Christian, and suppose that he had + sent the ball crashing through his brain, and had done so simply to keep + the crew from starvation, do you tell me that a God of infinite mercy + would forever damn that man? + </p> + <p> + Do not misunderstand me. I insist that every passage in the Bible + upholding crime was written by savage man. I insist that if there is a + God, he is not, never was, and never will be in favor of slavery, + polygamy, wars of extermination, or religious persecution. Does any + Christian believe that if the real God were to write a book now, he would + uphold the crimes commanded in the Old Testament? Has Jehovah improved? + Has infinite mercy become more merciful? Has infinite wisdom + intellectually advanced? + </p> + <p> + WILL any one claim that the passages upholding slavery have liberated + mankind? Are we indebted to polygamy for our modern homes? Was religious + liberty born of that infamous verse in which the husband is commanded to + kill his wife for worshiping an unknown God? + </p> + <p> + The usual answer to these objections is, that no country has ever been + civilized without a Bible. The Jews were the only people to whom Jehovah + made his will directly known. Were they better than other nations? They + read the Old Testament and one of the effects of such reading was, that + they crucified a kind, loving, and perfectly innocent man. Certainly they + could not have done worse, without a Bible. In crucifying Christ the Jews + followed the teachings of his Father. If Jehovah was in fact God, and if + that God took upon himself flesh and came among the Jews, and preached + what the Jews understood to be blasphemy; and if the Jews in accordance + with the laws given by this same Jehovah to Moses, crucified him, then I + say, and I say it with infinite reverence, he reaped what he had sown. He + became the victim of his own injustice. + </p> + <p> + But I insist that these things are not true. I insist that the real God, + if there is one, never commanded man to enslave his fellow-man, never told + a mother to sell her babe, never established polygamy, never urged one + nation to exterminate another, and never told a husband to kill his wife + because she suggested the worship of another God. + </p> + <p> + From the aspersions of the pulpit, from the slanders of the church, I seek + to rescue the reputation of the Deity. I insist that the Old Testament + would be a better book with all these passages left out; and whatever may + be said of the rest of the Bible, the passages to which I have called + attention can, with vastly more propriety, be attributed to a devil than + to a god. + </p> + <p> + Take from the New Testament the idea that belief is necessary to + salvation; that Christ was offered as an atonement for the sins of + mankind; that heaven is the reward of faith, and hell the penalty of + honest investigation, and that the punishment of the human soul will go on + forever; take from it all miracles and foolish stories, and I most + cheerfully admit that the good passages are true. If they are true, it + makes no difference whether they are inspired or not. Inspiration is only + necessary to give authority to that which is repugnant to human reason. + Only that which never happened needs to be substantiated by a miracle. + </p> + <p> + The universe is natural. + </p> + <p> + The church must cease to insist that passages upholding the institutions + of savage men were inspired of God. The dogma of atonement must be + abandoned. Good deeds must take the place of faith. The savagery of + eternal punishment must be renounced. It must be admitted that credulity + is not a virtue, and that investigation is not a crime. It must be + admitted that miracles are the children of mendacity, and that nothing can + be more wonderful than the majestic, unbroken, sublime, and eternal + procession of causes and effects. Reason must be the arbiter. Inspired + books attested by miracles cannot stand against a demonstrated fact. A + religion that does not command the respect of the greatest minds will, in + a little while, excite the mockery of all. + </p> + <p> + A man who does not believe in intellectual liberty is a barbarian. Is it + possible that God is intolerant? Could there be any progress, even in + heaven, without intellectual liberty? Is the freedom of the future to + exist only in perdition? Is it not, after all, barely possible that a man + acting like Christ can be saved? Is a man to be eternally rewarded for + believing according to evidence, without evidence, or against evidence? + Are we to be saved because we are good, or because another was virtuous? + Is credulity to be winged and crowned, whilst honest doubt is chained and + damned. + </p> + <p> + If Jehovah, was in fact God, he knew the end from the beginning. He knew + that his Bible would be a breast-work behind which all tyranny and + hypocrisy would crouch. He knew that his Bible would be the auction-block + on which women would stand while their babes were sold from their arms. He + knew that this Bible would be quoted by tyrants; that it would be the + defence of robbers called kings, and of hypocrites called priests. He knew + that he had taught the Jewish people nothing of importance. He knew that + he had found them free and left them slaves. He knew that he had never + fulfilled a single promise made to them. He knew that while other nations + had advanced in art and science his chosen people were savage still. He + promised them the world, and gave them a desert. He promised them liberty + and he made them slaves. He promised them victory and he gave them defeat. + He said they should be kings and he made them serfs. He promised them + universal empire and gave them exile. When one finishes the Old Testament + he is compelled to say: "Nothing can add to the misery of a nation whose + king is Jehovah!" + </p> + <p> + The Old Testament filled this world with tyranny and injustice, and the + New gives us a future filled with pain for nearly all of the sons of men. + </p> + <p> + The Old Testament describes the hell of the past, and the New the hell of + the future. + </p> + <p> + The Old Testament tells us the frightful things that God has done, the New + the frightful things that he will do. + </p> + <p> + These two books give us the sufferings of the past and the future—the + injustice, the agony and the tears of both worlds. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0004" id="link0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + ORTHODOXY. + </h2> + <h3> + A LECTURE. + </h3> + <p> + IT is utterly inconceivable that any man believing in the truth of the + Christian religion should publicly deny it, because he who believes in + that religion would believe that, by a public denial, he would peril the + eternal salvation of his soul. It is conceivable, and without any great + effort of the mind, that millions who do not believe in the Christian + religion should openly say that they did. In a country where religion is + supposed to be in power—where it has rewards for pretence, where it + pays a premium upon hypocrisy, where it at least is willing to purchase + silence—it is easily conceivable that millions pretend to believe + what they do not. And yet I believe it has been charged against myself not + only that I was insincere, but that I took the side I am on for the sake + of popularity; and the audience to-night goes far toward justifying the + accusation. + </p> + <p> + Orthodox Religion Dying Out. + </p> + <p> + It gives me immense pleasure to say to this audience that orthodox + religion is dying out of the civilized world. It is a sick man. It has + been attacked with two diseases—softening of the brain and + ossification of the heart. It is a religion that no longer satisfies the + intelligence of this country; that no longer satisfies the brain; a + religion against which the heart of every civilized man and woman + protests. It is a religion that gives hope only to a few; that puts a + shadow upon the cradle; that wraps the coffin in darkness and fills the + future of mankind with flame and fear. It is a religion that I am going to + do what little I can while I live to destroy. In its place I want + humanity, I want good fellowship, I want intellectual liberty—free + lips, the discoveries and inventions of genius, the demonstrations of + science—the religion of art, music and poetry—of good houses, + good clothes, good wages—that is to say, the religion of this world. + </p> + <p> + Religious Deaths and Births. + </p> + <p> + We must remember that this is a world of progress, a world of perpetual + change—a succession of coffins and cradles. There is perpetual + death, and there is perpetual birth. By the grave of the old, forever + stand youth and joy; and when an old religion dies, a better one is born. + When we find out that an assertion is a falsehood a shining truth takes + its place, and we need not fear the destruction of the false. The more + false we destroy the more room there will be for the true. + </p> + <p> + There was a time when the astrologer sought to read in the stars the fate + of men and nations. The astrologer has faded from the world, but the + astronomer has taken his place. There was a time when the poor alchemist, + bent and wrinkled and old, over his crucible endeavored to find some + secret by which he could change the baser metals into purest gold. The + alchemist has gone; the chemist took his place; and, although he finds + nothing to change metals into gold, he finds something that covers the + earth with wealth. There was a time when the soothsayer and augur + flourished. After them came the parson and the priest; and the parson and + the priest must go. The preacher must go, and in his place must come the + teacher—the real interpreter of Nature. We are done with the + supernatural. We are through with the miraculous and the impossible. There + was once the prophet who pretended to read the book of the future. His + place has been taken by the philosopher, who reasons from cause to effect—who + finds the facts by which we are surrounded and endeavors to reason from + these premises and to tell what in all probability will happen. The + prophet has gone, the philosopher is here. There was a time when man + sought aid from heaven—when he prayed to the deaf sky. There was a + time when everything depended on the supernaturalist. That time in + Christendom is passing away. We now depend upon the naturalist—not + upon the believer in ancient falsehoods, but on the discoverer of facts—on + the demonstrater of truths. At last we are beginning to build on a solid + foundation, and as we progress, the supernatural dies. The leaders of the + intellectual world deny the existence of the supernatural. They take from + all superstition its foundation. + </p> + <p> + The Religion of Reciprocity. + </p> + <p> + Supernatural religion will fade from this world, and in its place we shall + have reason. In the place of the worship of something we know not of, will + be the religion of mutual love and assistance—the great religion of + reciprocity. Superstition must go. Science will remain. The church dies + hard. The brain of the world is not yet developed. There are intellectual + diseases as well as physical—there are pestilences and plagues of + the mind. + </p> + <p> + Whenever the new comes the old protests, and fights for its place as long + as it has a particle of power. We are now having the same warfare between + superstition and science that there was between the stage coach and the + locomotive. But the stage coach had to go. It had its day of glory and + power, but it is gone. It went West. In a little while it will be driven + into the Pacific. So we find that there is the same conflict between the + different sects and different schools not only of philosophy but of + medicine. + </p> + <p> + Recollect that everything except the demonstrated truth is liable to die. + That is the order of Nature. Words die. Every language has a cemetery. + Every now and then a word dies and a tombstone is erected, and across it + is written "obsolete." New words are continually being born. There is a + cradle in which a word is rocked. A thought is married to a sound, and a + child-word is born. And there comes a time when the word gets old, and + wrinkled, and expressionless, and is carried mournfully to the grave. So + in the schools of medicine. You can remember, so can I, when the old + allopathists, the bleeders and blisterers, reigned supreme. If there was + anything the matter with a man they let out his blood. Called to the + bedside, they took him on the point of a lancet to the edge of eternity, + and then practiced all their art to bring him back. One can hardly imagine + how perfect a constitution it took a few years ago to stand the assault of + a doctor. And long after the old practice was found to be a mistake + hundreds and thousands of the ancient physicians clung to it, carried + around with them, in one pocket a bottle of jalap, and in the other a + rusty lancet, sorry that they could not find some patient with faith + enough to allow the experiment to be made again. + </p> + <p> + So these schools, and these theories, and these religions die hard. What + else can they do? Like the paintings of the old masters, they are kept + alive because so much money has been invested in them. Think of the amount + of money that has been invested in superstition! Think of the schools that + have been founded for the more general diffusion of useless knowledge! + Think of the colleges wherein men are taught that it is dangerous to + think, and that they must never use their brains except in the act of + faith! Think of the millions and billions of dollars that have been + expended in churches, in temples, and in cathedrals! Think of the + thousands and thousands of men who depend for their living upon the + ignorance of mankind! Think of those who grow rich on credulity and who + fatten on faith! Do you suppose they are going to die without a struggle? + What are they to do? From the bottom of my heart I sympathize with the + poor clergyman that has had all his common sense educated out of him, and + is now to be thrown upon the cold and unbelieving world. His prayers are + not answered; he gets no help from on high, and the pews are beginning to + criticise the pulpit. What is the man to do? If he suddenly changes he is + gone. If he preaches what he really believes he will get notice to quit. + And yet, if he and the congregation would come together and be perfectly + honest, they would all admit that they believe little and know nothing. + </p> + <p> + Only a little while ago a couple of ladies were riding together from a + revival, late at night, and one said to the other, as they rode along: "I + am going to say something that will shock you, and I beg of you never to + tell it to anybody else. I am going to tell it to you." "Well, what is + it?" Said she: "I do not believe the Bible." The other replied: "Neither + do I." + </p> + <p> + I have often thought how splendid it would be if the ministers could but + come together and say: "Now, let us be honest. Let us tell each other, + honor bright"—like Dr. Curry, of Chicago, did in the meeting the + other day—"just what we believe." They tell a story that in the old + time a lot of people, about twenty, were in Texas in a little hotel, and + one fellow got up before the fire, put his hands behind him, and said: + "Boys, let us all tell our real names." If the ministers and their + congregations would only tell their real thoughts they would find that + they are nearly as bad as I am, and that they believe as little. + </p> + <p> + Orthodoxy dies hard, and its defenders tell us that this fact shows that + it is of divine origin. Judaism dies hard. It has lived several thousand + years longer than Christianity. The religion of Mohammed dies hard. + </p> + <p> + Buddhism dies hard. Why do all these religions die hard? Because + intelligence increases slowly. + </p> + <p> + Let me whisper in the ear of the Protestant: Catholicism dies hard. What + does that prove? It proves that the people are ignorant and that the + priests are cunning. + </p> + <p> + Let me whisper in the ear of the Catholic: Protestantism dies hard. What + does that prove? It proves that the people are superstitious and the + preachers stupid. + </p> + <p> + Let me whisper in all your ears: Infidelity is not dying—it is + growing—it increases every day. And what does that prove? It proves + that the people are learning more and more—that they are advancing—that + the mind is getting free, and that the race is being civilized. + </p> + <p> + The clergy know that I know that they know that they do not know. + </p> + <p> + The Blows That Have Shattered the Shield and Shivered the Lance of + Superstition. + </p> + <p> + Mohammed. + </p> + <p> + Mohammed wrested from the disciples of the cross the fairest part of + Europe. It was known that he was an impostor, and that fact sowed the + seeds of distrust and infidelity in the Christian world. Christians made + an effort to rescue from the infidels the empty sepulchre of Christ. That + commenced in the eleventh century and ended at the close of the + thirteenth. Europe was almost depopulated. The fields were left waste, the + villages were deserted, nations were impoverished, every man who owed a + debt was discharged from payment if he put a cross upon his breast and + joined the Crusades. No matter what crime he had committed, the doors of + the prison were open for him to join the hosts of the cross. They believed + that God would give them victory, and they carried in front of the first + Crusade a goat and a goose, believing that both those animals were blessed + by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. And I may say that those same animals + are in the lead to-day in the orthodox world. Until the year 1291 they + endeavored to gain possession of that sepulchre, and finally the hosts of + Christ were driven back, baffled and beaten,—a poor, miserable, + religious rabble. They were driven back, and that fact sowed the seeds of + distrust in Christendom. You know that at that time the world believed in + trial by battle—that God would take the side of the right—and + there had been a trial by battle between the cross and the crescent, and + Mohammed had been victorious. Was God at that time governing the world? + Was he endeavoring to spread his gospel? + </p> + <p> + The Destruction of Art. + </p> + <p> + You know that when Christianity came into power it destroyed every statue + it could lay its ignorant hands upon. It defaced and obliterated every + painting; it destroyed every beautiful building; it burned the + manuscripts, both Greek and Latin; it destroyed all the history, all the + poetry, all the philosophy it could find, and reduced to ashes every + library that it could reach with its torch. And the result was, that the + night of the Middle Ages fell upon the human race. But by accident, by + chance, by oversight, a few of the manuscripts escaped the fury of + religious zeal; and these manuscripts became the seed, the fruit of which + is our civilization of to-day. A few statues had been buried; a few forms + of beauty were dug from the earth that had protected them, and now the + civilized world is filled with art, the walls are covered with paintings, + and the niches filled with statuary. A few manuscripts were found and + deciphered. The old languages were learned, and literature was again born. + A new day dawned upon mankind. Every effort at mental improvement had been + opposed by the church, and yet, the few things saved from the general + wreck—a few poems, a few works of the ancient thinkers, a few forms + wrought in stone, produced a new civilization destined to overthrow and + destroy the fabric of superstition. + </p> + <p> + The Discovery of America. + </p> + <p> + What was the next blow that this church received? The discovery of + America. The Holy Ghost who inspired men to write the Bible did not know + of the existence of this continent, never dreamed of the Western + Hemisphere. The Bible left out half the world. The Holy Ghost did not know + that the earth is round. He did not dream that the earth is round. He + believed it was flat, although he made it himself. At that time heaven was + just beyond the clouds. It was there the gods lived, there the angels + were, and it was against that heaven that Jacob's ladder leaned when the + angels went up and down. It was to that heaven that Christ ascended after + his resurrection. It was up there that the New Jerusalem was, with its + streets of gold, and under this earth was perdition. There was where the + devils lived; where a pit was dug for all unbelievers, and for men who had + brains. I say that for this reason: Just in proportion that you have + brains, your chances for eternal joy are lessened, according to this + religion. And just in proportion that you lack brains your chances are + increased. At last they found that the earth is round. It was + circumnavigated by Magellan. In 1519 that brave man set sail. The church + told him: "The earth is flat, my friend; don't go, you may fall off the + edge." Magellan said: "I have seen the shadow of the earth upon the moon, + and I have more confidence in the shadow than I have in the church." The + ship went round. The earth was circumnavigated. Science passed its hand + above it and beneath it, and where was the old heaven and where was the + hell? Vanished forever! And they dwell now only in the religion of + superstition. We found there was no place there for Jacob's ladder to lean + against; no place there for the gods and angels to live; no place to hold + the waters of the deluge; no place to which Christ could have ascended. + The foundations of the New Jerusalem crumbled. The towers and domes fell, + and in their places infinite space, sown with an infinite number of stars; + not with New Jerusalems, but with countless constellations. + </p> + <p> + Copernicus and Kepler. + </p> + <p> + Then man began to grow great, and with that came Astronomy, In 1473 + Copernicus was born. In 1543 his great work appeared. In 1616 the system + of Copernicus was condemned by the pope, by the infallible Catholic + Church, and the church was about as near right upon that subject as upon + any other. The system of Copernicus was denounced. And how long do you + suppose the church fought that? Let me tell you. It was revoked by Pius + VII. in the year of grace 1821. For two hundred and seventy-eight years + after the death of Copernicus the church insisted that his system was + false, and that the old Bible astronomy was true. Astronomy is the first + help that we ever received from heaven. Then came Kepler in 1609, and you + may almost date the birth of science from the night that Kepler discovered + his first law. That was the break of the day. His first law, that the + planets do not move in circles but in ellipses; his second law, that they + describe equal spaces in equal times; his third law, that the squares of + their periodic times are proportional to the cubes of their distances. + That man gave us the key to the heavens. He opened the infinite book, and + in it read three lines. + </p> + <p> + I have not time to speak of Galileo, of Leonardo da Vinci, of Bruno, and + of hundreds of others who contributed to the intellectual wealth of the + world. + </p> + <p> + Special Providence. + </p> + <p> + The next thing that gave the church a blow was Statistics. We found by + taking statistics that we could tell the average length of human life; + that this human life did not depend upon infinite caprice; that it + depended upon conditions, circumstances, laws and facts, and that these + conditions, circumstances, and facts were during long periods of time + substantially the same. And now, the man who depends entirely upon special + providence gets his life insured. He has more confidence even in one of + these companies than he has in the whole Trinity. We found by statistics + that there were just so many crimes on an average committed; just so many + crimes of one kind and so many of another; just so many suicides, so many + deaths by drowning, so many accidents on an average, so many men marrying + women, for instance, older than themselves; so many murders of a + particular kind; just the same number of mistakes; and I say to-night, + statistics utterly demolish the idea of special providence. + </p> + <p> + Only the other day a gentleman was telling me of a case of special + providence. He knew it. He had been the subject of it. A few years ago he + was about to go on a ship when he was detained. He did not go, and the + ship was lost with all on board. + </p> + <p> + "Yes!" I said, "Do you think the people who were drowned believed in + special providence?" Think of the infinite egotism of such a doctrine. + Here is a man that fails to go upon a ship with five hundred passengers + and they go down to the bottom of the sea—fathers, mothers, + children, and loving husbands and wives waiting upon the chores of + expectation. Here is one poor little wretch that did not happen to go! And + he thinks that God, the Infinite Being, interfered in his poor little + withered behalf and let the rest all go. That is special providence. Why + does special providence allow all the crimes? Why are the wife-beaters + protected, and why are the wives and children left defenceless if the hand + of God is over us all? Who protects the insane? Why does Providence permit + insanity? But the church cannot give up special providence. If there is no + such thing, then no prayers, no worship, no churches, no priests. What + would become of National Thanksgiving? + </p> + <p> + You know we have a custom every year of issuing a proclamation of + thanksgiving. We say to God, "Although you have afflicted all the other + countries, although you have sent war, and desolation, and famine on + everybody else, we have been such good children that you have been kind to + us, and we hope you will keep on." It does not make a bit of difference + whether we have good times or not—the thanksgiving is always exactly + the same. I remember a few years ago a governor of Iowa got out a + proclamation of that kind. He went on to tell how thankful the people were + and how prosperous the State had been. There was a young fellow in that + State who got out another proclamation, saying that he feared the Lord + might be misled by official correspondence; that the governor's + proclamation was entirely false; that the State was not prosperous; that + the crops had been an almost utter failure; that nearly every farm in the + State was mortgaged, and that if the Lord did not believe him, all he + asked was that he would send some angel in whom he had confidence, to look + the matter over and report. + </p> + <p> + Charles Darwin. + </p> + <p> + This century will be called Darwin's century. He was one of the greatest + men who ever touched this globe. He has explained more of the phenomena of + life than all of the religious teachers. Write the name of Charles Darwin + on the one hand and the name of every theologian who ever lived on the + other, and from that name has come more light to the world than from all + of those. His doctrine of evolution, his doctrine of the survival of the + fittest, his doctrine of the origin of species, has removed in every + thinking mind the last vestige of orthodox Christianity. He has not only + stated, but he has demonstrated, that the inspired writer knew nothing of + this world, nothing of the origin of man, nothing of geology, nothing of + astronomy, nothing of nature; that the Bible is a book written by + ignorance—at the instigation of fear. Think of the men who replied + to him. Only a few years ago there was no person too ignorant to + successfully answer Charles Darwin; and the more ignorant he was the more + cheerfully he undertook the task. He was held up to the ridicule, the + scorn and contempt of the Christian world, and yet when he died, England + was proud to put his dust with that of her noblest and her grandest. + Charles Darwin conquered the intellectual world, and his doctrines are now + accepted facts. His light has broken in on some of the clergy, and the + greatest man who to-day occupies the pulpit of one of the orthodox: + churches, Henry Ward Beecher, is a believer in the theories of Charles + Darwin—a man of more genius than all the clergy of that entire + church put together. + </p> + <p> + And yet we are told in this little creed that orthodox religion is about + to conquer the world! It will be driven to the wilds of Africa. It must go + to some savage country; it has lost its hold upon civilization. It is + unfortunate to have a religion that cannot be accepted by the intellect of + a nation. It is unfortunate to have a religion against which every good + and noble heart protests. Let us have a good religion or none. My pity has + been excited by seeing these ministers endeavor to warp and twist the + passages of Scripture to fit the demonstrations of science. Of course, I + have not time to recount all the discoveries and events that have assisted + in the destruction of superstition. Every fact is an enemy of the church. + Every fact is a heretic. Every demonstration is an infidel. Everything + that ever really happened testifies against the supernatural. + </p> + <p> + The church teaches that man was created perfect, and that for six thousand + years he has degenerated. Darwin demonstrated the falsity of this dogma. + He shows that man has for thousands of ages steadily advanced; that the + Garden of Eden is an ignorant myth; that the doctrine of original sin has + no foundation in fact; that the atonement is an absurdity; that the + serpent did not tempt, and that man did not "fall." + </p> + <p> + Charles Darwin destroyed the foundation of orthodox Christianity. There is + nothing left but faith in what we know could not and did not happen. + Religion and science are enemies. One is a superstition; the other is a + fact. One rests upon the false, the other upon the true. One is the result + of fear and faith, the other of investigation and reason. + </p> + <p> + The Creeds. + </p> + <p> + I have been talking a great deal about the orthodox religion. Often, after + having delivered a lecture, I have met some good, religious person who has + said to me: + </p> + <p> + "You do not tell it as we believe it." + </p> + <p> + "Well, but I tell it as you have it written in your creed." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, we don't mind the creed any more." + </p> + <p> + "Then, why do you not change it?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, well, we understand it as it is, and if we tried to change it, maybe + we would not agree." + </p> + <p> + Possibly the creeds are in the best condition now. There is a tacit + understanding that they do not believe them, that there is a way to get + around them, and that they can read between the lines; that if they should + meet now to form new creeds they would fail to agree; and that now they + can say as they please, except in public. Whenever they do so in public + the church, in self-defence, must try them; and I believe in trying every + minister that does not preach the doctrine he agrees to. I have not the + slightest sympathy with a Presbyterian preacher who endeavors to preach + infidelity from a Presbyterian pulpit and receives Presbyterian money. + When he changes his views he should step down and out like a man, and say, + "I do not believe your doctrine, and I will not preach it. You must hire + some other man." The Latest Creed. + </p> + <p> + But I find that I have correctly interpreted the creeds. There was put + into my hands the new Congregational creed. I have read it, and I will + call your attention to it to-night, to find whether that church has made + any advance; to find whether the sun of science has risen in the heavens + in vain; whether they are still the children of intellectual darkness; + whether they still consider it necessary for you to believe something that + you by no possibility can understand, in order to be a winged angel + forever. Now, let us see what their creed is. I will read a little of it. + </p> + <p> + They commence by saying that they + </p> + <p> + "<i>Believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, + and of all things visible and invisible</i>." + </p> + <p> + They say, now, that there is the one personal God; that he is the maker of + the universe and its ruler. I again ask the old question, Of what did he + make it? If matter has not existed through eternity, then this God made + it. Of what did he make it? What did he use for the purpose? There was + nothing in the universe except this God. What had the God been doing for + the eternity he had been living? He had made nothing—called nothing + into existence; never had had an idea, because it is impossible to have an + idea unless there is something to excite an idea. What had he been doing? + Why does not the Congregational Church tell us? How do they know about + this Infinite Being? And if he is infinite how can they comprehend him? + What good is it to believe in something that you know you do not + understand, and that you never can understand? + </p> + <p> + In the Episcopalian creed God is described as follows: + </p> + <p> + "<i>There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts + or passions</i>." + </p> + <p> + Think of that!—without body, parts, or passions. + </p> + <p> + I defy any man in the world to write a better description of nothing. You + cannot conceive of a finer word-painting of a vacuum than "without body, + parts, or passions." And yet this God, without passions, is angry at the + wicked every day; this God, without passions, is a jealous God, whose + anger burneth to the lowest hell. This God, without passions, loves the + whole human race; and this God, without passions, damns a large majority + of mankind. This God without body, walked in the Garden of Eden, in the + cool of the day. This God, without body, talked with Adam and Eve. This + God, without body, or parts met Moses upon Mount Sinai, appeared at the + door of the tabernacle, and talked with Moses face to face as a man + speaketh to his friend. This description of God is simply an effort of the + church to describe a something of which it has no conception. + </p> + <p> + God as a Governor. + </p> + <p> + So, too, I find the following: + </p> + <p> + "<i>We believe that the Providence of God, by which he executes his + eternal purposes in the government of the world, is in and over all + events.</i>" + </p> + <p> + Is God the governor of the world? Is this established by the history of + nations? What evidence can you find, if you are absolutely honest and not + frightened, in the history of the world, that this universe is presided + over by an infinitely wise and good God? + </p> + <p> + How do you account for Russia? How do you account for Siberia? How do you + account for the fact that whole races of men toiled beneath the master's + lash for ages without recompense and without reward? How do you account + for the fact that babes were sold from the arms of mothers—arms that + had been reached toward God in supplication? How do you account for it? + How do you account for the existence of martyrs? How do you account for + the fact that this God allows people to be burned simply for loving him? + Is justice always done? Is innocence always acquitted? Do the good + succeed? Are the honest fed? Are the charitable clothed? Are the virtuous + shielded? How do you account for the fact that the world has been filled + with pain, and grief, and tears? How do you account for the fact that + people have been swallowed by earthquakes, overwhelmned by volcanoes, and + swept from the earth by storms? Is it easy to account for famine, for + pestilence and plague if there be above us all a Ruler infinitely good, + powerful and wise? + </p> + <p> + I do not say there is none. I do not know. As I have said before, this is + the only planet I was ever on. I live in one of the rural districts of the + universe, and do not know about these things as much as the clergy pretend + to, but if they know no more about the other world than they do about + this, it is not worth mentioning. + </p> + <p> + How do they answer all this? They say that God "permits" it. What would + you say to me if I stood by and saw a ruffian beat out the brains of a + child, when I had full and perfect power to prevent it? You would say + truthfully that I was as bad as the murderer. Is it possible for this God + to prevent it? Then, if he does not he is a fiend; he is no god. But they + say he "permits" it. What for? So that we may have freedom of choice. What + for? So that God may find, I suppose, who are good and who are bad. Did he + not know that when he made us? Did he not know exactly just what he was + making? Why should he make those whom he knew would be criminals? If I + should make a machine that would walk your streets and take the lives of + people you would hang me. And if God made a man whom he knew would commit + murder, then God is guilty of that murder. If God made a man knowing that + he would beat his wife, that he would starve his children, that he would + strew on either side of his path of life the wrecks of ruined homes, then + I say the being who knowingly called that wretch into existence is + directly responsible. And yet we are to find the providence of God in the + history of nations. What little I have read shows me that when man has + been helped, man has done it; when the chains of slavery have been broken, + they have been broken by man; when something bad has been done in the + government of mankind, it is easy to trace it to man, and to fix the + responsibility upon human beings. You need not look to the sky; you need + throw neither praise nor blame upon gods; you can find the efficient + causes nearer home—right here. + </p> + <p> + The Love of God. + </p> + <p> + What is the next thing I find in this creed? + </p> + <p> + "<i>We believe that man was made in the image of God, that he might know, + love, and obey God, and enjoy him forever.</i>" + </p> + <p> + I do not believe that anybody ever did love God, because nobody ever knew + anything about him. We love each other. We love something that we know. We + love something that our experience tells us is good and great and + beautiful. We cannot by any possibility love the unknown. We can love + truth, because truth adds to human happiness. We can love justice, because + it preserves human joy. We can love charity. We can love every form of + goodness that we know, or of which we can conceive, but we cannot love the + infinitely unknown. And how can we be made in the image of something that + has neither body, parts, nor passions? + </p> + <p> + The Fall of Man. + </p> + <p> + The Congregational Church has not outgrown the doctrine of "original sin." + We are told that: + </p> + <p> + "<i>Our first parents, by disobedience, fell under the condemnation of + God, and that all men are so alienated from God that there is no salvation + from the guilt and power of sin except through God's redeeming power.</i>" + </p> + <p> + Is there an intelligent man or woman now in the world who believes in the + Garden of Eden story? If you find any man who believes it, strike his + forehead and you will hear an echo. Something is for rent. Does any + intelligent man now believe that God made man of dust, and woman of a rib, + and put them in a garden, and put a tree in the midst of it? Was there not + room outside of the garden to put his tree, if he did not want people to + eat his apples? + </p> + <p> + If I did not want a man to eat my fruit, I would not put him in my + orchard. + </p> + <p> + Does anybody now believe in the story of the serpent? I pity any man or + woman who, in this nineteenth century, believes in that childish fable. + Why did Adam and Eve disobey? Why, they were tempted. By whom? The devil. + Who made the devil? God. What did God make him for? Why did he not tell + Adam and Eve about this serpent? Why did he not watch the devil, instead + of watching Adam and Eve? Instead of turning them out, why did he not keep + him from getting in? Why did he not have his flood first, and drown the + devil, before he made a man and woman. + </p> + <p> + And yet, people who call themselves intelligent—professors in + colleges and presidents of venerable institutions—teach children and + young men that the Garden of Eden story is an absolute historical fact. I + defy any man to think of a more childish thing. This God, waiting around + Eden—knowing all the while what would happen—having made them + on purpose so that it would happen, then does what? Holds all of us + responsible, and we were not there. Here is a representative before the + constituency had been born. Before I am bound by a representative I want a + chance to vote for or against him; and if I had been there, and known all + the circumstances, I should have voted "No!" And yet, I am held + responsible. + </p> + <p> + We are told by the Bible and by the churches that through this fall of man + "<i>Sin and death entered the world?</i>" + </p> + <p> + According to this, just as soon as Adam and Eve had partaken of the + forbidden fruit, God began to contrive ways by which he could destroy the + lives of his children. He invented all the diseases—all the fevers + and coughs and colds—all the pains and plagues and pestilences—all + the aches and agonies, the malaria and spores; so that when we take a + breath of air we admit into our lungs unseen assassins; and, fearing that + some might live too long, even under such circumstances, God invented the + earthquake and volcano, the cyclone and lightning, animalcules to infest + the heart and brain, so small that no eye can detect—no instrument + reach. This was all owing to the disobedience of Adam and Eve! + </p> + <p> + In his infinite goodness, God invented rheumatism and gout and dyspepsia, + cancers and neuralgia, and is still inventing new diseases. Not only + this', but he decreed the pangs of mothers, and that by the gates of love + and life should crouch the dragons of death and pain. Fearing that some + might, by accident, live too long, he planted poisonous vines and herbs + that looked like food. He caught the serpents he had made and gave them + fangs and curious organs, ingeniously devised to distill and deposit the + deadly drop. He changed the nature of the beasts, that they might feed on + human flesh. He cursed a world, and tainted every spring and source of + joy. He poisoned every breath of air; corrupted even light, that it might + bear disease on every ray; tainted every drop of blood in human veins; + touched every nerve, that it might bear the double fruit of pain and joy; + decreed all accidents and mistakes that maim and hurt and kill, and set + the snares of life-long grief, baited with present pleasure,—with a + moment's joy. Then and there he foreknew and foreordained all human tears. + And yet all this is but the prelude, the introduction, to the infinite + revenge of the good God. Increase and multiply all human griefs until the + mind has reached imagination's farthest verge, then add eternity to time, + and you may faintly tell, but never can conceive, the infinite horrors of + this doctrine called "The Fall of Man." The Atonement. + </p> + <p> + We are further told that: + </p> + <p> + "<i>All men are so alienated from God that there is no alleviation from + the guilt and power of sin except through God's redeeming grace;</i>" + </p> + <p> + And that: + </p> + <p> + "<i>We believe that the love of God to sinful man has found its highest + expression in the redemptive work of his Son, who became man, uniting his + divine nature with our human nature in one person; who was tempted like + other men and yet without sin, and by his humiliation, his holy obedience, + his sufferings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection, became a + perfect redeemer; whose sacrifice of himself for the sins of the world + declares the righteousness of God, and is the sole and sufficient ground + of forgiveness and of reconciliation with him</i>." + </p> + <p> + The absurdity of the doctrine known as "The Fall of Man," gave birth to + that other absurdity known as "The Atonement." So that now it is insisted + that, as we are rightfully charged with the sin of somebody else, we can + rightfully be credited with the virtues of another. Let us leave out of + our philosophy both these absurdities. Our creed will read a great deal + better with both of them out, and will make far better sense. + </p> + <p> + Now, in consequence of Adam's sin, everybody is alienated from God. How? + Why? Oh, we are all depraved, you know; we all do wrong. Well, why? Is + that because we are depraved? No. Why do we make so many mistakes? Because + there is only one right way, and there is an almost infinite number of + wrong ways; and as long as we are not perfect in our intellects we must + make mistakes. "There is no darkness but ignorance," and alienation, as + they call it, from God, is simply a lack of intellect. Why were we not + given better brains? That may account for the alienation. + </p> + <p> + The church teaches that every soul that finds its way to the shore of this + world is against God—naturally hates God; that the little dimpled + child in the cradle is simply a chunk of depravity. Everybody against God! + It is a libel upon the human race; it is a libel upon all the men who have + worked for wife and child; upon all mothers who have suffered and labored, + wept and worked; upon all the men who have died for their country; upon + all who have fought for human liberty. Leave out the history of religion + and there is little left to prove the depravity of man. + </p> + <p> + Everybody that comes is against God! Every soul, they think, is like the + wrecked Irishman, who drifted to an unknown island, and as he climbed the + shore saw a man and said to him, "Have you a Government here?" The man + replied "We have." "Well," said he, "I'm forninst it!" + </p> + <p> + The church teaches us that such is the attitude of every soul in the + universe of God. Ought a god to take any credit to himself for making + depraved people? A god that cannot make a soul that is not totally + depraved, I respectfully suggest, should retire from the business. And if + a god has made us, knowing that we are totally depraved, why should we go + to the same being to be "born again?" + </p> + <p> + The Second Birth. + </p> + <p> + The church insists that we must be "born again" and that all who are not + the subjects of this second birth are heirs of everlasting fire. Would it + not have been much better to have made another Adam and Eve? Would it not + have been better to change Noah and his people, so that after that a + second birth would not have been necessary? Why not purify the fountain of + all human life? Why allow the earth to be peopled with depraved and + monstrous beings, each one of whom must be re-made, re-formed, and born + again? + </p> + <p> + And yet, even reformation is not enough. If the man who steals becomes + perfectly honest, that is not enough; if the man who hates his fellow-man, + changes and loves his fellow-man, that is not enough; he must go through + that mysterious thing called the second birth; he must be born again. He + must have faith; he must believe something that he does not understand, + and experience what they call "conversion." According to the church, + nothing so excites the wrath of God—nothing so corrugates the brows + of Jehovah with hatred—as a man relying on his own good works. He + must admit that he ought to be damned, and that of the two he prefers it, + before God will consent to save him. + </p> + <p> + I met a man the other day, who said to me, "I am a Unitarian + Universalist." "What do you mean by that?" I asked. "Well," said he, "this + is what I mean: the Unitarian thinks he is too good to be damned, and the + Universalist thinks God is too good to damn him, and I believe them both." + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that the sacrifice of a perfect being was acceptable to + God? Will he accept the agony of innocence for the punishment of guilt? + Will he release Barabbas and crucify Christ? + </p> + <p> + Inspiration. + </p> + <p> + What is the next thing in this great creed? + </p> + <p> + "<i>We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the + record of God's revelation of Himself, the work of redemption; that they + were written by men under the special guidance of the holy spirit; that + they are able to make wise unto salvation; and that they constitute an + authoritative standard by which religious teaching and human conduct are + to be regulated and judged.</i>" + </p> + <p> + This is the creed of the Congregational Church; that is, the result + reached by a high-joint commission appointed to draw up a creed for their + churches; and there we have the statement that the Bible was written "by + men under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit." + </p> + <p> + What part of the Bible? All of it? All of it. And yet what is this Old + Testament that was written by an infinitely good God? The being who wrote + it did not know the shape of the world he had made; knew nothing of human + nature. He commands men to love him, as if one could love upon command. + The same God upheld the institution of human slavery; and the church says + that the Bible that upholds that institution was written by men under the + guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then I disagree with the Holy Spirit. + </p> + <p> + This church tells us that men under the guidance of the Holy Spirit upheld + the institution of polygamy—I deny it; that under the guidance of + the Holy Spirit these men upheld wars of extermination and conquest—I + deny it; that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit these men wrote that + it was right for a man to destroy the life of his wife if she happened to + differ with him on the subject of religion—I deny it. And yet that + is the book now upheld in this creed of the Congregational Church. + </p> + <p> + If the devil had written upon the subject of slavery, which side would he + have taken? Let every minister answer. If you knew the devil had written a + work on human slavery, in your judgment, would he uphold slavery, or + denounce it? Would you regard it as any evidence that he ever wrote it, if + it upheld slavery? And yet, here you have a work upholding slavery, and + you say that it was written by an infinitely good God! If the devil upheld + polygamy, would you be surprised? If the devil wanted to kill men for + differing with him would you be astonished? If the devil told a man to + kill his wife, would you be shocked? And yet, you say, that is exactly + what God did. If there be a God, then that creed is blasphemy. That creed + is a libel upon him who sits on heaven's throne. If there be a God, I ask + him to write in the book in which my account is kept, that I denied these + lies for him. + </p> + <p> + I do not believe in a slaveholding God! I do not worship a polygamous Holy + Ghost, nor a Son who threatens eternal pain; I will not get upon my knees + before any being who commands a husband to slay his wife because she + expresses her honest thought. Suppose a book should be found old as the + Old Testament in which slavery, polygamy and war are all denounced, would + Christians think that it was written by the devil? + </p> + <p> + Did it ever occur to you that if God wrote the Old Testament, and told the + Jews to crucify or kill anybody that disagreed with them on religion, and + that this God afterward took upon himself flesh and came to Jerusalem, and + taught a different religion, and the Jews killed him—did it ever + occur to you that he reaped exactly what he had sown? Did it ever occur to + you that he fell a victim to his own tyranny, and was destroyed by his own + hand? Of course I do not believe that any God ever was the author of the + Bible, or that any God was ever crucified, or that any God was ever + killed, or ever will be, but I want to ask you that question. + </p> + <p> + Take this Old Testament, then, with all its stories of murder and + massacre; with all its foolish and cruel fables; with all its infamous + doctrines; with its spirit of caste; with its spirit of hatred, and tell + me whether it was written by a good God. If you will read the maledictions + and curses of that book, you will think that God, like Lear, had divided + heaven among his daughters, and then, in the insanity of despair, had + launched his curses on the human race. + </p> + <p> + And yet, I must say—I must admit—that the Old Testament is + better than the New. In the Old Testament, when God had a man dead, he let + him alone. When he saw him quietly in his grave he was satisfied. The + muscles relaxed, and the frown gave place to a smile. But in the New + Testament the trouble commences at death. In the New Testament God is to + wreak his revenge forever and ever. It was reserved for one who said, + "Love your enemies," to tear asunder the veil between time and eternity + and fix the horrified gaze of man upon the gulfs of eternal fire. The New + Testament is just as much worse than the Old, as hell is worse than sleep; + just as much worse, as infinite cruelty is worse than dreamless rest; and + yet, the New Testament is claimed to be a gospel of love and peace. + </p> + <p> + Is it possible that: "<i>The Scriptures constitute the authoritative + standard by which religious teaching and human conduct are to be regulated + and judged"?</i> + </p> + <p> + Are we to judge of conduct by the Old Testament, by the New, or by both? + According to the Old, the slaveholder was a just and generous man; a + polygamist was a model of virtue. According to the New, the worst can be + forgiven and the best can be lost. How can any book be a standard, when + the standard itself must be measured by human reason? Is there a standard + of a standard? Must not the reason be convinced? and, if so, is not the + reason of each man the final arbiter of that man? If he takes a book as a + standard, does he so take it because it is to him reasonable? In what way + is the human reason to be ignored? Why should a book take its place, + unless the reason has been convinced that the book is the proper standard? + If this is so, the book rests upon the reason of those who adopt it. Are + they to be saved because they act in accordance with their reason, and are + others to be damned because they act by the same standard—their + reason? No two are alike. Can we demand of all the same result? Suppose + the compasses were not constant to the pole—no two compasses exactly + alike—would you expect all ships to reach the same harbor? + </p> + <p> + The Reign of Truth and Love. + </p> + <p> + I also find in this creed the following: + </p> + <p> + "<i>We believe that Jesus Christ came to establish among men the Kingdom + of God, the reign of truth and love, of righteousness and peace!</i>" + </p> + <p> + Well, that may have been the object of Jesus Christ. I do not deny it. But + what was the result? The Christian world has caused more war than all the + rest of the world beside. Most of the cunning instruments of death have + been devised by Christians. All the wonderful machinery by which the life + is blown from men, by which nations are conquered and enslaved—all + these machines have been born in Christian brains. And yet he came to + bring peace, they say; but the Testament says otherwise: "I came not to + bring peace, but a sword." And the sword was brought. What are the + Christian nations doing to-day in Europe? Is there a solitary Christian + nation that will trust any other? How many millions of Christians are in + the uniform of forgiveness, armed with the muskets of love? + </p> + <p> + There was an old Spaniard on the bed of death, who sent for a priest, and + the priest told him that he would have to forgive his enemies before he + died. He said, "I have none." "What! no enemies?" "Not one," said the + dying man; "I killed the last one three months ago." + </p> + <p> + How many millions of Christians are now armed and equipped to destroy + their fellow-Christians? Who are the men in Europe crying against war? Who + wishes to have the nations disarmed? Is it the church? No; the men who do + not believe in what they call this religion of peace. When there is a war, + and when they make a few thousand widows and orphans; when they strew the + plain with dead patriots, Christians assemble in their churches and sing + "Te Deum Laudamus." Why? Because he has enabled a few of his children to + kill some others of his children. This is the religion of peace—the + religion that invented the Krupp gun, that will hurl a ball weighing two + thousand pounds through twenty-four inches of solid steel. This is the + religion of peace that covers the sea with men-of-war, clad in mail, in + the name of universal forgiveness. This is the religion that drills and + uniforms five millions of men to kill their fellows. + </p> + <p> + The Wars It Brought. + </p> + <p> + What effect has this religion had upon the nations of the earth? What have + the nations been fighting about? What was the Thirty Years' War in Europe + for? What was the war in Holland for? Why was it that England persecuted + Scotland? Why is it that England persecutes Ireland even to this day? At + the bottom of every one of these conflicts you will find a religious + question. The religion of Jesus Christ, as preached by his church, causes + war, bloodshed, hatred, and all uncharitableness; and why? Because, they + say, a certain belief is necessary to salvation. They do not say, if you + behave yourself you will get there; they do not say, if you pay your debts + and love your wife and love your children, and are good to your friends, + and your neighbors, and your country, you will get there; that will do you + no good; you have got to believe a certain thing. No matter how bad you + are, you can instantly be forgiven; and no matter how good you are, if you + fail to believe that which you cannot understand, the moment you get to + the day of judgment nothing is left but to damn you, and all the angels + will shout "hallelujah." + </p> + <p> + What do they teach to-day? Nearly every murderer goes to heaven; there is + only one step from the gallows to God, only one jerk between the halter + and heaven. That is taught by this church. + </p> + <p> + I believe there ought to be a law to prevent the giving of the slightest + religious consolation to any man who has been found guilty of murder. Let + a Catholic understand that if he imbrues his hands in his brother's blood, + he can have no extreme unction. Let it be understood that he can have no + forgiveness through the church; and let the Protestant understand that + when he has committed that crime the community will not pray him into + heaven. Let him go with his victim. The victim, dying in his sins, goes to + hell, and the murderer has the happiness of seeing him there. If heaven + grows dull and monotonous, the murderer can again give life to the nerve + of pleasure by watching the agony of his victim. + </p> + <p> + The truth is, Christianity has not made friends; it has made enemies. It + is not, as taught, the religion of peace, it is the religion of war. Why + should a Christian hesitate to kill a man that his God is waiting to damn? + Why should a Christian not destroy an infidel who is trying to assassinate + his soul? Why should a Christian pity an unbeliever—one who has + rejected the Bible—when he knows that God will be pitiless forever? + And yet we are told, in this creed, that "<i>we believe in the ultimate + prevalence of the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth.</i>" + </p> + <p> + What makes you? Do you judge from the manner in which you are getting + along now? How many people are being born a year? About fifty millions. + How many are you converting a year, really, truthfully? Five or six + thousand. I think I have overstated the number. Is orthodox Christianity + on the increase? No. There are a hundred times as many unbelievers in + orthodox Christianity as there were ten years ago. What are you doing in + the missionary world? How long is it since you converted a Chinaman? A + fine missionary religion, to send missionaries with their Bibles and + tracts to China, but if a Chinaman comes here, mob him, simply to show him + the difference between the practical and theoretical workings of the + Christian religion. How long since you have had an intelligent convert in + India? In my judgment, never; there never has been an intelligent Hindoo + converted from the time the first missionary put his foot on that soil; + and never, in my judgment, has an intelligent Chinaman been converted + since the first missionary touched that shore. Where are they? We hear + nothing of them, except in the reports. They get money from poor old + ladies, trembling on the edge of the grave, and go and tell them stories, + how hungry the average Chinaman is for a copy of the New Testament, and + paint the sad condition of a gentleman in the interior of Africa without + the works of Dr. McCosh, longing for a copy of <i>The Princeton Review</i>,—in + my judgment, a pamphlet that would suit a savage. Thus money is scared + from the dying, and frightened from the old and feeble. + </p> + <p> + About how long is it before this kingdom is to be established? No one + objects to the establishment of peace and good will. Every good man longs + for the time when war shall cease. We are all hoping for a day of + universal justice—a day of universal freedom—when man shall + control himself, when the passions shall become obedient to the + intelligent will. But the coming of that day will not be hastened by + preaching the doctrines of total depravity and eternal revenge. That sun + will not rise the quicker for preaching salvation by faith. The star that + shines above that dawn, the herald of that day, is Science, not + superstition,—Reason, not religion. + </p> + <p> + To show you how little advance has been made, how many intellectual bats + and mental owls still haunt the temple, still roost above the altar, I + call your attention to the fact that the Congregational Church, according + to this creed; still believes in the resurrection of the dead, and in + their Confession of Faith, attached to the creed, I find that they also + believe in the literal resurrection of the body. + </p> + <p> + The Resurrection. + </p> + <p> + Does anybody believe that, who has the courage to think for himself? Here + is a man, for instance, that weighs 200 pounds and gets sick and dies + weighing 120; how much will he weigh in the morning of the resurrection? + Here is a cannibal, who eats another man; and we know that the atoms you + eat go into your body and become a part of you. After the cannibal has + eaten the missionary, and appropriated his atoms to himself, and then + dies, to whom will the atoms belong in the morning of the resurrection? + Could the missionary maintain an action of replevin, and if so, what would + the cannibal do for a body? It has been demonstrated, in so far as logic + can demonstrate anything, that there is no creation and no destruction in + Nature. It has been demonstrated, again and again, that the atoms in us + have been in millions of other beings; have grown in the forests and in + the grass, have blossomed in flowers, and been in the metals. In other + words, there are atoms in each one of us that have been in millions of + others; and when we die, these atoms return to the earth, again appear in + grass and trees, are again eaten by animals, and again devoured by + countless vegetable mouths and turned into wood; and yet this church, in + the nineteenth century,'in a council composed of, and presided over by, + professors and presidents of colleges and theologians, solemnly tells us + that it believes in the literal resurrection of the body. This is almost + enough to make one despair of the future—almost enough to convince a + man of the immortality of the absurd. They know better. There is not one + so ignorant but knows better. + </p> + <p> + The Judgment-Day. + </p> + <p> + And what is the next thing? + </p> + <p> + "<i>We believe in a final judgment, the issues of which are everlasting + punishment and everlasting life!</i>" + </p> + <p> + At the final judgment all of us will be there. The thousands, and + millions, and billions, and trillions, and quadrillions that have died + will be there. The books will be opened, and each case will be called. The + sheep and the goats will be divided. The unbelievers will be sent to the + left, while the faithful will proudly walk to the right. The saved, + without a tear, will bid an eternal farewell to those who loved them here—to + those they loved. Nearly all the human race will go away to everlasting + punishment, and the fortunate few to eternal life. This is the consolation + of the Congregational Church! This is the hope that dispels the gloom of + life! + </p> + <p> + Pious Evasions. + </p> + <p> + When the clergy are caught, they give a different meaning to the words and + say the world was not made in seven days. They say "good whiles"—"epochs." + </p> + <p> + And in this same Confession of Faith and in this creed they say that the + Lord's day is holy—every seventh day. Suppose you lived near the + North Pole where the day is three months long. Then which day would you + keep? If you could get to the North Pole you could prevent Sunday from + ever overtaking you. You could walk around the other way faster than the + world could revolve. How would you keep Sunday then? Suppose we invent + something that can go one thousand miles an hour? We can chase Sunday + clear around the globe. Is there anything that can be more perfectly + absurd than that a space of time can be holy? You might as well talk about + a virtuous vacuum. We are now told that the Bible is not a scientific + book, and that after all we cannot depend on what God said four thousand + years ago—that his ways are not as our ways—that we must + accept without evidence, and believe without understanding. + </p> + <p> + I heard the other night of an old man. He was not very well educated, and + he got into the notion that he must have reading of the Bible and family + worship. There was a bad boy in the family, and they were reading the + Bible by course. In the fifteenth chapter of Corinthians is this passage: + "Behold, brethren, I show you a mystery; we shall not all die, but we + shall all be changed." This boy had rubbed out the "c" in "changed." So + when the old man put on his spectacles, and got down his Bible, he read: + "Behold, brethren, I show you a mystery, we shall not all die, but we + shall all be hanged." The old lady said, "Father, I don't think it reads + that way." He said, "Who is reading this?" "Yes mother, it says 'hanged,' + and, more than that, I see the sense of it. Pride is the besetting sin of + the human heart, and if there is anything calculated to take the pride out + of a man it is hanging." It is in this way that ministers avoid and + explain the discoveries of Science. + </p> + <p> + People ask me, if I take away the Bible what are we going to do? How can + we get along without the revelation that no one understands? What are we + going to do if we have no Bible to quarrel about What are we to do without + hell? What are we going to do with our enemies? What are we going to do + with the people we love but don't like? + </p> + <p> + "No Bible, No Civilization." + </p> + <p> + They tell me that there never would have been any civilization if it had + not been for this Bible. The Jews had a Bible; the Romans had not. Which + had the greater and the grander government? Let us be honest. Which of + those nations produced the greatest poets, the greatest soldiers, the + greatest orators, the greatest statesmen, the greatest sculptors? Rome had + no Bible. God cared nothing for the Roman Empire. He let the men come up + by chance. His time was taken up with the Jewish people. And yet Rome + conquered the world, including the chosen people of God. The people who + had the Bible were defeated by the people who had not. How was it possible + for Lucretius to get along without the Bible?—how did the great and + glorious of that empire? And what shall we say of Greece? No Bible. + Compare Athens with Jerusalem. From Athens come the beauty and + intellectual grace of the world. Compare the mythology of Greece with the + mythology of Judea; one covering the earth with beauty, and the other + filling heaven with hatred and injustice. The Hindoos had no Bible; they + had been forsaken by the Creator, and yet they became the greatest + metaphysicians of the world. Egypt had no Bible. Compare Egypt with Judea. + What are we to do without the Bible? What became of the Jews who had a + Bible? Their temple was destroyed and their city was taken; and they never + found real prosperity until their God deserted them. The Turks attributed + all their victories to the Koran. The Koran gave them their victories over + the believers in the Bible. The priests of each nation have accounted for + the prosperity of that nation by its religion. + </p> + <p> + The Christians mistake an incident for a cause, and honestly imagine that + the Bible is the foundation of modern liberty and law. They forget + physical conditions, make no account of commerce, care nothing for + inventions and discoveries, and ignorantly give the credit to their + inspired book. + </p> + <p> + The foundations of our civilization were laid centuries before + Christianity was known. The intelligence of courage, of self-government, + of energy, of industry, that uniting made the civilization of this + century, did not come alone from Judea, but from every nation of the + ancient world. + </p> + <p> + Miracles of the New Testament. + </p> + <p> + There are many things in the New Testament that I cannot accept as true. + </p> + <p> + I cannot believe in the miraculous origin of Jesus Christ. I believe he + was the son of Joseph and Mary; that Joseph and Mary had been duly and + legally married; that he was the legitimate offspring of that union. + Nobody ever believed the contrary until he had been dead at least one + hundred and fifty years. Neither Matthew, Mark, nor Luke ever dreamed that + he was of divine origin. He did not say to either Matthew, Mark, or Luke, + or to any one in their hearing, that he was the Son of God, or that he was + miraculously conceived. He did not say it. It may be asserted that he said + it to John, but John did not write the gospel that bears his name. The + angel Gabriel, who, they say, brought the news, never wrote a word upon + the subject. The mother of Christ never wrote a word upon the subject. His + alleged father never wrote a word upon the subject, and Joseph never + admitted the story. We are lacking in the matter of witnesses. I would not + believe such a story now. I cannot believe that it happened then. I would + not believe people I know, much less would I believe people I do not know. + </p> + <p> + At that time Matthew and Luke believed that Christ was the son of Joseph + and Mary. And why? they say he descended from David, and in order to show + that he was of the blood of David, they gave the genealogy of Joseph. And + if Joseph was not his father, why did they not give the genealogy of + Pontius Pilate or of Herod? Could they, by giving the genealogy of Joseph, + show that he was of the blood of David if Joseph was in no way related to + Christ? And yet that is the position into which the Christian world is + driven. In the New Testament we find that in giving the genealogy of + Christ it says, "who was the son of Joseph?" and the church has + interpolated the words "as was supposed." Why did they give a supposed + genealogy? It will not do. And that is a thing that cannot in any way, by + any human testimony, be established. + </p> + <p> + If it is important for us to know that he was the Son of God, I say, then, + that it devolves upon God to give us the evidence. Let him write it across + the face of the heavens, in every language of mankind. If it is necessary + for us to believe it, let it grow on every leaf next year. No man should + be damned for not believing, unless the evidence is overwhelming. And he + ought not to be made to depend upon say so, or upon "as was supposed." He + should have it directly, for himself. A man says that God told him a + certain thing, and he tells me, and I have only his word. He may have been + deceived. If God has a message for me he ought to tell it to me, and not + to somebody that has been dead four or five thousand years, and in another + language. + </p> + <p> + Besides, God may have changed his mind on many things; he has on slavery, + and polygamy at least, according to the church; and yet his church now + wants to go and destroy polygamy in Utah with the sword. Why do they not + send missionaries there with copies of the Old Testament? By reading the + lives of Abraham and Isaac, and Lot, and a few other patriarchs who ought + to have been in the penitentiary, maybe they can soften their hearts. + </p> + <p> + More Miracles. + </p> + <p> + There is another miracle I do not believe,—the resurrection. I want + to speak about it as we would about any ordinary transaction. In the first + place, I do not believe that any miracle was ever performed, and if there + was, you cannot prove it. Why? Because it is altogether more reasonable to + believe that the people were mistaken about it than that it happened. And + why? Because, according to human experience, we know that people will not + always tell the truth, and we never saw a miracle ourselves, and we must + be governed by our experience; and if we go by our experience, we must say + that the miracle never happened—that the witnesses were mistaken. + </p> + <p> + A man comes into Jerusalem, and the first thing he does is to cure the + blind. He lets the light of day visit the night of blindness. The eyes are + opened, and the world is again pictured upon the brain. Another man is + clothed with leprosy. He touches him and the disease falls from him, and + he stands pure, and clean, and whole. Another man is deformed, wrinkled, + and bent. He touches him, and throws around him again the garment of + youth. A man is in his grave, and he says, "Come forth!" And the man walks + in life, feeling his heart throb and his blood going joyously through his + veins. They say that actually happened. I do not know. + </p> + <p> + There is one wonderful thing about the dead people that were raised—we + do not hear of them any more. What became of them? If there was a man in + this city who had been raised from the dead, I would go to see him + to-night. I would say, "Where were you when you got the notice to come + back? What kind of a country is it? What kind of opening there for a young + man? How did you like it? Did you meet there the friends you had lost? Is + there a world without death, without pain, without a tear? Is there a land + without a grave, and where good-bye is never heard?" Nobody ever paid the + slightest attention to the dead who had been raised. They did not even + excite interest when they died the second time. Nobody said, "Why, that + man is not afraid. He has been there once. He has walked through the + valley of the shadow." Not a word. They pass quietly away. + </p> + <p> + I do not believe these miracles. There is something wrong somewhere about + that business. I may suffer eternal punishment for all this, but I cannot, + I do not, believe. + </p> + <p> + There was a man who did all these things, and thereupon they crucified + him. Let us be honest. Suppose a man came into this city and should meet a + funeral procession, and say, "Who is dead?" and they should reply, "The + son of a widow; her only support." Suppose he should say to the + procession, "Halt!" and to the undertaker, "Take out that coffin, unscrew + that lid. Young man, I say unto thee, arise!" and the dead should step + from the coffin and in a moment afterward hold his mother in his arms. + Suppose this stranger should go to your cemetery and find some woman + holding a little child in each hand, while the tears fell upon a new-made + grave, and he should say to her, "Who lies buried here?" and she should + reply, "My husband;" and he should cry, "I say unto thee, oh grave, give + up thy dead!" and the husband should rise, and in a moment after have his + lips upon his wife's, and the little children with their arms around his + neck; do you think that the people of this city would kill him? Do you + think any one would wish to crucify him? Do you not rather believe that + every one who had a loved one out in that cemetery would go to him, even + upon their knees, and beg him to give back their dead? Do you believe that + any man was ever crucified who was the master of death? + </p> + <p> + Let me tell you to-night if there shall ever appear upon this earth the + master, the monarch, of death, all human knees will touch the earth. He + will not be crucified. All the living who fear death; all the living who + have lost a loved one, will bow to him. And yet we are told that this + worker of miracles, this man who could clothe the dead dust in the + throbbing flesh of life, was crucified. I do not believe that he worked + the miracles, I do not believe that he raised the dead, I do not believe + that he claimed to be the Son of God, These things were told long after he + was dead; told because the ignorant multitude demanded mystery and wonder; + told, because at that time the miraculous was believed of all the + illustrious dead. Stories that made Christianity powerful then, weaken it + now. He who gains a triumph in a conflict with a devil, will be defeated + by science. + </p> + <p> + There is another thing about these foolish miracles. All could have been + imitated. Men could pretend to be blind; confederates could feign + sickness, and even death. + </p> + <p> + It is not very difficult to limp or to hold an arm as though it were + paralyzed; or to say that one is afflicted with "an issue of blood." It is + easy to say that the son of a widow was raised from the dead, and if you + fail to give the name of the son, or his mother, or the time and place + where the wonder occurred, it is quite difficult to show that it did not + happen. + </p> + <p> + No one can be called upon to disprove anything that has not apparently + been established. I say apparently, because there can be no real evidence + in support of a miracle. + </p> + <p> + How could we prove, for instance, the miracle of the loaves and fishes? + There were plenty of other loaves and other fishes in the world? Each one + of the five thousand could have had a loaf and a fish with him. We would + have to show that there was no other possible way for the people to get + the bread and fish except by miracle, and then we are only half through. + We must then show that they did, in fact, get enough to feed five thousand + people, and that more was left than was had in the beginning. + </p> + <p> + Of course this is simply impossible. And let me ask, why was not the + miracle substantiated by some of the multitude? + </p> + <p> + Would it not have been a greater wonder if Christ had <i>created</i> + instead of multiplied the loaves and fishes? + </p> + <p> + How can we now prove that a certain person more than eighteen hundred + years ago was possessed by seven devils? + </p> + <p> + How was it ever possible to prove a thing like that? + </p> + <p> + How can it be established that some evil spirits could talk while others + were dumb, and that the dumb ones were the hardest to control? + </p> + <p> + If Christ wished to convince his fellow-men by miracles, why did he not do + something that could not by any means have been a counterfeit? + </p> + <p> + Instead of healing a withered arm, why did he not find some man whose arm + had been cut off, and make another grow? + </p> + <p> + If he wanted to raise the dead, why did he not raise some man of + importance, some one known to all? + </p> + <p> + Why did he do his miracles in the obscurity of the village, in the + darkness of the hovel? + </p> + <p> + Why call back to life people so insignificant that the public did not know + of their death? + </p> + <p> + Suppose that in May, 1865, a man had pretended to raise some person by the + name of Smith from the dead, and suppose a religion had been founded on + that miracle, would it not be natural for people, hundreds of years after + the pretended miracle, to ask why the founder of that religion did not + raise from the dead Abraham Lincoln, instead of the unknown and obscure + Mr. Smith? + </p> + <p> + How could any man now, in any court, by any known rule of evidence, + substantiate one of the miracles of Christ? + </p> + <p> + Must we believe anything that cannot in any way be substantiated? + </p> + <p> + If miracles were necessary to convince men eighteen centuries ago, are + they not necessary now? + </p> + <p> + After all, how many men did Christ convince with his miracles? How many + walked beneath the standard of the master of Nature? + </p> + <p> + How did it happen that so many miracles convinced so few? I will tell you. + The miracles were never performed. No other explanation is possible. + </p> + <p> + It is infinitely absurd to say that a man who cured the sick, the halt and + blind, raised the dead, cast out devils, controlled the winds and waves, + created food and held obedient to his will the forces of the world, was + put to death by men who knew his superhuman power and who had seen his + wondrous works. If the crucifixion was public, the miracles were private. + If the miracles had been public, the crucifixion could not have been. Do + away with the miracles, and the superhuman character of Christ is + destroyed. He becomes what he really was—a man. Do away with the + wonders, and the teachings of Christ cease to be authoritative. They are + then worth the reason, the truth that is in them, and nothing more. Do + away with the miracles, and then we can measure the utterances of Christ + with the standard of our reason. We are no longer intellectual serfs, + believing what is unreasonable in obedience to the command of a supposed + god. We no longer take counsel of our fears, of our cowardice, but boldly + defend what our reason maintains. + </p> + <p> + Christ takes his appropriate place with the other teachers of mankind. His + life becomes reasonable and admirable. We have a man who hated oppression; + who despised and denounced superstition and hypocrisy; who attacked the + heartless church of his time; who excited the hatred of bigots and + priests, and who rather than be false to his conception of truth, met and + bravely suffered even death. + </p> + <p> + The Resurrection. + </p> + <p> + The miracle of the resurrection I do not and cannot believe. If it was the + fact, if the dead Christ rose from the grave, why did he not appear to his + enemies? Why did he not visit Pontius Pilate? Why did he not call upon + Caiaphas, the high priest? upon Herod? Why did he not again enter the + temple and end the old dispute with demonstration? Why did he not confront + the Roman soldiers who had taken money to falsely swear that his body had + been stolen by his friends? Why did he not make another triumphal entry + into Jerusalem? Why did he not say to the multitude: "Here are the wounds + in my feet, and in my hands, and in my side. I am the one you endeavored + to kill, but Death is my slave"? Simply because the resurrection is a + myth. It makes no difference with his teachings. They are just as good + whether he wrought miracles or not. Twice two are four; that needs no + miracle. Twice two are five—a miracle can not help that. Christ's + teachings are worth their effect upon the human race. It makes no + difference about miracle or wonder. In that day every one believed in the + impossible. Nobody had any standing as teacher, philosopher, governor, + king, general, about whom there was not supposed to be something + miraculous. The earth was covered with the sons and daughters of gods and + goddesses. + </p> + <p> + In Greece, in Rome, in Egypt, in India, every great man was supposed to + have had either a god for his father, or a goddess for his mother. They + accounted for genius by divine origin. Earth and heaven were at that time + near together. It was but a step for the gods from the blue arch to the + green earth. Every lake and valley and mountain top was made rich with + legends of the loves of gods. How could the early Christians have made + converts to a man, among a people who believed so thoroughly in gods—in + gods that had lived upon the earth; among a people who had erected temples + to the sons and daughters of gods? Such people could not have been induced + to worship a man—a man born among barbarous people, citizen of a + nation weak and poor and paying tribute to the Roman power. The early + Christians therefore preached the gospel of a god. + </p> + <p> + The Ascension. + </p> + <p> + I cannot believe in the miracle of the ascension, in the bodily ascension + of Jesus Christ. Where was he going? In the light shed upon this question + by the telescope, I again ask, where was he going? + </p> + <p> + The New Jerusalem is not above us. The abode of the gods is not there. + Where was he going? Which way did he go? Of course that depends upon the + time of day he left. If he left in the evening, he went exactly the + opposite way from that he would have gone had he ascended in the morning. + What did he do with his body? How high did he go? In what way did he + overcome the intense cold? The nearest station is the moon, two hundred + and forty thousand miles away. Again I ask, where did he go? He must have + had a natural body, for it was the same body that died. His body must have + been material, otherwise he would not as he rose have circled with the + earth, and he would have passed from the sight of his disciples at the + rate of more than a thousand miles per hour. + </p> + <p> + It may be said that his body was "spiritual." Then what became of the body + that died? Just before his ascension we are told that he partook of + broiled fish with his disciples. Was the fish "spiritual?" + </p> + <p> + Who saw this miracle? + </p> + <p> + They say the disciples saw it. Let us see what they say. Matthew did not + think it was worth mentioning. He does not speak of it. On the contrary, + he says that the last words of Christ were: + </p> + <p> + "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Is it possible + that Matthew saw this, the most miraculous of miracles, and yet forgot to + put it in his life of Christ? Think of the little miracles recorded by + this saint, and then determine whether it is probable that he witnessed + the ascension of Jesus Christ. + </p> + <p> + Mark says: "So, then, after the Lord had spoken unto them he was received + up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God." This is all he says + about the most wonderful vision that ever astonished human eyes, a miracle + great enough to have stuffed credulity to bursting; and yet all we have is + this one, poor, meagre verse. We know now that most of the last chapter of + Mark is an interpolation, and as a matter of fact, the author of Mark's + gospel said nothing about the ascension one way or the other. + </p> + <p> + Luke says: "And it came to pass while he blessed them he was parted from + them and was carried up into Heaven." + </p> + <p> + John does not mention it. He gives as Christ's last words this address to + Peter: "Follow thou Me." Of course, he did not say that as he ascended. It + seems to have made very little impression upon him; he writes the account + as though tired of the story. He concludes with an impatient wave of the + hand. + </p> + <p> + In the Acts we have another account. A conversation is given not spoken of + in any of the others, and we find there two men clad in white apparel, who + said: "Ye men of Galilee why stand ye here gazing up into heaven? This + same Jesus that was taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner as + ye have seen him go up into heaven." + </p> + <p> + Matthew did not see the men in white apparel, did not see the ascension. + Mark forgot the entire transaction, and Luke did not think the men in + white apparel worth mentioning. John had not confidence enough in the + story to repeat it. And yet, upon such evidence, we are bound to believe + in the bodily ascension, or suffer eternal pain. + </p> + <p> + And here let me ask, why was not the ascension in public? + </p> + <p> + Casting out Devils. + </p> + <p> + Most of the miracles said to have been wrought by Christ were recorded to + show his power over evil spirits. On many occasions, he is said to have + "cast out devils"—devils who could speak, and devils who were dumb. + </p> + <p> + For many years belief in the existence of evil spirits has been fading + from the mind, and as this belief grew thin, ministers endeavored to give + new meanings to the ancient words. They are inclined now to put "disease" + in the place of "devils," and most of them say, that the poor wretches + supposed to have been the homes of fiends, were simply suffering from + epileptic fits! We must remember that Christ and these devils often + conversed together. Is it possible that fits can talk? These devils often + admitted that Christ was God. Can epilepsy certify to divinity? On one + occasion the fits told their name, and made a contract to leave the body + of a man provided they would be permitted to take possession of a herd of + swine. Is it possible that fits carried Christ himself to the pinnacle of + a temple? Did fits pretend to be the owner of the whole earth? Is Christ + to be praised for resisting such a temptation? Is it conceivable that fits + wanted Christ to fall down and worship them? + </p> + <p> + The church must not abandon its belief in devils. Orthodoxy cannot afford + to put out the fires of hell. Throw away a belief in the devil, and most + of the miracles of the New Testament become impossible, even if we admit + the supernatural. If there is no devil, who was the original tempter in + the garden of Eden? If there is no hell, from what are we saved; to what + purpose is the atonement? Upon the obverse of the Christian shield is God, + upon the reverse, the devil. No devil, no hell. No hell, no atonement. No + atonement, no preaching, no gospel. + </p> + <p> + Necessity of Belief. + </p> + <p> + Does belief depend upon evidence? I think it does somewhat in some cases. + How is it when a jury is sworn to try a case, hearing all the evidence, + hearing both sides, hearing the charge of the judge, hearing the law, are + upon their oaths equally divided, six for the plaintiff and six for the + defendant? Evidence does not have the same effect upon all people. Why? + Our brains are not alike. They are not the same shape. We have not the + same intelligence, or the same experience, the same sense. And yet I am + held accountable for my belief. I must believe in the Trinity—three + times one is one, once one is three, and my soul is to be eternally damned + for failing to guess an arithmetical conundrum. That is the poison part of + Christianity—that salvation depends upon belief. That is the + accursed part, and until that dogma is discarded Christianity will be + nothing but superstition. + </p> + <p> + No man can control his belief. If I hear certain evidence I will believe a + certain thing. If I fail to hear it I may never believe it. If it is + adapted to my mind I may accept it; if it is not, I reject it. And what am + I to go by? My brain. That is the only light I have from Nature, and if + there be a God it is the only torch that this God has given me to find my + way through the darkness and night called life. I do not depend upon + hearsay for that. I do not have to take the word of any other man nor get + upon my knees before a book. Here in the temple of the mind I consult the + God, that is to say my reason, and the oracle speaks to me and I obey the + oracle. What should I obey? Another man's oracle? Shall I take another + man's word—not what he thinks, but what he says some God has said to + him? + </p> + <p> + I would not know a god if I should see one. I have said before, and I say + again, the brain thinks in spite of me, and I am not responsible for my + thoughts. I cannot control the beating of my heart. I cannot stop the + blood that flows through the rivers of my veins. And yet I am held + responsible for my belief. Then why does not God give me the evidence? + They say he has. In what? In an inspired book. But I do not understand it + as they do. Must I be false to my understanding? They say: "When you come + to die you will be sorry if you do not." Will I be sorry when I come to + die that I did not live a hypocrite? Will I be sorry that I did not say I + was a Christian when I was not? Will the fact that I was honest put a + thorn in the pillow of death? Cannot God forgive me for being honest? They + say that when he was in Jerusalem he forgave his murderers, but now he + will not forgive an honest man for differing from him on the subject of + the Trinity. + </p> + <p> + They say that God says to me, "Forgive your enemies." I say, "I do;" but + he says, "I will damn mine." God should be consistent. If he wants me to + forgive my enemies he should forgive his. I am asked to forgive enemies + who can hurt me. God is only asked to forgive enemies who cannot hurt him. + He certainly ought to be as generous as he asks us to be. And I want no + God to forgive me unless I am willing to forgive others, and unless I do + forgive others. All I ask, if that be true, is that this God should act + according to his own doctrine. If I am to forgive my enemies, I ask him to + forgive his. I do not believe in the religion of faith, but of kindness, + of good deeds. The idea that man is responsible for his belief is at the + bottom of religious intolerance and persecution. + </p> + <p> + How inconsistent these Christians are! In St. Louis the other day I read + an interview with a Christian minister—one who is now holding a + revival. They call him the boy preacher—a name that he has borne for + fifty or sixty years. The question was whether in these revivals, when + they were trying to rescue souls from eternal torture, they would allow + colored people to occupy seats with white people; and that revivalist, + preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ, said he would not allow the + colored people to sit with white people; they must go to the back of the + church. These same Christians tell us that in heaven there will be no + distinction. That Christ cares nothing for the color of the skin. That in + Paradise white and black will sit together, swap harps, and cry hallelujah + in chorus; yet this minister, believing as he says he does, that all men + who fail to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will eternally perish, was + not willing that a colored man should sit by a white man and hear the + gospel of everlasting peace. + </p> + <p> + According to this revivalist, the ship of the world is going down; Christ + is the only life-boat; and yet he is not willing that a colored man, with + a soul to save, shall sit by the side of a white brother, and be rescued + from eternal death. He admits that the white brother is totally depraved; + that if the white brother had justice done him he would be damned; that it + is only through the wonderful mercy of God that the white man is not in + hell; and yet such a being, totally depraved, is too good to sit by a + colored man! Total depravity becomes arrogant; total depravity draws the + color line in religion, and an ambassador of Christ says to the black man, + "Stand away; let your white brother hear first about the love of God." + </p> + <p> + I believe in the religion of humanity. It is far better to love our + fellow-men than to love God. We can help them. We cannot help him. We had + better do what we can than to be always pretending to do what we cannot. + </p> + <p> + Virtue is of no color; kindness, justice and love, of no complexion. + </p> + <p> + Eternal Punishment. + </p> + <p> + Now I come to the last part of this creed—the doctrine of eternal + punishment. I have concluded that I will never deliver a lecture in which + I will not attack the doctrine of eternal pain. That part of the + Congregational creed would disgrace the lowest savage that crouches and + crawls in the jungles of Africa. The man who now, in the nineteenth + century, preaches the doctrine of eternal punishment, the doctrine of an + eternal hell, has lived in vain. Think of that doctrine! The eternity of + punishment! I find in this same creed—in this latest utterance of + Congregationalism—that Christ is finally going to triumph in this + world and establish his kingdom. This creed declares that "we believe in + the ultimate prevalence of the kingdom of God over all the earth." If + their doctrine is true he will never triumph in the other world. The + Congregational Church does not believe in the ultimate prevalence of the + kingdom of Christ in the world to come. There he is to meet with eternal + failure. He will have billions in hell forever. + </p> + <p> + In this world we never will be perfectly civilized as long as a gallows + casts its shadow upon the earth. As long as there is a penitentiary, + within the walls of which a human being is immured, we are not a perfectly + civilized people. We shall never be perfectly civilized until we do away + with crime. And yet, according to this Christian religion, God is to have + an eternal penitentiary; he is to be an everlasting jailer, an everlasting + turnkey, a warden of an infinite dungeon, and he is going to keep + prisoners there forever, not for the purpose of reforming them—because + they are never going to get any better, only worse—but for the + purpose of purposeless punishment. And for what? For something they failed + to believe in this world. Born in ignorance, supported by poverty, caught + in the snares of temptation, deformed by toil, stupefied by want—and + yet held responsible through the countless ages of eternity! No man can + think of a greater horror; no man can dream of a greater absurdity. For + the growth of that doctrine ignorance was soil and fear was rain. It came + from the fanged mouths of serpents, and yet it is called "glad tidings of + great joy." Some Who are Damned. + </p> + <p> + We are told "God so loved the world" that he is going to damn almost + everybody. If this orthodox religion be true, some of the greatest, and + grandest, and best who ever lived are suffering God's torments to-night. + It does not appear to make much difference with the members of the church. + They go right on enjoying themselves about as well as ever. If this + doctrine is true, Benjamin Franklin, one of the wisest and best of men, + who did so much to give us here a free government, is suffering the + tyranny of God to-night, although he endeavored to establish freedom among + men. If the churches were honest, their preachers would tell their + hearers: "Benjamin Franklin is in hell, and we warn all the youth not to + imitate Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of + Independence, with its self-evident truths, has been damned these many + years." + </p> + <p> + That is what all the ministers ought to have the courage to say. Talk as + you believe. Stand by your creed, or change it. I want to impress it upon + your minds, because the thing I wish to do in this world is to put out the + fires of hell. I will keep on as long as there is one little red coal left + in the bottomless pit. As long as the ashes are warm I shall denounce this + infamous doctrine. + </p> + <p> + I want you to know that according to this creed the men who founded this + great and splendid Government are in hell to-night. Most of the men who + fought in the Revolutionary war, and wrested from the clutch of Great + Britain this continent, have been rewarded by the eternal wrath of God. + Thousands of the old Revolutionary soldiers are in torment tonight. Let + the preachers have the courage to say so. The men who fought in 1812, and + gave to the United States the freedom of the seas, have nearly all been + damned. Thousands of heroes who served our country in the Civil war, + hundreds who starved in prisons, are now in the dungeons of God, compared + with which, Andersonville was Paradise. The greatest of heroes are there; + the greatest of poets, the greatest scientists, the men who have made the + world beautiful—they are all among the damned if this creed is true. + </p> + <p> + Humboldt, who shed light, and who added to the intellectual wealth of + mankind; Goethe, and Schiller, and Lessing, who almost created the German + language—all gone—all suffering the wrath of God tonight, and + every time an angel thinks of one of those men he gives his harp an extra + twang. Laplace, who read the heavens like an open book—he is there. + Robert Burns, the poet of human love—he is there. He wrote the + "Prayer of Holy Willie." He fastened on the cross the Presbyterian creed, + and there it is, a lingering crucifixion. Robert Burns increased the + tenderness of the human heart. Dickens put a shield of pity before the + flesh of childhood—God is getting even with him. Our own Ralph Waldo + Emerson, although he had a thousand opportunities to hear Methodist + clergymen, scorned the means of grace, lived to his highest ideal, gave to + his fellow-men his best and truest thought, and yet his spirit is the + sport and prey of fiends to-night. + </p> + <p> + Longfellow, who has refined thousands of homes, did not believe in the + miraculous origin of the Savior, doubted the report of Gabriel, loved his + fellow-men, did what he could to free the slaves, to increase the + happiness of man, yet God was waiting for his soul—waiting to cast + him out and down forever. Thomas Paine, author of the "Rights of Man;" + offering his life in both hemispheres for the freedom of the human race; + one of the founders of this Republic, is now among the damned; and yet it + seems to me that if he could only get God's attention long enough to point + him to the American flag he would let him out. Auguste Comte, author of + the "Positive Philosophy," who loved his fellow-men to that degree that he + made of humanity a god, who wrote his great work in poverty, with his face + covered with tears—they are getting their revenge on him now. + </p> + <p> + Voltaire, who abolished torture in France; who did more for human liberty + than any other man, living or dead; who was the assassin of superstition, + and whose dagger still rusts in the heart of Catholicism—he is with + the rest. All the priests who have been translated have had their + happiness increased by looking at Voltaire. + </p> + <p> + Giordano Bruno, the first star of the morning after the long night; + Benedict Spinoza, the pantheist, the metaphysician, the pure and generous + man; Diderot, the encyclopedist, who endeavored to get all knowledge in a + small compass, so that he could put the peasant on an equality + intellectually with the prince; Diderot, who wished to sow all over the + world the seed of knowledge, and loved to labor for mankind, while the + priests wanted to burn; who did all he could to put out the fires—he + was lost, long, long ago. His cry for water has become so common that his + voice is now recognized through all the realms of heaven, and the angels + laughing, say to one another, "That is Diderot." + </p> + <p> + David Hume, the Scotch philosopher, is there, with his inquiry about the + "Human Understanding" and his argument against miracles. Beethoven, master + of music, and Wagner, the Shakespeare of harmony, who made the air of this + world rich forever, they are there; and to-night they have better music in + hell than in heaven! + </p> + <p> + Shelley, whose soul, like his own "Skylark," was a winged joy, has been + damned for many, many years; and Shakespeare, the greatest of the human + race, who did more to elevate mankind than all the priests who ever lived + and died, he is there; but founders of inquisitions, builders of dungeons, + makers of chains, inventors of instruments of torture, tearers, and + burners, and branders of human flesh, stealers of babes, and sellers of + husbands and wives and children, and they who kept the horizon lurid with + the fagot's flame for a thousand years—are in heaven to-night. I + wish heaven joy! + </p> + <p> + That is the doctrine with which we are polluting the souls of children. + That is the doctrine that puts a fiend by the dying bed and a prophecy of + hell over every cradle. That is "glad tidings of great joy." + </p> + <p> + Only a little while ago, when the great flood came upon the Ohio, sent by + him who is ruling the world and paying particular attention to the affairs + of nations, just in the gray of the morning they saw a house floating down + and on its top a human being. A few men went out to the rescue. They found + there a woman, a mother, and they wished to save her life. She said: "No, + I am going to stay where I am. In this house I have three dead babes; I + will not desert them." Think of a love so limitless—stronger and + deeper than despair and death! And yet, the Christian religion says, that + if that woman, that mother, did not happen to believe in their creed God + would send her soul to eternal fire! If there is another world, and if in + heaven they wear hats, when such a woman climbs the opposite bank of the + Jordan, Christ should lift his to her. + </p> + <p> + The doctrine of eternal pain is my trouble with this Christian religion. I + reject it on account of its infinite heartlessness. I cannot tell them too + often, that during our last war Christians, who knew that if they were + shot they would go right to heaven, went and hired wicked men to take + their places, perfectly willing that these men should go to hell provided + they could stay at home. You see they are not honest in it, or they do not + believe it, or as the people say, "they don't sense it." They have not + imagination enough to conceive what it is they believe, and what a + terrific falsehood they assert. And I beg of every one who hears me + to-night, I beg, I implore, I beseech you, never to give another dollar to + build a church in which that lie is preached. Never give another cent to + send a missionary with his mouth stuffed with that falsehood to a foreign + land. Why, they say, the heathen will go to heaven, any way, if you let + them alone. What is the use of sending them to hell by enlightening them? + Let them alone. The idea of going and telling a man a thing that if he + does not believe, he will be damned, when the chances are ten to one that + he will not believe it, is monstrous. Do not tell him here, and as quick + as he gets to the other world and finds it is necessary to believe, he can + say "Yes." Give him a chance. + </p> + <p> + Another Objection. + </p> + <p> + My objection to orthodox religion is that it destroys human love, and + tells us that the love of this world is not necessary to make a heaven in + the next. + </p> + <p> + No matter about your wife, your children, your brother, your sister—no + matter about all the affections of the human heart—when you get + there, you will be with the angels. I do not know whether I would like the + angels. I do not know whether the angels would like me. I would rather + stand by the ones who have loved me and whom I know; and I can conceive of + no heaven without the loved of this earth. That is the trouble with this + Christian relief-ion. Leave your father, leave your mother, leave your + wife, leave your children, leave everything and follow Jesus Christ. I + will not. I will stay with my people. I will not sacrifice on the altar of + a selfish fear all the grandest and noblest promptings of my heart. + </p> + <p> + Do away with human love and what are we? What would we be in another + world, and what would we be here? Can any one conceive of music without + human love? Of art, or joy? Human love builds every home. Human love is + the author of all beauty. Love paints every picture, and chisels every + statue. Love builds every fireside. What could heaven be without human + love? And yet that is what we are promised—a heaven with your wife + lost, your mother lost, some of your children gone. And you expect to be + made happy by falling in with some angel! Such a religion is infamous. + Christianity holds human love for naught; and yet Love is the only bow on + Life's dark cloud. It is the morning and the evening star. It shines upon + the babe, and sheds its radiance on the quiet tomb. It is the mother of + art, inspirer of poet, patriot and philosopher. It is the air and light of + every heart—builder of every home, kindler of every fire on every + hearth. It was the first to dream of immortality. It fills the world with + melody—for music is the voice of love. Love is the magician, the + enchanter, that changes worthless things to joy, and makes right royal + kings and queens of common clay. It is the perfume of that wondrous + flower, the heart, and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon, we + are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods. + </p> + <p> + And how are you to get to this heaven? On the efforts of another. You are + to be a perpetual heavenly pauper, and you will have to admit through all + eternity that you never would have been there if you had not been + frightened. "I am here," you will say, "I have these wings, I have this + musical instrument, because I was scared. I am here. The ones who loved me + are among the damned; the ones I loved are also there—but I am here, + that is enough." + </p> + <p> + What a glorious' world heaven must be! No reformation in that world—not + the slightest. If you die in Arkansas that is the end of you! Think of + telling a boy in the next world, who lived and died in Delaware, that he + had been fairly treated! Can anything be more infamous? + </p> + <p> + All on an equality—the rich and the poor, those with parents loving + them, those with every opportunity for education, on an equality with the + poor, the abject and the ignorant—and this little day called life, + this moment with a hope, a shadow and a tear, this little space between + your mother's arms and the grave, balances eternity. + </p> + <p> + God can do nothing for you when you get there. A Methodist preacher can do + more for the soul here than its creator can there. The soul goes to + heaven, where there is nothing but good society; no bad examples; and they + are all there, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and yet they can do nothing for + that poor unfortunate except to damn him. Is there any sense in that? + </p> + <p> + Why should this be a period of probation? It says in the Bible, I believe, + "Now is the accepted time." When does that mean? That means whenever the + passage is pronounced. "Now is the accepted time." It will be the same + to-morrow, will it not? And just as appropriate then as to-day, and if + appropriate at any time, appropriate through all eternity. + </p> + <p> + What I say is this: There is no world—there can be no world—in + which every human being will not have the eternal opportunity of doing + right. + </p> + <p> + That is my objection to this Christian religion; and if the love of earth + is not the love of heaven, if those we love here are to be separated from + us there, then I want eternal sleep. Give me a good cool grave rather than + the furnace of Jehovah's wrath. I pray the angel of the resurrection to + let me sleep. Gabriel, do not blow! Let me alone! If, when the grave + bursts, I am not to meet the faces that have been my sunshine in this + life, let me sleep. Rather than that this doctrine of endless punishment + should be true, I would gladly see the fabric of our civilization + crumbling fall to unmeaning chaos and to formless dust, where oblivion + broods and even memory forgets. I would rather that the blind Samson of + some imprisoned force, released by chance, should so wreck and strand the + mighty world that man in stress and strain of want and fear should + shudderingly crawl back to savage and barbaric night. I would rather that + every planet should in its orbit wheel a barren star! + </p> + <p> + What I Believe. + </p> + <p> + I think it is better to love your children than to love God, a thousand + times better, because you can help them, and I am inclined to think that + God can get along without you. Certainly we cannot help a being without + body, parts, or passions! + </p> + <p> + I believe in the religion of the family. I believe that the roof-tree is + sacred, from the smallest fibre that feels the soft cool clasp of earth, + to the topmost flower that spreads its bosom to the sun, and like a + spendthrift gives its perfume to the air. The home where virtue dwells + with love is like a lily with a heart of fire—the fairest flower in + all the world. And I tell you God cannot afford to damn a man in the next + world who has made a happy family in this. God cannot afford to cast over + the battlements of heaven the man who has a happy home upon this earth. + God cannot afford to be unpitying to a human heart capable of pity. God + cannot clothe with fire the man who has clothed the naked here; and God + cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving + the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than + to heaven and keep the company of such a god. + </p> + <p> + Immortality. + </p> + <p> + They tell me that the next terrible thing I do is to take away the hope of + immortality! I do not, I would not, I could not. Immortality was first + dreamed of by human love; and yet the church is going to take human love + out of immortality. We love, therefore we wish to live. A loved one dies + and we wish to meet again; and from the affection of the human heart grew + the great oak of the hope of immortality. Around that oak has climbed the + poisonous vines of superstition. Theologians, pretenders, soothsayers, + parsons, priests, popes, bishops, have taken advantage of that. They have + stood by graves and promised heaven. They have stood by graves and + prophesied a future filled with pain. They have erected their toll-gates + on the highway of life and have collected money from fear. + </p> + <p> + Neither the Bible nor the church gave us the idea of immortality. The Old + Testament tells us how we lost immortality, and it does not say a word + about another world, from the first mistake in Genesis to the last curse + in Malachi. There is not in the Old Testament a burial service. + </p> + <p> + No man in the Old Testament stands by the dead and says, "We shall meet + again." From the top of Sinai came no hope of another world. + </p> + <p> + And when we get to the New Testament, what do we find? "They that are + accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection of the dead." + As though some would be counted unworthy to obtain the resurrection of the + dead. And in another place. "Seek for honor, glory, immortality." If you + have it, why seek it? And in another place, "God, who alone hath + immortality." Yet they tell us that we get our idea of immortality from + the Bible. I deny it. + </p> + <p> + I would not destroy the faintest ray of human hope, but I deny that we got + our idea of immortality from the Bible. It existed long before Moses. We + find it symbolized through all Egypt, through all India. Wherever man has + lived he has made another world in which to meet the lost of this. + </p> + <p> + The history of this belief we find in tombs and temples wrought and carved + by those who wept and hoped. Above their dead they laid the symbols of + another life. + </p> + <p> + We do not know. We do not prophesy a life of pain. We leave the dead with + Nature, the mother of us all. Under the bow of hope, under the seven-hued + arch, let the dead sleep. + </p> + <p> + If Christ was in fact God, why did he not plainly say there is another + life? Why did he not tell us something about it? Why did he not turn the + tear-stained hope of immortality into the glad knowledge of another life? + Why did he go dumbly to his death and leave the world in darkness and in + doubt? Why? Because he was a man and did not know. + </p> + <p> + What consolation has the orthodox religion for the widow of the + unbeliever, the widow of a good, brave, kind man? What can the orthodox + minister say to relieve the bursting heart of that woman? What can he say + to relieve the aching hearts of the orphans as they kneel by the grave of + that father, if that father did not happen to be an orthodox Christian? + What consolation have they? When a Christian loses a friend the tears + spring from his eyes as quickly as from the eyes of others. Their tears + are as bitter as ours. Why? The echoes of the words spoken eighteen + hundred years ago are so low, and the sounds of the clods upon the coffin + are so loud; the promises are so far away, and the dead are so near. + </p> + <p> + We do not know, we cannot say, whether death is a wall or a door; the + beginning or end of a day; the spreading of pinions to soar, or the + folding forever of wings; the rise or the set of a sun, or an endless life + that brings the rapture of love to everyone. A Fable. + </p> + <p> + There is the fable of Orpheus and Eurydice. Eurydice had been captured and + taken to the infernal regions, and Orpheus went after her, taking with him + his harp and playing as he went. When he came to Pluto's realm he began to + play, and Sysiphus, charmed by the music, sat down upon the stone that he + had been heaving up the mountain's side for so many years, and which + continually rolled back upon him; Ixion paused upon his wheel of fire; + Tantalus ceased his vain efforts for water; the daughters of the Danaides + left off trying to fill their sieves with water; Pluto smiled, and for the + first time in the history of hell the cheeks of the Furies were wet with + tears. The god relented, and said, "Eurydice may go with you, but you must + not look back." So Orpheus again threaded the caverns, playing as he went, + and as he reached the light he failed to hear the footsteps of Eurydice. + He looked back, and in a moment she was gone. Again and again Orpheus + sought his love. Again and again looked back. + </p> + <p> + This fable gives the idea of the perpetual effort made by the human mind + to rescue truth from the clutch of error. + </p> + <p> + Some time Orpheus will not look back. Some day Eurydice will reach the + blessed light, and at last there will fade from the memory of men the + monsters of superstition. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link0005" id="link0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> + <h2> + MYTH AND MIRACLE. + </h2> + <h3> + I. + </h3> + <p> + HAPPINESS is the true end and aim of life. It is the task of intelligence + to ascertain the conditions of happiness, and when found the truly wise + will live in accordance with them. By happiness is meant not simply the + joy of eating and drinking—the gratification of the appetite—but + good, wellbeing, in the highest and noblest forms. The joy that springs + from obligation discharged, from duty done, from generous acts, from being + true to the ideal, from a perception of the beautiful in nature, art and + conduct. The happiness that is born of and gives birth to poetry and + music, that follows the gratification of the highest wants. + </p> + <p> + Happiness is the result of all that is really right and sane. + </p> + <p> + But there are many people who regard the desire to be happy as a very low + and degrading ambition. These people call themselves spiritual. They + pretend to care nothing for the pleasures of "sense." They hold this + world, this life, in contempt. They do not want happiness in this world—but + in another. Here, happiness degrades—there, it purifies and + ennobles. + </p> + <p> + These spiritual people have been known as prophets, apostles, augurs, + hermits, monks, priests, popes, bishops and parsons. They are devout and + useless. They do not cultivate the soil. They produce nothing. They live + on the labor of others. They are pious and parasitic. They pray for + others, if the others will work for them. They claim to have been selected + by the Infinite to instruct and govern mankind. They are "meek" and + arrogant, "long-suffering" and revengeful. + </p> + <p> + They ever have been, now are, and always will be the enemies of liberty, + of investigation and science. They are believers in the supernatural, the + miraculous and the absurd. They have filled the world with hatred, bigotry + and fear. In defence of their creeds they have committed every crime and + practiced every cruelty. + </p> + <p> + They denounce as worldly and sensual those who are gross enough to love + wives and children, to build homes, to fell the forests, to navigate the + seas, to cultivate the earth, to chisel statues, to paint pictures and + fill the world with love and art. + </p> + <p> + They have denounced and maligned the thinkers, the poets, the dramatists, + the composers, the actors, the orators, the workers—those who have + conquered the world for man. + </p> + <p> + According to them this world is only the vestibule of the next, a kind of + school, an ordeal, a place of probation. They have always insisted that + this life should be spent in preparing for the next; that those who + supported and obeyed the "spiritual guides"—the shepherds, would be + rewarded with an eternity of joy, and that all others would suffer eternal + pain. + </p> + <p> + These spiritual people have always hated labor. They have added nothing to + the wealth of the world. They have always lived on alms—on the labor + of others. They have always been the enemies of innocent pleasure, and of + human love. + </p> + <p> + These spiritual people have produced a literature. The books they have + written are called sacred. Our sacred books are called the Bible. The + Hindoos have the Vedas and many others, the Persians the Zend Avesta—the + Egyptians had the Book of the Dead—the Aztecs the Popol Vuh, and the + Mohammedans have the Koran. + </p> + <p> + These books, for the most part, treat of the unknowable. They describe + gods and winged phantoms of the air. They give accounts of the origin of + the universe, the creation of man and the worlds beyond this. They contain + nothing of value. Millions and millions of people have wasted their lives + studying these absurd and ignorant books. + </p> + <p> + The "spiritual people" in each country claimed that their books had been + written by inspired men—that God was the real author, and that all + men and women who denied this would be, after death, tormented forever. + </p> + <p> + And yet, the worldly people, the uninspired, the wicked, have produced a + far greater literature than the spiritual and the inspired. + </p> + <p> + Not all the sacred books of the world equal Shakespeare's "volume of the + brain." A purer philosophy, grander, nobler, fell from the lips of + Shakespeare's clowns than the Old Testament, or the New, contains. + </p> + <p> + The Declaration of Independence is nobler far than all the utterances from + Sinai's cloud and flame. "A Man's a Man for a' That," by Robert Burns, is + better than anything the sacred books contain. For my part, I would rather + hear Beethoven's Sixth Symphony than to read the five books of Moses. Give + me the Sixth Symphony—this sound-wrought picture of the fields and + woods, of flowering hedge and happy home, where thrushes build and + swallows fly, and mothers sing to babes; this echo of the babbled lullaby + of brooks that, dallying, wind and fall where meadows bare their daisied + bosoms to the sun; this joyous mimicry of summer rain, the laugh of + children, and the rhythmic rustle of the whispering leaves; this strophe + of peasant life; this perfect poem of content and love. + </p> + <p> + I would rather listen to Tristan and Isolde—that Mississippi of + melody—where the great notes, winged like eagles, lift the soul + above the cares and griefs of this weary world—than to all the + orthodox sermons ever preached. I would rather look at the Venus de Milo + than to read the Presbyterian creed. + </p> + <p> + The spiritual have endeavored to civilize the world through fear and faith—by + the promise of reward and the threat of pain in other worlds. They taught + men to hate and persecute their fellow-men. In all ages they have appealed + to force. During all the years they have practiced fraud. They have + pretended to have influence with the gods—that their prayers gave + rain, sunshine and harvest—that their curses brought pestilence and + famine, and that their blessings filled the world with plenty. They have + subsisted on the fears their falsehoods created. Like poisonous vines, + they have lived on the oak of labor. They have praised charity, but they + never gave. They have denounced revenge, but they never forgave. + </p> + <p> + Whenever the spiritual have had power, art has died, learning has + languished, science has been despised, liberty destroyed, the thinkers + have been imprisoned, the intelligent and honest have been outcasts, and + the brave have been murdered. + </p> + <p> + The "spiritual" have been, are, and always will be the enemies of the + human race. + </p> + <p> + For all the blessings that we now enjoy—for progress in every form, + for science and art—for all that has lengthened life, that has + conquered disease, that has lessened pain, for raiment, roof and food, for + music in its highest forms—for the poetry that has ennobled and + enriched our lives—for the marvellous machines now working for the + world—for all this we are indebted to the worldly—to those who + turned their attention to the affairs of this life. They have been the + only benefactors of our race. + </p> + <p> + II. + </p> + <p> + AND yet all of these religions—these "sacred books," these priests, + have been naturally produced. From the dens and caves of savagery to the + palaces of civilization men have traveled by the necessary paths and + roads. Back of every step has been the efficient cause. In the history of + the world there has been no chance, no interference from without, nothing + miraculous. Everything in accordance with and produced by the facts in + nature. + </p> + <p> + We need not blame the hypocritical and cruel. They thought and acted as + they were compelled to think and act. + </p> + <p> + In all ages man has tried to account for himself and his surroundings. He + did the best he could. He wondered why the water ran, why the trees grew, + why the clouds floated, why the stars shone, why the sun and moon + journeyed through the heavens. He was troubled about life and death, about + darkness and dreams. The seas, the volcanoes, the lightning and thunder, + the earthquake and cyclone, filled him with fear. Behind all life and + growth and motion, and even inanimate things, he placed a spirit—an + intelligent being—a fetich, a person, something like himself—a + god, controlled by love and hate. To him causes and effects became gods—supernatural + beings. The Dawn was a maiden, wondrously fair, the Sun, a warrior and + lover; the Night, a serpent, a wolf—the Wind, a musician; Winter, a + wild beast; Autumn, Proserpine gathering flowers. + </p> + <p> + Poets were the makers of these myths. They were the first to account for + what they saw and felt. The great multitude mistook these fancies for + facts. Myths strangely alike, were produced by most nations, and gradually + took possession of the world. + </p> + <p> + The Sleeping Beauty, a myth of the year, has been found among most + peoples. In this myth, the Earth was a maiden—the Sun was her lover, + She had fallen asleep in winter. Her blood was still and her breath had + gone. In the Spring the lover came, clasped her in his arms, covered her + lips and cheeks with kisses. She was thrilled, her heart began to beat, + she breathed, her blood flowed, and she awoke to love and joy. This myth + has made the circuit of the globe. + </p> + <p> + So, Red Riding-Hood is the history of a day. Little Red Riding-Hood—the + morning, touched with red, goes to visit her kindred, a day that is past. + She is attacked by the wolf of night and is rescued by the hunter, Apollo, + who pierces the heart of the beast with an arrow of light. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is the story of the year. + Eurydice has been captured and carried to the infernal world. Orpheus, + playing upon his harp, goes after her. Such is the effect of his music + when he reaches the realm of Pluto, the laughterless, that Tantalus ceases + his efforts to slake his thirst. He listens and forgets his withered lips, + the daughters of the Danaides cease their vain efforts to fill the sieve + with water, Sisyphus sits down on the stone that he so often had heaved + against the mountain's misty side, Ixion pauses upon his wheel of fire, + even Pluto smiles, and for the first time in the history of hell the + cheeks of the Furies are wet with tears. + </p> + <p> + "Give me back Eurydice," cried Orpheus, and Pluto said: "Take her, but + look not back." Orpheus led the way and Eurydice followed. Just as he + reached the upper world, he missed her footsteps, turned, looked, and she + vanished. + </p> + <p> + And thus the summer comes, is lost, and comes again through all the years. + </p> + <p> + So, our ancestors believed in the Garden of Eden, in the Golden Age, in + the blessed time when all were good and pure—when nature satisfied + the wants of all. The race, like the old man, has golden dreams of youth. + The morning was filled with light and life and joy, and the evening is + always sad. When the old man was young, girls were beautiful and men were + honest. He remembers his Eden. And so the whole world has had its age of + gold. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers were believers in the Elysian Fields. They were in the far, + far West. They saw them at the setting of the sun. They saw the floating + isles of gold in sapphire seas; the templed mist with spires and domes of + emerald and amethyst; the magic caverns of the clouds, resplendent with + the rays of every gem. And as they looked, they thought the curtain had + been drawn aside and that their eyes had for a moment feasted on the + glories of another world. + </p> + <p> + The myth of the Flood has also been universal. Finding shells of the seas + on plain and mountain, and everywhere some traces of the waves, they + thought the world had been submerged—that God in wrath had drowned + the race, except a few his mercy saved. + </p> + <p> + The Hindus say that Menu, a holy man, dipped from the Ganges some water, + and in the basin saw a little fish. The fish begged him to throw him back + into the river, and Menu, having pity, cast him back. The fish then told + Menu that there was to be a flood—told him to build an ark, to take + on board, people, animals and food, and that when the flood came, he, the + fish, would save him. The saint did as he was told, the flood came, the + fish returned. By that time he had grown to be a whale with a horn in his + head. About this horn Menu fastened a rope, attached the other end to the + ark, and the fish towed the boat across the raging waves to a mountain's + top, where it rested until the waters subsided. The name of this wonderful + fish was Matsaya. + </p> + <p> + Many other nations told similar stories of floods and arks and the sending + forth of doves. + </p> + <p> + In all these myths and legends of the past we find philosophies and dreams + and efforts, stained with tears, of great and tender souls who tried to + pierce the mysteries of life and death, to answer the questions of the + whence and whither, and who vainly sought with bits of shattered glass to + make a mirror that would in very truth reflect the face and form of + Nature's perfect self. These myths were born of hopes and fears, of tears + and smiles, and they were touched and colored by all there is of joy and + grief between the rosy dawn of birth and death's sad night. They clothed + even the stars with passion, and gave to gods the faults and frailties of + the sons of men. In them the winds and waves were music, and all the + springs, the mountains, woods and perfumed dells were haunted by a + thousand fairy forms. They thrilled the veins of Spring with tremulous + desire, made tawny Summer's billowy breast the throne and home of love, + filled Autumn's arms with sun-kissed grapes and gathered sheaves, and + pictured Winter as a weak old king, who felt, like Lear, upon his withered + face, Cordelia's tears. + </p> + <p> + These myths, though false in fact, are beautiful and true in thought, and + have for many ages and in countless ways enriched the heart and kindled + thought. + </p> + <p> + III. + </p> + <p> + IN all probability the first religion was Sun-worship. Nothing could have + been more natural. Light was life and warmth and love. The sun was the + fireside of the world. The sun was the "all-seeing"—the "Sky + Father." Darkness was grief and death, and in the shadows crawled the + serpents of despair and fear. + </p> + <p> + The sun was a great warrior, fighting the hosts of Night. Apollo was the + sun, and he fought and conquered the serpent of Night. Agni, the generous, + who loved the lowliest and visited the humblest, was the sun. He was the + god of fire, and the crossed sticks that by friction leaped into flame + were his emblem. It was said that, in spite of his goodness, he devoured + his father and mother, the two pieces of wood being his parents. Baldur + was the sun. He was in love with the Dawn—a maiden—he deserted + her and traveled through the heavens alone. At the twilight they met, were + reconciled, and the drops of dew were the tears of joy they shed. + </p> + <p> + Chrishna was the sun. At his birth the Ganges thrilled from its source to + the sea. All the trees, the dead as well as the living, burst into leaf + and bud and flower. + </p> + <p> + Hercules was a sun-god. + </p> + <p> + Jonah the same, rescued from the fiends of Night and carried by the fish + through the under world. Samson was a sun-god. His strength was in his + hair—in his beams. He was shorn of his strength by Delilah, the + shadow—the darkness. So, Osiris, Bacchus, Mithra, Hermes, Buddha, + Quelzalcoatle, Prometheus, Zoroaster, Perseus, Codom Lao-tsze Fo-hi, Horus + and Rameses were all sun-gods. + </p> + <p> + All these gods had gods for fathers and all their mothers were virgins. + </p> + <p> + The births of nearly all were announced by stars. + </p> + <p> + When they were born there was celestial music—voices declared that a + blessing had come upon the earth. + </p> + <p> + When Buddha was born, the celestial choir sang: "This day is born for the + good of men Buddha, and to dispel the darkness of their ignorance—to + give joy and peace to the world." + </p> + <p> + Chrishna was born in a cave, and protected by shepherds. Bacchus, Apollo, + Mithra and Hermes were all born in caves. Buddha was born in an inn—according + to some, under a tree. + </p> + <p> + Tyrants sought to kill all of these gods when they were babes. + </p> + <p> + When Chrishna was born, a tyrant killed the babes of the neighborhood. + </p> + <p> + Buddha was the child of Maya, a virgin, in the kingdom of Madura. The king + arrested Maya before the child was born, imprisoned her in a tower. During + the night when the child was born, a great wind wrecked the tower, and + carried mother and child to a place of safety. The next morning the king + sent his soldiers to kill the babes, and when they came to Buddha and his + mother, the babe appeared to be about twelve years of age, and the + soldiers passed on. + </p> + <p> + So Typhon sought in many ways to destroy the babe Horus. The king pursued + the infant Zoroaster. Cadmus tried to kill the infant Bacchus. + </p> + <p> + All of these gods were born on the 25th of December. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all were worshiped by "wise men." + </p> + <p> + All of them fasted for forty days. + </p> + <p> + All met with a violent death. + </p> + <p> + All rose from the dead. + </p> + <p> + The history of these gods is the history of our Christ. He had a god for a + father, a virgin for a mother. He was born in a manger, or a cave—on + the 2 5th of December. His birth was announced by angels. He was worshiped + by wise men, guided by a star. Herod, seeking his life, caused the death + of many babes. Christ fasted for forty days. So, it rained for forty days + before the flood—Moses was on Mt. Sinai for forty days. The temple + had forty pillars and the Jews wandered in the wilderness for forty years. + Christ met with a violent death, and rose from the dead. + </p> + <p> + These things are not accidents—not coincidences. Christ was a + sun-god. All religions have been born of sun-worship. To-day, when priests + pray, they shut their eyes. This is a survival of sun-worship. When men + worshiped the sun, they had to shut their eyes. Afterwards, to flatter + idols, they pretended that the glory of their faces was more than the eyes + could bear. + </p> + <p> + In the religion of our day there is nothing original. All of its + doctrines, its symbols and ceremonies are but the survivals of creeds that + perished long ago. Baptism is far older than Christianity—than + Judaism. The Hindus, the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans had holy water. + The eucharist was borrowed from the Pagans. Ceres was the goddess of the + fields, Bacchus the god of the vine. At the harvest festival they made + cakes of wheat and said: "These are the flesh of the goddess." They drank + wine and cried: "This is the blood of our god." + </p> + <p> + The cross has been a symbol for many thousands of years. It was a symbol + of immortality—of life, of the god Agni, the form of the grave of a + man. An ancient people of Italy, who lived long before the Romans, long + before the Etruscans, so long that not one word of their language is + known, used the cross, and beneath that emblem, carved on stone, their + dead still rest. In the forests of Central America, ruined temples have + been found, and on the walls the cross with the bleeding victim. On + Babylonian cylinders is the impression of the cross. The Trinity came from + Egypt. Osiris, Isis and Horus were worshiped thousands of years before our + Father, Son and Holy Ghost were thought of. So the Tree of Life grew in + India, China and among the Aztecs long before the Garden of Eden was + planted. Long before our Bible was known, other nations had their sacred + books, temples and altars, sacrifices, ceremonies and priests. The "Fall + of Man" is far older than our religion, and so are the "Atonement" and the + Scheme of Redemption. + </p> + <p> + In our blessed religion there is nothing new, nothing original. + </p> + <p> + Among the Egyptians the cross was a symbol of the life to come. And yet + the first religion was, and all religions growing out of that, were + naturally produced. Every brain was a field in which Nature sowed the + seeds of thought. The rise and set of sun, the birth and death of day, the + dawns of silver and the dusks of gold, the wonders of the rain and snow, + the shroud of Winter and the many colored robe of Spring, the lonely moon + with nightly loss or gain, the serpent lightning and the thunder's voice, + the tempest's fury and the zephyr's sigh, the threat of storm and promise + of the bow, cathedral clouds with dome and spire, earthquake and strange + eclipse, frost and fire, the snow-crowned mountains with their tongues of + flame, the fields of space sown thick with stars, the wandering comets + hurrying past the fixed and sleepless sentinels of night, the marvels of + the earth and air, the perfumed flower, the painted wing, the waveless + pool that held within its magic breast the image of the startled face, the + mimic echo that made a record in the viewless air, the pathless forests + and the boundless seas, the ebb and flow of tides—the slow, deep + breathing of some vague and monstrous life—the miracle of birth, the + mystery of dream and death, and over all the silent and immeasurable dome. + These were the warp and woof, and at the loom sat Love and Fancy, Hope and + Fear, and wove the wondrous tapestries whereon we find pictures of gods + and fairy lands and all the legends that were told when Nature rocked the + cradle of the infant world. + </p> + <p> + IV. + </p> + <p> + WE must remember that there is a great difference. Myth is the + idealization of a fact. A miracle is the counterfeit of a fact. There is + the same difference between a myth and a miracle that there is between + fiction and falsehood—between poetry and perjury. Miracles belong to + the far past and the far future. The little line of sand, called the + present, between the seas, belongs to common sense, to the natural. + </p> + <p> + If you should tell a man that the dead were raised two thousand years ago, + he would probably say: "Yes, I know that." If you should say that a + hundred thousand years from now all the dead will be raised, he might say: + "Probably they will." But if you should tell him that you saw a dead man + raised and given life that day, he would likely ask the name of the insane + asylum from which you had escaped. + </p> + <p> + Our Bible is filled with accounts of miracles and yet they always fail to + convince. + </p> + <p> + Jehovah, according to the Scriptures, wrought hundreds of miracles for the + benefit of the Jews. With many miracles he rescued them from slavery, + guided them on their journey with a miraculous cloud by day and a + miraculous pillar of fire by night—divided the sea that they might + escape from the Egyptians, fed them with miraculous manna and supernatural + quails, raised up hornets to attack their enemies, caused water to follow + them wherever they wandered and in countless ways manifested his power, + and yet the Jews cared nothing for these wonders. Not one of them seems to + have been convinced that Jehovah had done anything for the people. + </p> + <p> + In spite of all these miracles, the Jews had more confidence in a golden + calf, made by themselves, than in Jehovah. The reason of this is, that the + miracles were never performed, and never invented until hundreds of years + after those, who had wandered over the desert of Sinai, were dust. + </p> + <p> + The miracles attributed to Christ had no effect. No human being seems to + have been convinced by them. Those whom he raised from the dead, cured of + leprosy, or blindness, failed to become his followers. Not one of them + appeared at his trial. Not one offered to bear witness of his miraculous + power. + </p> + <p> + To this there is but one explanation: The miracles were never performed. + These stories were the growth of centuries. The casting out of devils, the + changing of water into wine, feeding the multitude with a few loaves and + fishes, resisting the devil, using a fish for a pocketbook, curing the + blind with clay and saliva, stilling the tempest, walking on the water, + the resurrection and ascension, happened and only happened, in the + imaginations of men, who were not born until several generations after + Christ was dead. + </p> + <p> + In those days the world was filled with ignorance and fear. Miracles + happened every day. The supernatural was expected. Gods were continually + interfering with the affairs of this world. Everything was told except the + truth, everything believed except the facts. History was a circumstantial + account of occurrences that never occurred. Devils and goblins and ghosts + were as plentiful as saints. The bones of the dead were used to cure the + living. Cemeteries were hospitals and corpses were physicians. The saints + practiced magic, the pious communed with God in dreams, and the course of + events was changed by prayer. The credulous demanded the marvelous, the + miraculous, and the priests supplied the demand. The sky was full of + signs, omens of death and disaster, and the darkness thick with devils + endeavoring to mislead and enslave the souls of men. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers thought that everything had been made for man, and that demons + and gods gave their entire attention to this world. The people believed + that they were the sport and prey, the favorites or victims, of these + phantoms. And they also believed that the Creator, the God, could be + influenced by sacrifice, by prayers and ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + This has been the mistake of the world. All the temples have been reared, + all the altars erected, all the sacrifices offered, all the prayers + uttered in vain. No god has interfered, no prayer has been answered, no + help received from heaven. Nothing was created, nothing has happened for, + or with reference to man. If not a human being lived,—if all Were + in' their graves, the sun would continue to shine, the wheeling world + would still pursue its flight, violets would spread their velvet bosoms to + the day, the spendthrift roses give their perfume to the air, the climbing + vines would hide with leaf and flower the fallen and the dead, the + changing seasons would come-and go,-time would repeat the poem of the + year, storms would wreck and whispering rains repair, Spring with deft and + unseen hands would weave her robes of green, life with countless lips + would seek fair Summer's swelling breasts, Autumn would reap the wealth of + leaf and fruit and seed, Winter, the artist, would etch in frost the pines + and ferns, while Wind and Wave and Fire, old architects, with ceaseless + toil would still destroy and build, still wreck and change, and from the + dust of death produce again the throb and breath of life. + </p> + <p> + V. + </p> + <p> + A FEW years ago a few men began to think, to investigate, to reason. They + began to doubt the legends of the church, the miracles of the past. They + began to notice what happened. They found that eclipses came at certain + intervals and that their coming could be foretold. They became satisfied + that the conduct of men had nothing to do with eclipses—and that the + stars moved in their orbits unconscious of the sons of men. Galileo, + Copernicus, and Kepler' destroyed the astronomy of the Bible, and + demonstrated that the "inspired" story of creation could not be true, and + that the church was as ignorant as the priests were dishonest. + </p> + <p> + They found that the myth-makers were mistaken, that the sun and stars did + not revolve about the earth, that the firmament was not solid, that the + earth was not flat, and that the so-called philosophy of the theologians + was absurd and idiotic. + </p> + <p> + The stars became witnesses against the creeds of superstition. + </p> + <p> + With the telescope the heavens were explored. The New Jerusalem could not + be found. + </p> + <p> + It had faded away. + </p> + <p> + The church persecuted the astronomers and denied the facts. In February, + in the year of grace sixteen hundred, the Catholic Church, the "Triumphant + Beast," having in her hands, her paws, the keys of heaven and hell, + accused Giordano Bruno of having declared that there were other worlds + than this. He was tried, convicted, imprisoned in a dungeon for seven + years. He was offered his liberty if he would recant. Bruno, the atheist, + the philosopher, refused to stain his soul by denying what he believed to + be true. He was taken from his cell by the priests, by those who loved + their enemies, led to the place of execution. He was clad in a robe on + which representations of devils had been painted—the devils that + were soon to claim his soul. He was chained to a stake and about his body + the wood was piled. Then priests, followers of Christ, lighted the fagots + and flames consumed the greatest, the most perfect martyr, that ever + suffered death. + </p> + <p> + And yet the Italian agent of God, the infallible Leo XIII., only a few + years ago, denounced Bruno, the "bravest of the brave," as a coward. + </p> + <p> + The church murdered him, and the pope maligned his memory. Fagot and + falsehood—two weapons of the church. + </p> + <p> + A little while ago a few men began to examine rocks and soils, mountains, + islands, reefs and seas. They noticed the valleys and deltas that had been + formed by rivers, the many strata of lava that had been changed to soil, + the vast deposits of metals and coal, the immense reefs that the coral had + formed, the work of glaciers in the far past, the production of soil by + the disintegration of rock, by the growth and decay of vegetation and the + countless evidences of the countless ages through which the Earth has + passed. The geologists read the history of the world written by wave and + flame, attested by fossils, by the formation of rocks, by mountain ranges, + by volcanoes, by rivers, islands, continents and seas. + </p> + <p> + The geology of the Bible—of the "divinely inspired" church, of the + "infallible" pope, was found to be utterly false and foolish. + </p> + <p> + The Earth became a witness against the creeds of superstition. + </p> + <p> + Then came Watt and Galvani with the miracles of steam and electricity, + while countless inventors created the wonderful machines that do the work + of the world. Investigation took the place of credulity. Men became + dissatisfied with huts and rags, with crusts and creeds. They longed for + the comforts, the luxuries of life. The intellectual horizon enlarged, new + truths were discovered, old ideas were thrown aside, the brain was + developed, the heart civilized and science was born. Humboldt, Laplace and + hundreds of others explained the phenomena of nature, called attention to + the ancient and venerable mistakes of sanctified ignorance and added to + the sum of knowledge. Darwin and Haeckel gave their conclusions to the + world. Men began to really think, the myths began to fade, the miracles to + grow mean and small, and the great structure, known as theology, fell with + a crash. + </p> + <p> + Science denies the truth of myth and miracle, denies that human testimony + can substantiate the miraculous, denies the existence of the supernatural. + Science asserts the absolute, the unvarying uniformity of nature. Science + insists that the present is the child of all the past,—that no power + can change the past, and that nature is forever the same. + </p> + <p> + The chemist has found that just so many atoms of one kind unite with just + so many of another—no more, no less, always the same. No caprice in + chemistry; no interference from without. + </p> + <p> + The astronomers know that the planets remain in their orbits—that + their forces are constant. They know that light is forever the same, + always obeying the angle of incidence, traveling with the same rapidity,—casting + the same shadow, under the same circumstances in all worlds. They know + that the eclipses will occur at the times foretold—neither hastening + nor delaying. They know that the attraction of gravitation is always the + same, always in perfect proportion to mass and distance, neither weaker + nor stronger, unvarying forever. They know that the facts in nature cannot + be changed or destroyed, and that the qualities of all things are eternal. + </p> + <p> + The men of science know that the atomic integrity of the metals is always + the same, that each metal is true to its nature and that the particles + cling to each other with the same tenacity,—the same force. They + have demonstrated the persistence of force, that it is forever active, + forever the same, and that it cannot be destroyed. + </p> + <p> + These great truths have revolutionized the thought of the world. + </p> + <p> + Every art, every employment, all study, all experiment, the value of + experience, of judgment, of hope, all rest on a belief in the uniformity + of nature, on the eternal persistence and indestructibility of force. + </p> + <p> + Break one link in the infinite chain of cause and effect, and the Master + of Nature appears. The broken link would become the throne of a god. + </p> + <p> + The uniformity of Nature denies the supernatural and demonstrates that + there is no interference from without. There is no place, no office left + for gods. Ghosts fade from the brain and the shrivelled deities fall + palsied from their thrones. + </p> + <p> + The uniformity of Nature renders a belief in "special providence" + impossible. Prayer becomes a useless agitation of the air, and religious + ceremonies are but motions, pantomimes, mindless and meaningless. + </p> + <p> + The naked savage, worshiping a wooden god, is the religious equal of the + robed pope kneeling before an image of the Virgin. The poor African who + carries roots and bark to protect himself from evil spirits is on the same + intellectual plane of one who sprinkles his body with "holy water." + </p> + <p> + All the creeds of Christendom, all the religions of the heathen world are + equally absurd. The cathedral, the mosque and the joss house have the same + foundation. Their builders do not believe in the uniformity of Nature, and + the business of all priests is to induce a so-called infinite being to + change the order of events, to make causes barren of effects and to + produce effects without, and in spite of, natural causes. They all believe + in the unthinkable and pray for the impossible. + </p> + <p> + Science teaches us that there was no creation and that there can be no + destruction. The infinite denies creation and defies destruction. An + infinite person, an "infinite being" is an infinite impossibility. To + conceive of such a being is beyond the power of the mind. Yet all + religions rest upon the supposed existence of the unthinkable, the + inconceivable. And the priests of these religions pretend to be perfectly + familiar with the designs, will, and wishes of this unthinkable, this + inconceivable. + </p> + <p> + Science teaches that that which really is has always been, that behind + every effect is the efficient and necessary cause, that there is in the + universe neither chance nor interference, and that energy is eternal. Day + by day the authority of the theologian grows weaker and weaker. As the + people become intelligent they care less for preachers and more for + teachers. Their confidence in knowledge, in thought and investigation + increases. They are eager to know the discoveries, the useful truths, the + important facts made, ascertained and demonstrated by the explorers in the + domain of the natural. They are no longer satisfied with the platitudes of + the pulpit, and the assertions of theologians. They are losing confidence + in the "sacred Scriptures" and in the protecting power and goodness of the + supernatural. They are satisfied that credulity is not a virtue and that + investigation is not a crime. + </p> + <p> + Science is the providence of man, the worker of true miracles, of real + wonders. Science has "read a little in Nature's infinite book of secrecy." + Science knows the circuits of the winds, the courses of the stars. Fire is + his servant, and lightning his messenger. Science freed the slaves and + gave liberty to their masters. Science taught man to enchain, not his + fellows, but the forces of nature, forces that have no backs to be + scarred, no limbs for chains to chill and eat, forces that have no hearts + to break, forces that never know fatigue, forces that shed no tears. + Science is the great physician. His touch has given sight. He has made the + lame to leap, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, and in the pallid face + his hand has set the rose of health. Science has given his beloved sleep + and wrapped in happy dreams the throbbing nerves of pain. Science is the + destroyer of disease, builder of happy homes, the preserver of life and + love. Science is the teacher of every virtue, the enemy of every vice. + Science has given the true basis of morals, the origin and office of + conscience, revealed the nature of obligation, of duty, of virtue in its + highest, noblest forms, and has demonstrated that true happiness is the + only possible good. Science has slain the monsters of superstition, and + destroyed the authority of inspired books. Science has read the records of + the rocks, records that priestcraft cannot change, and on his wondrous + scales has weighed the atom and the star. + </p> + <p> + Science has founded the only true religion. Science is the only Savior of + this world. + </p> + <p> + VI. + </p> + <p> + FOR many ages religion has been tried. For countless centuries man has + sought for help from heaven. To soften the heart of God, mothers + sacrificed their babes! but the God did not hear, did not see, and did not + help. Naked savages were devoured by beasts, bitten by serpents, killed by + flood and frost. They prayed for help, but their God was deaf. They built + temples and altars, employed priests and gave of their substance, but the + volcano destroyed and the famine came. For the sake of God millions + murdered their fellow-men, but the God was silent. Millions of martyrs + died for the honor of God, but the God was blind. He did not see the + flames, the scaffolds. He did not hear the prayers, the groans. Thousands + of priests in the name of God tortured their fellow-men, stretched them on + racks, crushed their feet in iron boots, tore out their tongues, + extinguished their eyes. The victims implored the protection of God, but + their god did not hear, did not see. He was deaf and blind. He was willing + that his enemies should torture his friends. + </p> + <p> + Nations tried to destroy each other for the sake of God, and the banner of + the cross dripping with blood floated over a thousand fields—but the + god was silent. He neither knew nor cared. Pestilence covered the earth + with dead, the priests prayed, the altars were heaped with sacrifices, but + the god did not see, did not hear. The miseries of the world did not + lessen the joys of heaven. The clouds gave no rain, the famine came, + withered babes with pallid lips sought the breasts of dead mothers, while + starving fathers knelt and prayed, but the god did not hear. Through many + centuries millions were enslaved, babes were sold from mothers, husbands + from wives, backs were scarred with the lash. The poor wretches lifted + their clasped hands toward heaven and prayed for justice, for liberty—but + their god did not hear. He cared nothing for the sufferings of slaves, + nothing for the tears of wives and mothers, nothing for the agony of men. + He answered no prayers. He broke no chains. He freed no slaves. + </p> + <p> + The miserable wretches appealed to the priests of God, but they were on + the other side. They defended the masters. The slaves had nothing to give. + </p> + <p> + During all these years it was claimed by the theologians that their God + was governing the world, that he was infinitely powerful, wise and good—and + that the "powers" of the earth were "ordained" by him. During all these + years the church was the enemy of progress. It hated all physicians and + told the people to rely on prayer, amulets and relics. It persecuted the + astronomers and geologists, denounced them as infidels and atheists, as + enemies of the human race. It poisoned the fountains of learning and + insisted that teachers should distort the facts in nature to the end that + they might harmonize with the "inspired" book. During all these years the + church misdirected the energies of man, and when it reached the zenith of + its power, darkness fell upon the world. + </p> + <p> + In all nations and in all ages, religion has failed. The gods have never + interfered. Nature has produced and destroyed without mercy and without + hatred. She has cared no more for man than for the leaves of the forest, + no more for nations than for hills of ants, nothing for right or wrong, + for life or death, for pain or joy. + </p> + <p> + Man through his intelligence must protect himself. He gets no help from + any other world. The church has always claimed and still claims that it is + the only reforming power, that it makes men honest, virtuous and merciful, + that it prevents violence and war, and that without its influence the race + would return to barbarism. + </p> + <p> + Nothing can exceed the absurdity of these claims. + </p> + <p> + If we wish to improve the condition of mankind—if we wish for nobler + men and women we must develop the brain, we must encourage thought and + investigation. We must convince the world that credulity is a vice,—that + there is no virtue in believing without, or against evidence, and that the + really honest man is true to himself. We must fill the world with + intellectual light. We must applaud mental courage. We must educate the + children, rescue them from ignorance and crime. School-houses are the real + temples, and teachers are the true priests. We must supply the wants of + the mind, satisfy the hunger of the brain. The people should be familiar + with the great poets, with the tragedies of �?schylus, the dramas + of Shakespeare, with the poetry of Homer and Virgil. Shakespeare should be + taught in every school, found in every house. + </p> + <p> + Through photography the whole world may become acquainted with the great + statues, the great paintings, the victories of art. In this way the mind + is enlarged, the sympathies quickened, the appreciation of the beautiful + intensified, the taste refined and the character ennobled. + </p> + <p> + The great novels should be read by all. All should be acquainted with the + men and women of fiction, with the ideal world. The imagination should be + developed, trained and strengthened. Superstition has degraded art and + literature. It gave us winged monsters, scenes from heaven and hell, + representations of gods and devils, sculptured the absurd and painted the + impossible in the name of Art. It gave us the dreams of the insane, the + lives of fanatical saints, accounts of miracles and wonders, of cures + wrought by the bones of the dead, descriptions of Paradise, purgatory and + the eternal dungeon, discourses on baptism, on changing wine and wafers + into the the blood and flesh of God, on the forgiveness of sins by + priests, on fore-ordination and accountability, predestination and free + will, on devils, ghosts and goblins, the ministrations of guardian angels, + the virtue of belief and the wickedness of doubt. And this was called + "sacred literature." + </p> + <p> + The church taught that those who believed, counted beads, mumbled prayers, + and gave their time or property for the support of the gospel were the + good and that all others were traveling the "broad road" to eternal pain. + According to the theologians, the best people, the saints, were dead, and + real beauty was to be found only in heaven. They denounced the joys of + life as husks and filthy rags, declared that the world had been cursed, + and that it brought forth thistles and thorns because of the sins of man. + They regarded the earth as a kind of dock, running out into the sea of + eternity,—on which the pious waited for the ship on which they were + to be transported to another world. + </p> + <p> + But the real poets and the real artists clung to this world, to this life. + They described and represented things that exist. They expressed thoughts + of the brain, emotions of the heart, the griefs and joys, the hope and + despair of men and women. They found strength and beauty on every hand. + They found their angels here. They were true to human experience and they + touched the brain and heart of the world. In the tragedies and comedies of + life, in the smiles and tears, in the ecstasies of love, in the darkness + of death, in the dawn of hope, they found their materials for statue and + song, for poem and painting. Poetry and art are the children of this + world, born and nourished here. They are human. They have left the winged + monsters of heaven, the malicious deformities of hell, and have turned + their attention to men and women, to the things of this life. + </p> + <p> + There is a poem called "The Skylark," by Shelley, graceful as the motions + of flames. Another by Robert Burns, called "The Daisy," exquisite, perfect + as the pearl of virtue in the beautiful breast of a loving girl. Between + this lark and this daisy, neither above nor below, you will find all the + poetry of the world. Eloquence, sublimity, poetry and art must have the + foundation of fact, of reality. Imaginary worlds and beings are nothing to + us. + </p> + <p> + At last the old creeds are becoming cruel and vulgar. We now have + imagination enough to put ourselves in the place of others. Believers in + hell, in eternal pain, like murderers, lack imagination. The murderer has + not imagination enough to see his victim dead. He does not see the + sightless and pathetic eyes. He does not see the widow's arms about the + corpse, her lips upon the dead. He does not hear the sobs of children. He + does not see the funeral. He does not hear the clods as they fall on the + coffin. He does not feel the hand of arrest, the scene of the trial is not + before him. He does not hear the awful verdict, the sentence of the court, + the last words. He does not see the scaffold, nor feel about his throat + the deadly noose. + </p> + <p> + Let us develop the brain, civilize the heart, and give wings to the + imagination. + </p> + <p> + VII. + </p> + <p> + IF we abandon myth and miracle, if we discard the supernatural and the + scheme of redemption, how are we to civilize the world? + </p> + <p> + Is falsehood a reforming power? Is credulity the mother of virtue? Is + there any saving grace in the impossible and absurd? Did wisdom perish + with the dead? Must the civilized accept the religion of savages? + </p> + <p> + If we wish to reform the world we must rely on truth, on fact, on reason. + We must teach men that they are good or bad for themselves, that others + cannot be good or bad for them, that they cannot be charged with the + crimes, or credited with the virtues of others. We must discard the + doctrine of the atonement, because it is absurd and immoral. We are not + accountable for the sins of "Adam" and the virtues of Christ cannot be + transferred to us. There can be no vicarious virtue, no vicarious vice. + Why should the sufferings of the innocent atone for the crimes of the + guilty. According to the doctrine of the atonement right and wrong do not + exist in the nature of things, but in the arbitrary will of the Infinite. + This is a subversion of all ideas of justice and mercy. + </p> + <p> + An act is good, bad, or indifferent, according to its consequences. No + power can step between an act and its natural consequences. A governor may + pardon the criminal, but the natural consequences of the crime remain + untouched. A god may forgive, but the consequences of the act forgiven, + are still the same. We must teach the world that the consequences of a bad + action cannot be avoided, that they are the invisible police, the unseen + avengers, that accept no gifts, that hear no prayers, that no cunning can + deceive. + </p> + <p> + We do not need the forgiveness of gods, but of ourselves and the ones we + injure. Restitution without repentance is far better than repentance + without restitution. + </p> + <p> + We know nothing of any god who rewards, punishes or forgives. + </p> + <p> + We must teach our fellow-men that honor comes from within, not from + without, that honor must be earned, that it is not alms, that even an + infinite God could not enrich the beggar's palm with the gem of honor. + </p> + <p> + Teach them also that happiness is the bud, the blossom and the fruit of + good and noble actions, that it is not the gift of any god; that it must + be earned by man—must be deserved. + </p> + <p> + In this world of ours there is no magic, no sleight-of-hand, by which + consequences can be made to punish the good and reward the bad. + </p> + <p> + Teach men not to sacrifice this world for some other, but to turn their + attention to the natural, to the affairs of this life. Teach them that + theology has no known foundation, that it was born of ignorance and fear, + that it has hardened the heart, polluted the imagination and made fiends + of men. + </p> + <p> + Theology is not for this world. It is no part of real religion. It has + nothing to do with goodness or virtue. Religion does not consist in + worshiping gods, but in adding to the well-being, the happiness of man. No + human being knows whether any god exists or not, and all that has been + said and written about "our god," or the gods of other people, has no + known fact for a foundation. Words without thoughts, clouds without rain. + </p> + <p> + Let us put theology out of religion. + </p> + <p> + Church and state should be absolutely divorced. Priests pretend that they + have been selected by, and that they get their power from God. Kings + occupy their thrones in accordance with the will of God. The pope declares + that he is the agent, the deputy of God and that by right he should rule + the world. All these pretentions and assertions are perfectly absurd and + yet they are acknowledged and believed by millions. Get theology out of + government and kings will descend from their thrones. All will admit that + governments get their powers from the consent of the governed, and that + all persons in office are the servants of the people. Get theology out of + government and chaplains will be dismissed from Legislatures, from + Congress, from the army and navy. Get theology out of government and + people will be allowed to express their honest thoughts about "inspired + books" and superstitious creeds. Get theology out of government and + priests will no longer steal a seventh of our time. Get theology out of + government and the clergy will soon take their places with augurs and + soothsayers, with necromancers and medicine-men. + </p> + <p> + Get theology out of education. Nothing should be taught in a school that + somebody does not know. + </p> + <p> + There are plenty of things to be learned about this world, about this + life. Every child should be taught to think, and that it is dangerous not + to think. Children should not be taught the absurdities, the cruelties and + imbecilities of superstition. No church should be allowed to control the + common school, and public money should not be divided between the hateful + and warring sects. The public school should be secular, and only the + useful should be taught. Many of our colleges are under the control of + churches. Presidents and professors are mostly ministers of the gospel and + the result is that all facts inconsistent with the creeds are either + suppressed or denied. Only those professors who are naturally stupid or + mentally dishonest can retain their places. Those who tell the truth, who + teach the facts, are discharged. + </p> + <p> + In every college truth should be a welcome guest. Every professor should + be a finder, and every student a learner, of facts. Theology and + intellectual dishonesty go together. The teacher of children should be + intelligent and perfectly sincere. + </p> + <p> + Let us get theology out of education. + </p> + <p> + The pious denounce the secular schools as godless. They should be. The + sciences are all secular, all godless. Theology bears the same relation to + science that the black art does to chemistry, that magic does to + mathematics. It is something that cannot be taught, because it cannot be + known. It has no foundation in fact. It neither produces, nor accords + with, any image in the mind. It is not only unknowable but unthinkable. + Through hundreds and thousands of generations men have been discussing, + wrangling and fighting about theology. No advance has been made. The robed + priest has only reached the point from which the savage tried to start. + </p> + <p> + We know that theology always has and always will make enemies. It sows the + seeds of hatred in families and nations. It is selfish, cruel, revengeful + and malicious. It has heaven for the few and perdition for the many. We + now know that credulity is not a virtue and that intellectual courage is. + We must stop rewarding hypocrisy and bigotry. We must stop persecuting the + thinkers, the investigators, the creators of light, the civilizers of the + world. + </p> + <p> + VIII. + </p> + <p> + WILL the unknown, the mysteries of life and itiations of the mind, forever + furnish food for superstition? Will the gods and ghosts perish or simply + retreat before the advancing hosts of science, and continue to crouch and + lurk just beyond the horizon of the known? Will darkness forever be the + womb and mother of the supernatural? + </p> + <p> + A little while ago priests told peasants that the New Jerusalem, the + celestial city was just above the clouds. They said that its walls and + domes and spires were just beyond the reach of human sight. The telescope + was invented and those who looked at the wilderness of stars, saw no city, + no throne. They said to the priests: "Where is your New Jerusalem?" The + priests cheerfully and confidently replied. "It is just beyond where you + see." + </p> + <p> + At one time it was believed that a race of men existed "with their heads + beneath their shoulders." Returning travelers from distant lands were + asked about these wonderful people and all replied that they had not seen + them. "Oh," said the believers in the monsters, "the men with heads + beneath their shoulders live in a country that you did not visit." And so + the monsters lived and flourished until all the world was known. We cannot + know the universe. We cannot travel infinite distances, and so, somewhere + in shoreless space there will always be room for gods and ghosts, for + heavens and hells. And so it may be that superstition will live and linger + until the world becomes intelligent enough to build upon the foundation of + the known, to keep the imagination within the domain of the probable, and + to believe in the natural—<i>until the supernatural shall have been + demonstrated</i>. + </p> + <p> + Savages knew all about gods, about heavens and hells before they knew + anything about the world in which they lived. They were perfectly familiar + with evil spirits, with the invisible phantoms of the air, long before + they had any true conception of themselves. So, they knew all about the + origin and destiny of the human race. They were absolutely certain about + the problems, the solution of which, philosophers know, is beyond the + limitations of the mind. They understood astrology, but not astronomy, + knew something of magic, but nothing about chemistry. They were wise only + as to those things about which nothing can be known. + </p> + <p> + The poor Indian believed in the "Great Spirit" and saw "design" on every + hand.—Trees were made that he might have bows and arrows, wood for + his fire and bark for his wigwam—rivers and lakes to give him fish, + wild beasts and corn that he might have food, and the animals had skins + that he might have clothes. + </p> + <p> + Primitive peoples all reasoned in the same way, and modern Christians + follow their example. They knew but little of the world and thought that + it had been made expressly for the use of man. They did not know that it + was mostly water, that vast regions were locked in eternal ice and that in + most countries the conditions were unfavorable to human life. They knew + nothing of the countless enemies of man that live unseen in water, food + and air. Back of the little good they knew they put gods and back of the + evil, devils. They thought it of the greatest importance to gain the good + will of the gods, who alone could protect them from the devils. Those who + worshiped these gods, offered sacrifices, and obeyed priests, were + considered loyal members of the tribe or community, and those who refused + to worship were regarded as enemies and traitors. The believers, in order + to protect themselves from the anger of the gods, exiled or destroyed the + infidels. + </p> + <p> + Believing as they did, the course they pursued was natural. They not only + wished to protect themselves from disease and death, from pestilence and + famine in this world but the souls of their children from eternal pain in + the next. Their gods were savages who demanded flattery and worship not + only, but the acceptance of a certain creed. As long as Christians believe + in eternal punishment they will be the enemies of those who investigate + and contend for the authority of reason, of those who demand evidence, who + care nothing for the unsupported assertions of the dead or the illogical + inferences of the living. + </p> + <p> + Science always has been, is, and always will be modest, thoughtful, + truthful. It has but one object: The ascertainment of truth. It has no + prejudice, no hatred. It is in the realm of the intellect and cannot be + swayed or changed by passion. It does not try to please God, to gain + heaven or avoid hell. It is for this world, for the use of man. It is + perfectly candid. It does not try to conceal, but to reveal. It is the + enemy of mystery, of pretence and canc. It does not ask people to be + solemn, but sensible. It calls for and insists on the use of all the + senses, of all the faculties of the mind. It does not pretend to be "holy" + or "inspired." It courts investigation, criticism and even denial. It asks + for the application of every test, for trial by every standard. It knows + nothing of blasphemy and does not ask for the imprisonment of those who + ignorantly or knowingly deny the truth. The good that springs from a + knowledge of the truth is the only reward it offers, and the evil + resulting from ignorance is the only punishment it threatens. Its effort + is to reform the world through intelligence. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand theology is, always has been, and always will be, + ignorant, arrogant, puerile and cruel. When the church had power, + hypocrisy was crowned and honesty imprisoned. Fraud wore the tiara and + truth was a convict, Liberty was in chains, Theology has always sent the + worst to heaven, the best to hell. + </p> + <p> + Let me give you a scene from the day of judgment. Christ is upon his + throne, his secretary by his side. A soul appears. This is what happens— + </p> + <p> + "What is your name?" + </p> + <p> + Torquemada. + </p> + <p> + "Were you a Christian?" + </p> + <p> + I was. + </p> + <p> + "Did you endeavor to convert your fellow-men?" + </p> + <p> + I did. I tried to convert them by persuasion, by preaching and praying and + even by force. + </p> + <p> + "What did you do?" + </p> + <p> + I put the heretics in prison, in chains. I tore out their tongues, put out + their eyes, crushed their bones, stretched them upon racks, roasted their + feet, and if they remained obdurate I flayed them alive or burned them at + the stake. + </p> + <p> + "And did you do all this for my glory?" + </p> + <p> + Yes, all for you. I wanted to save some, I wanted to protect the young and + the weak minded. + </p> + <p> + "Did you believe the Bible, the miracles—that I was God, that I was + born of a virgin and kept money in the mouth of a fish?" + </p> + <p> + Yes, I believed it all. My reason was the slave of faith. + </p> + <p> + "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy + Lord. I was hungry and you gave me meat, naked and you clothed me.." + Another soul arises. + </p> + <p> + "What is your name?" + </p> + <p> + Giordano Bruno. + </p> + <p> + "Were you a Christian?" + </p> + <p> + At one time I was, but for many years I was a philosopher, a seeker after + truth. + </p> + <p> + "Did you seek to convert your fellow-men?" + </p> + <p> + Not to Christianity, but to the religion of reason. I tried to develop + their minds, to free them from the slavery of ignorance and superstition. + In my day the church taught the holiness of credulity—the virtue of + unquestioning obedience, and in your name tortured and destroyed the + intelligent and courageous. I did what I could to civilize the world, to + make men tolerant and merciful, to soften the hearts of priests, and + banish torture from the world. I expressed my honest thoughts and walked + in the light of reason. + </p> + <p> + "Did you believe the Bible, the miracles? Did you believe that I was God, + that I was born of a virgin and that I suffered myself to be killed by the + Jews to appease the wrath of God—that is, of myself—so that + God could save the souls of a few?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I did not. I did not believe that God was ever born into my world, or + that God learned the trade of a carpenter, or that he 'increased in + knowledge,' or that he cast devils out of men, or that his garments could + cure diseases, or that he allowed himself to be murdered, and in the hour + of death "forsook" himself. These things I did not and could not believe. + But I did all the good I could. I enlightened the ignorant, comforted the + afflicted, defended the innocent, divided even my poverty with the poor, + and did the best I could to increase the happiness of my fellow-men. I was + a soldier in the army of progress.—I was arrested, imprisoned, tried + and convicted by the church—by the 'Triumphant Beast.' I was burned + at the stake by ignorant and heartless priests and my ashes given to the + winds." + </p> + <p> + Then Christ, his face growing dark, his brows contracted with wrath, with + uplifted hands, with half averted face, cries or rather shrieks: "Depart + from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his + angels." + </p> + <p> + This is the justice of God—the mercy of the compassionate Christ. + This is the belief, the dream and hope of the orthodox theologian—"the + consummation devoutly to be wished." + </p> + <p> + Theology makes God a monster, a tyrant, a savage; makes man a servant, a + serf, a slave; promises heaven to the obedient, the meek, the frightened, + and threatens the self-reliant with the tortures of hell. + </p> + <p> + It denounces reason and appeals to the passions—to hope and fear. It + does not answer the arguments of those who attack, but resorts to + sophistry, falsehood and slander. It is incapable of advancement. It keeps + its back to the sunrise, lives on myth and miracle, and guards with a + misers care the "sacred" superstitions of the past. + </p> + <p> + In the great struggle between the supernatural and the natural, between + gods and men, we have passed midnight. All the forces of civilization, all + the facts that have been found, all the truths that have been discovered + are the allies of science—the enemies of the supernatural. + </p> + <p> + We need no myths, no miracles, no gods, no devils. + </p> + <p> + IX. + </p> + <p> + FOR thousands of generations the myths have been taught and the miracles + believed. Every mother was a missionary and told with loving care the + falsehoods of "faith" to her babe. The poison of superstition was in the + mother's milk. She was honest and affectionate and her character, her + goodness, her smiles and kisses, entered into, mingled with, and became a + part of the superstition that she taught. Fathers, friends and priests + united with the mothers, and the children thus taught, became the teachers + of their children and so the creeds were kept alive. + </p> + <p> + Childhood loves the romantic, the mysterious, the monstrous. It lives in a + world where cause has nothing to do with effect, where the fairy waves her + hand and the prince appears. Where wish creates the thing desired and + facts become the slaves of amulet and charm. The individual lives the life + of the race, and the child is charmed with what the race in its infancy + produced. + </p> + <p> + There seems to be the same difference between mistakes and facts that + there is between weeds and corn. Mistakes seem to take care of themselves, + while the facts have to be guarded with all possible care. Falsehoods like + weeds flourish without care. Weeds care nothing for soil or rain. They not + only ask no help but they almost defy destruction. In the minds of + children, superstitions, legends, myths and miracles find a natural, and + in most instances a lasting home. Thrown aside in manhood, forgotten or + denied, in old age they oft return and linger to the end. + </p> + <p> + This in part accounts for the longevity of religious lies. Ministers with + clasped hands and uplifted eyes ask the man who is thinking for himself + how he can be wicked and heartless enough to attack the religion of his + mother. This question is regarded by the clergy as unanswerable. Of course + it is not to be asked by the missionaries, of the Hindus and the Chinese. + The heathen are expected to desert the religion of their mothers as Christ + and his apostles deserted the religion of their mothers. It is right for + Jews and heathen, but not for thinkers and philosophers. + </p> + <p> + A cannibal was about to kill a missionary for food. + </p> + <p> + The missionary objected and asked the cannibal how he could be so cruel + and wicked. + </p> + <p> + The cannibal replied that he followed the example of his mother. "My + mother," said he, "was good enough for me. Her religion is my religion. + The last time I saw her she was sitting, propped up against a tree, eating + cold missionary." + </p> + <p> + But now the mother argument has mostly lost its force, and men of mind are + satisfied with nothing less than truth. + </p> + <p> + The phenomena of nature have been investigated and the supernatural has + not been found. The myths have faded from the imagination, and of them + nothing remains but the poetic. The miraculous has become the absurd, the + impossible. Gods and phantoms have been driven from the earth and sky. We + are living in a natural world. + </p> + <p> + Our fathers, some of them, demanded the freedom of religion. We have taken + another step. We demand the Religion of Freedom. + </p> + <p> + O Liberty, thou art the god of my idolatry! Thou art the only deity that + hateth bended knees. In thy vast and unwalled temple, beneath the roofless + dome, star-gemmed and luminous with suns, thy worshipers stand erect! They + do not cringe, or crawl, or bend their foreheads to the earth. The dust + has never borne the impress of their lips. Upon thy altars mothers do not + sacrifice their babes, nor men their rights. Thou askest naught from man + except the things that good men hate—the whip, the chain, the + dungeon key. Thou hast no popes, no priests, who stand between their + fellow-men and thee. Thou carest not for foolish forms, or selfish + prayers. At thy sacred shrine hypocrisy does not bow, virtue does not + tremble, superstition's feeble tapers do not burn, but Reason holds aloft + her inextinguishable torch whose holy light will one day flood the world. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + <table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="4"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <big><big><a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/38813/38813-h/38813-h.htm"> + TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR ALL 12 EBOOKS IN THIS SET</a></big></big> + </td> + <td></td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. +2 (of 12), by Robert G. 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