Some Mistakes of MosesC.P. Farrell, 1879 - 278 síður 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.....Robert Green Ingersoll |
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Síða 20
... 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 con- tributed a dollar towards ...
... 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 con- tributed a dollar towards ...
Síða 21
... 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 . SOME MISTAKES ...
... 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 . SOME MISTAKES ...
Síða 23
... reason . 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 ...
... reason . 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 ...
Síða 24
... reason is a delusive glare , lighting only the road to eternal pain . Until the clergy are free they cannot be intel- lectually honest . We can never tell what they really believe until they know that they can safely speak . They ...
... reason is a delusive glare , lighting only the road to eternal pain . Until the clergy are free they cannot be intel- lectually honest . We can never tell what they really believe until they know that they can safely speak . They ...
Síða 27
... reason of mankind , we shall reap but little benefit from church or school . Instead of dismissing professors for finding some- thing out , let us rather discharge those who do not . Let each teacher understand that investigation is not ...
... reason of mankind , we shall reap but little benefit from church or school . Instead of dismissing professors for finding some- thing out , let us rather discharge those who do not . Let each teacher understand that investigation is not ...
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