DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME V.
PREFACE.
INGERSOLL'S INTERVIEWS ON TALMAGE.
FIRST INTERVIEW.
SECOND INTERVIEW.
THIRD INTERVIEW.
FOURTH INTERVIEW.
FIFTH INTERVIEW,
SIXTH INTERVIEW.
THE TALMAGIAN CATECHISM.
A VINDICATION OF THOMAS PAINE.
CONCLUSION.
THE OBSERVER'S SECOND ATTACK
INGERSOLL'S SECOND REPLY.
INGERSOLL'S SIX INTERVIEWS ON TALMAGE.(1882.)Preface—First Interview: Great Men as Witnessesto the Truth of the Gospel—No man should quotethe Words of Another unless he is willing toAccept all the Opinions of that Man—Reasons ofmore Weight than Reputations—Would a generalAcceptance of Unbelief fill the Penitentiaries?—My Creed—Most Criminals Orthodox—Relig-ion andMorality not Necessarily Associates—On theCreation of the Universe out of Omnipotence—Mr.Talmage's Theory about the Pro-duction of Lightprior to the Creation of the Sun—The Deluge andthe Ark—Mr. Talmage's tendency to Belittle theBible Miracles—His Chemical, Geological, andAgricultural Views—His Disregard of Good Manners--Second Interview: An Insulting Text—God's Designin Creating Guiteau to be the Assassin ofGarfield—Mr. Talmage brings the Charge ofBlasphemy—Some Real Blasphemers—The TabernaclePastor tells the exact Opposite of the Truth aboutCol. Ingersoll's Attitude toward the Circulationof Immoral Books—"Assassinating" God—Mr.Talmage finds Nearly All the Invention of ModernTimes Mentioned in the Bible—The ReverendGentleman corrects the Translators of the Bible inthe Matter of the Rib Story—Denies that Polygamyis permitted by the Old Testament—His De-fence ofQueen Victoria and Violation of the Grave ofGeorge Eliot—Exhibits a Christian Spirit—ThirdInterview: Mr. Talmage's Partiality in theBestowal of his Love—Denies the Right of Laymento Examine the Scriptures—Thinks the InfidelsVictims of Bibliophobia —He explains the Stoppingof the Sun and Moon at the Command of Joshua—Instances a Dark Day in the Early Part of theCentury—Charges that Holy Things are Made Lightof—Reaffirms his Confidence in the Whale andJonah Story—The Commandment which Forbids themaking of Graven Images—Affirmation that theBible is the Friend of Woman—The PresentCondition of Woman—Fourth Interview: ColonelIngersoll Compared by Mr. Talmage tojehoiakim, whoConsigned Writings of Jeremiah to the Flames—AnIntimation that Infidels wish to have all copiesof the Bible Destroyed by Fire—LaughterDeprecated—Col. Ingersoll Accused of Denouncinghis Father—Mr. Talmage holds that a Man may bePerfectly Happy in Heaven with His Mother in Hell--Challenges the Infidel to Read a Chapter from St.John—On the "Chief Solace of the World"—Dis-covers an Attempt is being made to Put Out theLight-houses of the Farther Shore—Affirms ourDebt to Christianity for Schools, Hospitals,etc.—Denies that Infidels have ever Done anyGood—Fifth Interview: Inquiries if Men gather Grapes ofThorns, or Figs of Thistles, and is Answered inthe Negative—Resents the Charge that the Bible isa Cruel Book—Demands to Know where the Cruelty ofthe Bible Crops out in the Lives of Christians—Col. Ingersoll Accused of saying that the Bibleis a Collection of Polluted Writings—Mr. TalmageAsserts the Orchestral Harmony of the Scripturesfrom Genesis to Revelation, and Repudiates theTheory of Contradictions—His View of MankindIndicated in Quotations from his Confession ofFaith—He Insists that the Bible is Scientific—Traces the New Testament to its Source with St.John—Pledges his Word that no Man ever Died for aLie Cheerfully and Triumphantly—As to Propheciesand Predictions—Alleged "Prophetic" Fate of theJewish People—Sixth Interview: Dr. Talmage takesthe Ground that the Unrivalled Circulation of theBible Proves that it is Inspired—Forgets' that aScientific Fact does not depend on the Vote ofNumbers—Names some Christian Millions—HisArguments Characterized as the Poor-est, Weakest,and Best Possible in Support of the Doctrine ofInspira-tion—Will God, in Judging a Man, takeinto Consideration the Cir-cumstances of thatMan's Life?—Satisfactory Reasons for Not Believ-ing that the Bible is inspired.THE TALMAGIAN CATECHISM.THE TALMAGIAN CATECHISM.The Pith and Marrow of what Mr. Talmage has beenPleased to Say, set forth in the form of a ShorterCatechism.A VINDICATION OF THOMAS PAINE.(1877.)Letter to the New York Observer—An Offer to PayOne Thousand Dollars in Gold for Proof that ThomasPaine or Voltaire Died in Terror because of anyReligious Opinions Either had Expressed—Proposition to Create a Tribunal to Hear theEvidence—The Ob-server, after having Called uponCol. Ingersoll to Deposit the Money, andCharacterized his Talk as "Infidel 'Buncombe,'"Denies its Own Words, but attempts to Prove them—Its Memory Refreshed by Col. Ingersoll and theSlander Refuted—Proof that Paine did Not Recant --Testimony of Thomas Nixon, Daniel Pelton, Mr.Jarvis, B. F. Has-kin, Dr. Manley, AmasaWoodsworth, Gilbert Vale, Philip Graves, M. D.,Willet Hicks, A. C. Hankinson, John Hogeboom, W.J. Hilton, Tames Cheetham, Revs. Milledollar andCunningham, Mrs. Hedden, Andrew A. Dean, WilliamCarver,—The Statements of Mary Roscoe and MaryHindsdale Examined—William Cobbett's Account of aCall upon Mary Hinsdale—Did Thomas Paine live theLife of a Drunken Beast, and did he Die a Drunken,Cowardly, and Beastly Death?—Grant Thorbum'sCharges Examined—Statement of the Rev. J. D.Wickham, D.D., shown to be Utterly False—FalseWitness of the Rev. Charles Hawley, D.D.—W. H.Ladd, James Cheetham, and Mary Hinsdale—Paine'sNote to Cheetham—Mr-Staple, Mr. Purdy, Col. JohnFellows, James Wilburn, Walter Morton, ClioRickman, Judge Herttell, H. Margary, Elihu Palmer,Mr.XVLovett, all these Testified that Paine was aTemperate Man—Washington's Letter to Paine—Thomas Jefferson's—Adams and Washing-ton on"Common Sense"—-James Monroe's Tribute—Quotations from Paine—Paine's Estate and HisWill—The Observer's Second Attack (p. 492):Statements of Elkana Watson, William Carver, Rev.E. F. Hatfield, D.D., James Cheetham, Dr. J. W.Francis, Dr. Manley, Bishop Fenwick—Ingersoll'sSecond Reply (p. 516): Testimony Garbled by theEditor of the Observer—Mary Roscoeand Mary Hins-dale the Same Person—Her Reputation for Veracity--Letter from Rev. A. W. Cornell—Grant ThorburnExposed by James Parton—The Observer's Admissionthat Paine did not Recant—Affidavit ofWilliam B. Barnes.
INGERSOLL'S SIX INTERVIEWS ON TALMAGE.
(1882.)Preface—First Interview: Great Men as Witnessesto the Truth of the Gospel—No man should quotethe Words of Another unless he is willing toAccept all the Opinions of that Man—Reasons ofmore Weight than Reputations—Would a generalAcceptance of Unbelief fill the Penitentiaries?—My Creed—Most Criminals Orthodox—Relig-ion andMorality not Necessarily Associates—On theCreation of the Universe out of Omnipotence—Mr.Talmage's Theory about the Pro-duction of Lightprior to the Creation of the Sun—The Deluge andthe Ark—Mr. Talmage's tendency to Belittle theBible Miracles—His Chemical, Geological, andAgricultural Views—His Disregard of Good Manners--Second Interview: An Insulting Text—God's Designin Creating Guiteau to be the Assassin ofGarfield—Mr. Talmage brings the Charge ofBlasphemy—Some Real Blasphemers—The TabernaclePastor tells the exact Opposite of the Truth aboutCol. Ingersoll's Attitude toward the Circulationof Immoral Books—"Assassinating" God—Mr.Talmage finds Nearly All the Invention of ModernTimes Mentioned in the Bible—The ReverendGentleman corrects the Translators of the Bible inthe Matter of the Rib Story—Denies that Polygamyis permitted by the Old Testament—His De-fence ofQueen Victoria and Violation of the Grave ofGeorge Eliot—Exhibits a Christian Spirit—ThirdInterview: Mr. Talmage's Partiality in theBestowal of his Love—Denies the Right of Laymento Examine the Scriptures—Thinks the InfidelsVictims of Bibliophobia —He explains the Stoppingof the Sun and Moon at the Command of Joshua—Instances a Dark Day in the Early Part of theCentury—Charges that Holy Things are Made Lightof—Reaffirms his Confidence in the Whale andJonah Story—The Commandment which Forbids themaking of Graven Images—Affirmation that theBible is the Friend of Woman—The PresentCondition of Woman—Fourth Interview: ColonelIngersoll Compared by Mr. Talmage tojehoiakim, whoConsigned Writings of Jeremiah to the Flames—AnIntimation that Infidels wish to have all copiesof the Bible Destroyed by Fire—LaughterDeprecated—Col. Ingersoll Accused of Denouncinghis Father—Mr. Talmage holds that a Man may bePerfectly Happy in Heaven with His Mother in Hell--Challenges the Infidel to Read a Chapter from St.John—On the "Chief Solace of the World"—Dis-covers an Attempt is being made to Put Out theLight-houses of the Farther Shore—Affirms ourDebt to Christianity for Schools, Hospitals,etc.—Denies that Infidels have ever Done anyGood—Fifth Interview: Inquiries if Men gather Grapes ofThorns, or Figs of Thistles, and is Answered inthe Negative—Resents the Charge that the Bible isa Cruel Book—Demands to Know where the Cruelty ofthe Bible Crops out in the Lives of Christians—Col. Ingersoll Accused of saying that the Bibleis a Collection of Polluted Writings—Mr. TalmageAsserts the Orchestral Harmony of the Scripturesfrom Genesis to Revelation, and Repudiates theTheory of Contradictions—His View of MankindIndicated in Quotations from his Confession ofFaith—He Insists that the Bible is Scientific—Traces the New Testament to its Source with St.John—Pledges his Word that no Man ever Died for aLie Cheerfully and Triumphantly—As to Propheciesand Predictions—Alleged "Prophetic" Fate of theJewish People—Sixth Interview: Dr. Talmage takesthe Ground that the Unrivalled Circulation of theBible Proves that it is Inspired—Forgets' that aScientific Fact does not depend on the Vote ofNumbers—Names some Christian Millions—HisArguments Characterized as the Poor-est, Weakest,and Best Possible in Support of the Doctrine ofInspira-tion—Will God, in Judging a Man, takeinto Consideration the Cir-cumstances of thatMan's Life?—Satisfactory Reasons for Not Believ-ing that the Bible is inspired.
THE TALMAGIAN CATECHISM.
THE TALMAGIAN CATECHISM.The Pith and Marrow of what Mr. Talmage has beenPleased to Say, set forth in the form of a ShorterCatechism.
A VINDICATION OF THOMAS PAINE.
(1877.)Letter to the New York Observer—An Offer to PayOne Thousand Dollars in Gold for Proof that ThomasPaine or Voltaire Died in Terror because of anyReligious Opinions Either had Expressed—Proposition to Create a Tribunal to Hear theEvidence—The Ob-server, after having Called uponCol. Ingersoll to Deposit the Money, andCharacterized his Talk as "Infidel 'Buncombe,'"Denies its Own Words, but attempts to Prove them—Its Memory Refreshed by Col. Ingersoll and theSlander Refuted—Proof that Paine did Not Recant --Testimony of Thomas Nixon, Daniel Pelton, Mr.Jarvis, B. F. Has-kin, Dr. Manley, AmasaWoodsworth, Gilbert Vale, Philip Graves, M. D.,Willet Hicks, A. C. Hankinson, John Hogeboom, W.J. Hilton, Tames Cheetham, Revs. Milledollar andCunningham, Mrs. Hedden, Andrew A. Dean, WilliamCarver,—The Statements of Mary Roscoe and MaryHindsdale Examined—William Cobbett's Account of aCall upon Mary Hinsdale—Did Thomas Paine live theLife of a Drunken Beast, and did he Die a Drunken,Cowardly, and Beastly Death?—Grant Thorbum'sCharges Examined—Statement of the Rev. J. D.Wickham, D.D., shown to be Utterly False—FalseWitness of the Rev. Charles Hawley, D.D.—W. H.Ladd, James Cheetham, and Mary Hinsdale—Paine'sNote to Cheetham—Mr-Staple, Mr. Purdy, Col. JohnFellows, James Wilburn, Walter Morton, ClioRickman, Judge Herttell, H. Margary, Elihu Palmer,Mr.XVLovett, all these Testified that Paine was aTemperate Man—Washington's Letter to Paine—Thomas Jefferson's—Adams and Washing-ton on"Common Sense"—-James Monroe's Tribute—Quotations from Paine—Paine's Estate and HisWill—The Observer's Second Attack (p. 492):Statements of Elkana Watson, William Carver, Rev.E. F. Hatfield, D.D., James Cheetham, Dr. J. W.Francis, Dr. Manley, Bishop Fenwick—Ingersoll'sSecond Reply (p. 516): Testimony Garbled by theEditor of the Observer—Mary Roscoeand Mary Hins-dale the Same Person—Her Reputation for Veracity--Letter from Rev. A. W. Cornell—Grant ThorburnExposed by James Parton—The Observer's Admissionthat Paine did not Recant—Affidavit ofWilliam B. Barnes.
DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME VI.
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION; INGERSOLL'S OPENING PAPER
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, BY JEREMIAH S. BLACK.
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, BY ROBERT G. INGERSOLL.
FAITH OR AGNOSTICISM.
THE FIELD-INGERSOLL DISCUSSION.
A REPLY TO THE REV. HENRY M. FIELD, D.D.
A LAST WORD TO ROBERT G. INGERSOLL
LETTER TO DR. FIELD.
CONTROVERSY ON CHRISTIANTY
COL. INGERSOLL TO MR. GLADSTONE.
ROME OR REASON.
THE CHURCH ITS OWN WITNESS, By Cardinal Manning.
ROME OR REASON: A REPLY TO CARDINAL MANNING.
IS DIVORCE WRONG?
DIVORCE.
IS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT DEGRADING?
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION; INGERSOLL'S OPENING PAPER(1881.)I. Col. Ingersoll's Opening Paper—Statement of the Fundamental Truthsof Christianity—Reasons for Thinking that Portions of the Old Testamentare the Product of a Barbarous People—Passages upholdingSlavery, Polygamy, War, and Religious Persecution not Evidences ofInspiration—If the Words are not Inspired, What Is?—Commands ofJehovah compared with the Precepts of Pagans and Stoics—Epictetus,Cicero, Zeno, Seneca, Brahma—II. The New Testament—Why wereFour Gospels Necessary?—Salvation by Belief—The Doctrine ofthe Atonement—The Jewish System Culminating in the Sacrifice ofChrist—Except for the Crucifixion of her Son, the Virgin Mary would beamong the Lost—What Christ must have Known would Follow the Acceptanceof His Teachings—The Wars of Sects, the Inquisition, the Fields ofDeath—Why did he not Forbid it All?—The Little that he Revealed—TheDogma of Eternal Punishment—Upon Love's Breast the Church has Placedthe Eternal Asp—III. The "Inspired" Writers—Why did not God furnishEvery Nation with a Bible?II. Judge Black's Reply—His Duty that of a Policeman—The Church notin Danger—Classes who Break out into Articulate Blasphemy—TheSciolist—Personal Remarks about Col. Ingersoll—Chief-Justice Gibson ofPennsylvania Quoted—We have no Jurisdiction or Capacity to Rejudge theJustice of God—The Moral Code of the Bible—Civil Government of theJews—No Standard of Justice without Belief in a God—Punishments forBlasphemy and Idolatry Defended—Wars of Conquest—Allusion to Col.Ingersoll's War Record—Slavery among the Jews—Polygamy Discouraged bythe Mosaic Constitution—Jesus of Nazareth and the Establishment ofhis Religion—Acceptance of Christianity and Adjudication upon itsDivinity—The Evangelists and their Depositions—The Fundamental Truthsof Christianity—Persecution and Triumph of the Church—Ingersoll'sPropositions Compressed and the Compressions Answered—Salvation as aReward of Belief—Punishment of Unbelief—The Second Birth, Atonement,Redemption, Non-resistance, Excessive Punishment of Sinners, Christ andPersecution, Christianity and Freedom of Thought, Sufficiency of theGospel, Miracles, Moral Effect of Christianity.III. Col. Ingersoll's Rejoinder—How this Discussion Came About—NaturalLaw—The Design Argument—The Right to Rejudge the Justice even of aGod—Violation of the Commandments by Jehovah—Religious Intoleranceof the Old Testament—Judge Black's Justification of Wars ofExtermination—His Defence of Slavery—Polygamy not "Discouraged" by theOld Testament—Position of Woman under the Jewish System and under thatof the Ancients—a "Policeman's" View of God—Slavery under Jehovahand in Egypt—The Admission that Jehovah gave no Commandment againstPolygamy—The Learned and Wise Crawl back in Cribs—Alleged Harmony ofOld and New Testaments—On the Assertion that the Spread of ChristianityProves the Supernatural Origin of the Gospel—The Argument applicable toAll Religions—Communications from Angels ana Gods—Authenticity ofthe Statements of the Evangelists—Three Important Manuscripts—Riseof Mormonism—Ascension of Christ—The Great Public Events allegedas Fundamental Truths of Christianity—Judge Black's Systemof "Compression"—"A Metaphysical Question"—Right andWrong—Justice—Christianity and Freedom of Thought—Heaven andHell—Production of God and the Devil—Inspiration of the Bibledependent on the Credulity of the Reader—Doubt of Miracles—TheWorld before Christ's Advent—Respect for the Man Christ—The DarkAges—Institutions of Mercy—Civil Law.THE FIELD-INGERSOLL DISCUSSION.(1887.)An Open Letter to Robert G. Ingersoll—Superstitions—Basis ofReligion—Napoleon's Question about the Stars—The Idea of God—Crushingout Hope—Atonement, Regeneration, and Future Retribution—Socrates andJesus—The Language of Col. Ingersoll characterized as too Sweeping—TheSabbath—But a Step from Sneering at Religion to Sneering at Morality.A Reply to the Rev. Henry M. Field, D. D.—Honest Differences ofOpinion—Charles Darwin—Dr. Field's Distinction between Superstitionand Religion—The Presbyterian God an Infinite Torquemada—Napoleon'sSensitiveness to the Divine Influence—The Preference of Agassiz—TheMysterious as an Explanation—The Certainty that God is not what heis Thought to Be—Self-preservation the Fibre of Society—Didthe Assassination of Lincoln Illustrate the Justice of God'sJudgments?—Immortality—Hope and the Presbyterian Creed—To a Motherat the Grave of Her Son—Theological Teaching of Forgiveness—OnEternal Retribution—Jesus and Mohammed—Attacking the Religion ofOthers—Ananias and Sapphira—The Pilgrims and Freedom to Worship—TheOrthodox Sabbath—Natural Restraints on Conduct—Religion andMorality—The Efficacy of Prayer—Respect for Belief of Father andMother—The "Power behind Nature"—Survival of the Fittest—The SaddestFact—"Sober Second Thought."A Last Word to Robert G. Ingersoll, by Dr. Field—God not aPresbyterian—Why Col. Ingersoll's Attacks on Religion are Resented—Godis more Merciful than Man—Theories about the Future Life—Retributiona Necessary Part of the Divine Law—The Case of RobinsonCrusoe—Irresistible Proof of Design—Col. Ingersoll's View ofImmortality—An Almighty Friend.Letter to Dr. Field—The Presbyterian God—What the PresbyteriansClaim—The "Incurably Bad"—Responsibility for not seeing ThingsClearly—Good Deeds should Follow even Atheists—No Credit inBelief—Design Argument that Devours Itself—Belief as a Foundationof Social Order—No Consolation in Orthodox Religion—The "AlmightyFriend" and the Slave Mother—a Hindu Prayer—Calvinism—Christ not theSupreme Benefactor of the Race.COLONEL INGERSOLL ON CHRISTIANITY.(1888.)Some Remarks on his Reply to Dr. Field by the Hon. Wm. E.Gladstone—External Triumph and Prosperity of the Church—A Truth HalfStated—Col. Ingersoll's Tumultuous Method and lack of ReverentialCalm—Jephthah's Sacrifice—Hebrews xii Expounded—The Case ofAbraham—Darwinism and the Scriptures—Why God demands Sacrifices ofMan—Problems admitted to be Insoluble—Relation of human Geniusto Human Greatness—Shakespeare and Others—Christ and the FamilyRelation—Inaccuracy of Reference in the Reply—Ananias andSapphira—The Idea of Immortality—Immunity of Error in Belief fromMoral Responsibility—On Dishonesty in the Formation of Opinion—APlausibility of the Shallowest kind—The System of Thuggism—Persecutionfor Opinion's Sake—Riding an Unbroken Horse.Col. Ingersoll to Mr. Gladstone—On the "Impaired" State of the humanConstitution—Unbelief not Due to Degeneracy—Objections to theScheme of Redemption—Does Man Deserve only Punishment?—"ReverentialCalm"—The Deity of the Ancient Jews—Jephthah and Abraham—Relationbetween Darwinism and the Inspiration of the Scriptures—Sacrifices tothe Infinite—What is Common Sense?—An Argument that will Defend everySuperstition—The Greatness of Shakespeare—The Absolute Indissolubilityof Marriage—Is the Religion of Christ for this Age?—As to Ananias andSapphira—Immortality and People of Low Intellectual Development—Canwe Control our Thought?—Dishonest Opinions Cannot be Formed—SomeCompensations for Riding an "Unbroken Horse."ROME OR REASON.(1888.)"The Church Its Own Witness," by Cardinal Manning—Evidencethat Christianity is of Divine Origin—The Universality of theChurch—Natural Causes not Sufficient to Account for the CatholicChurch—-The World in which Christianity Arose—Birth of Christ—FromSt Peter to Leo XIII.—The First Effect of Christianity—DomesticLife's Second Visible Effect—Redemption of Woman from traditionalDegradation—Change Wrought by Christianity upon the Social, Politicaland International Relations of the World—Proof that Christianity is ofDivine Origin and Presence—St. John and the Christian Fathers—Sanctityof the Church not Affected by Human Sins.A Reply to Cardinal Manning—I. Success not a Demonstration of eitherDivine Origin or Supernatural Aid—Cardinal Manning's ArgumentMore Forcible in the Mouth of a Mohammedan—Why Churches Rise andFlourish—Mormonism—Alleged Universality of the Catholic Church—Its"inexhaustible Fruitfulness" in Good Things—The Inquisition andPersecution—Not Invincible—Its Sword used by Spain—Its Unity notUnbroken—The State of the World when Christianity was Established—TheVicar of Christ—A Selection from Draper's "History of the IntellectualDevelopment of Europe"—Some infamous Popes—Part II. How the PopeSpeaks—Religions Older than Catholicism and having the Same Ritesand Sacraments—Is Intellectual Stagnation a Demonstration of DivineOrigin?—Integration and Disintegration—The Condition of the World 300Years Ago—The Creed of Catholicism—The "One true God" with a Knowledgeof whom Catholicism has "filled the World"—Did the Catholic Churchoverthrow Idolatry?—Marriage—Celibacy—Human Passions—The Cardinal'sExplanation of Jehovah's abandonment of the Children of Men forfour thousand Years—Catholicism tested by Paganism—Canon Lawand Convictions had Under It—Rival Popes—Importance of a Greek"Inflection"—The Cardinal Witnesses.IS DIVORCE WRONG?(1889.)Preface by the Editor of the North American Review—Introduction, by theRev. S. W. Dike, LL. D.—A Catholic View by Cardinal Gibbons—Divorceas Regarded by the Episcopal Church, by Bishop, Henry C. Potter—FourQuestions Answered, by Robert G. Ingersoll.DIVORCE.Reply to Cardinal Gibbons—Indissolubility of Marriage a Reactionfrom Polygamy—Biblical Marriage—Polygamy Simultaneous andSuccessive—Marriage and Divorce in the Light of Experience—Replyto Bishop Potter—Reply to Mr. Gladstone—Justice Bradley—SenatorDolph—The argument Continued in Colloquial Form—Dialogue betweenCardinal Gibbons and a Maltreated Wife—She Asks the Advice of Mr.Gladstone—The Priest who Violated his Vow—Absurdity of the Divorcelaws of Some States.REPLY TO DR. LYMAN ABBOTT.(1890)Dr. Abbott's Equivocations—Crimes Punishable by Death under Mosaicand English Law—Severity of Moses Accounted for by Dr. Abbott—TheNecessity for the Acceptance of Christianity—Christians should beGlad to Know that the Bible is only the Work of Man and that the NewTestament Life of Christ is Untrue—All the Good Commandments, Knownto the World thousands of Years before Moses—Human Happiness ofMore Consequence than the Truth about God—The Appeal to GreatNames—Gladstone not the Greatest Statesman—What the Agnostic Says—TheMagnificent Mistakes of Genesis—The Story of Joseph—Abraham as a"self-Exile for Conscience's Sake."REPLY TO ARCHDEACON FARRAR.(1890.)Revelation as an Appeal to Man's "Spirit"—What is Spirit and what is"Spiritual Intuition"?—The Archdeacon in Conflict with St. Paul—II.The Obligation to Believe without Evidence—III. Ignorant Credulity—IV.A Definition of Orthodoxy—V. Fear not necessarily Cowardice—Prejudiceis Honest—The Ola has the Advantage in an Argument—St.Augustine—Jerome—the Appeal to Charlemagne—Roger Bacon—Lord Bacona Defender of the Copernican System—The Difficulty of finding outwhat Great Men Believed—Names Irrelevantly Cited—Bancroft on theHessians—Original Manuscripts of the Bible—VI. An Infinite Personalitya Contradiction in Terms—VII. A Beginningless Being—VIII. TheCruelties of Nature not to be Harmonized with the Goodness of aDeity—Sayings from the Indian—Origen, St. Augustine, Dante, Aquinas.IS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT DEGRADING?(1890.)A Reply to the Dean of St. Paul—Growing Confidence in the Power ofKindness—Crimes against Soldiers and Sailors—Misfortunes Punishedas Crimes—The Dean's Voice Raised in Favor of the Brutalities of thePast—Beating of Children—Of Wives—Dictum of Solomon.
THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION; INGERSOLL'S OPENING PAPER
(1881.)I. Col. Ingersoll's Opening Paper—Statement of the Fundamental Truthsof Christianity—Reasons for Thinking that Portions of the Old Testamentare the Product of a Barbarous People—Passages upholdingSlavery, Polygamy, War, and Religious Persecution not Evidences ofInspiration—If the Words are not Inspired, What Is?—Commands ofJehovah compared with the Precepts of Pagans and Stoics—Epictetus,Cicero, Zeno, Seneca, Brahma—II. The New Testament—Why wereFour Gospels Necessary?—Salvation by Belief—The Doctrine ofthe Atonement—The Jewish System Culminating in the Sacrifice ofChrist—Except for the Crucifixion of her Son, the Virgin Mary would beamong the Lost—What Christ must have Known would Follow the Acceptanceof His Teachings—The Wars of Sects, the Inquisition, the Fields ofDeath—Why did he not Forbid it All?—The Little that he Revealed—TheDogma of Eternal Punishment—Upon Love's Breast the Church has Placedthe Eternal Asp—III. The "Inspired" Writers—Why did not God furnishEvery Nation with a Bible?II. Judge Black's Reply—His Duty that of a Policeman—The Church notin Danger—Classes who Break out into Articulate Blasphemy—TheSciolist—Personal Remarks about Col. Ingersoll—Chief-Justice Gibson ofPennsylvania Quoted—We have no Jurisdiction or Capacity to Rejudge theJustice of God—The Moral Code of the Bible—Civil Government of theJews—No Standard of Justice without Belief in a God—Punishments forBlasphemy and Idolatry Defended—Wars of Conquest—Allusion to Col.Ingersoll's War Record—Slavery among the Jews—Polygamy Discouraged bythe Mosaic Constitution—Jesus of Nazareth and the Establishment ofhis Religion—Acceptance of Christianity and Adjudication upon itsDivinity—The Evangelists and their Depositions—The Fundamental Truthsof Christianity—Persecution and Triumph of the Church—Ingersoll'sPropositions Compressed and the Compressions Answered—Salvation as aReward of Belief—Punishment of Unbelief—The Second Birth, Atonement,Redemption, Non-resistance, Excessive Punishment of Sinners, Christ andPersecution, Christianity and Freedom of Thought, Sufficiency of theGospel, Miracles, Moral Effect of Christianity.III. Col. Ingersoll's Rejoinder—How this Discussion Came About—NaturalLaw—The Design Argument—The Right to Rejudge the Justice even of aGod—Violation of the Commandments by Jehovah—Religious Intoleranceof the Old Testament—Judge Black's Justification of Wars ofExtermination—His Defence of Slavery—Polygamy not "Discouraged" by theOld Testament—Position of Woman under the Jewish System and under thatof the Ancients—a "Policeman's" View of God—Slavery under Jehovahand in Egypt—The Admission that Jehovah gave no Commandment againstPolygamy—The Learned and Wise Crawl back in Cribs—Alleged Harmony ofOld and New Testaments—On the Assertion that the Spread of ChristianityProves the Supernatural Origin of the Gospel—The Argument applicable toAll Religions—Communications from Angels ana Gods—Authenticity ofthe Statements of the Evangelists—Three Important Manuscripts—Riseof Mormonism—Ascension of Christ—The Great Public Events allegedas Fundamental Truths of Christianity—Judge Black's Systemof "Compression"—"A Metaphysical Question"—Right andWrong—Justice—Christianity and Freedom of Thought—Heaven andHell—Production of God and the Devil—Inspiration of the Bibledependent on the Credulity of the Reader—Doubt of Miracles—TheWorld before Christ's Advent—Respect for the Man Christ—The DarkAges—Institutions of Mercy—Civil Law.
THE FIELD-INGERSOLL DISCUSSION.
(1887.)An Open Letter to Robert G. Ingersoll—Superstitions—Basis ofReligion—Napoleon's Question about the Stars—The Idea of God—Crushingout Hope—Atonement, Regeneration, and Future Retribution—Socrates andJesus—The Language of Col. Ingersoll characterized as too Sweeping—TheSabbath—But a Step from Sneering at Religion to Sneering at Morality.A Reply to the Rev. Henry M. Field, D. D.—Honest Differences ofOpinion—Charles Darwin—Dr. Field's Distinction between Superstitionand Religion—The Presbyterian God an Infinite Torquemada—Napoleon'sSensitiveness to the Divine Influence—The Preference of Agassiz—TheMysterious as an Explanation—The Certainty that God is not what heis Thought to Be—Self-preservation the Fibre of Society—Didthe Assassination of Lincoln Illustrate the Justice of God'sJudgments?—Immortality—Hope and the Presbyterian Creed—To a Motherat the Grave of Her Son—Theological Teaching of Forgiveness—OnEternal Retribution—Jesus and Mohammed—Attacking the Religion ofOthers—Ananias and Sapphira—The Pilgrims and Freedom to Worship—TheOrthodox Sabbath—Natural Restraints on Conduct—Religion andMorality—The Efficacy of Prayer—Respect for Belief of Father andMother—The "Power behind Nature"—Survival of the Fittest—The SaddestFact—"Sober Second Thought."A Last Word to Robert G. Ingersoll, by Dr. Field—God not aPresbyterian—Why Col. Ingersoll's Attacks on Religion are Resented—Godis more Merciful than Man—Theories about the Future Life—Retributiona Necessary Part of the Divine Law—The Case of RobinsonCrusoe—Irresistible Proof of Design—Col. Ingersoll's View ofImmortality—An Almighty Friend.Letter to Dr. Field—The Presbyterian God—What the PresbyteriansClaim—The "Incurably Bad"—Responsibility for not seeing ThingsClearly—Good Deeds should Follow even Atheists—No Credit inBelief—Design Argument that Devours Itself—Belief as a Foundationof Social Order—No Consolation in Orthodox Religion—The "AlmightyFriend" and the Slave Mother—a Hindu Prayer—Calvinism—Christ not theSupreme Benefactor of the Race.COLONEL INGERSOLL ON CHRISTIANITY.(1888.)Some Remarks on his Reply to Dr. Field by the Hon. Wm. E.Gladstone—External Triumph and Prosperity of the Church—A Truth HalfStated—Col. Ingersoll's Tumultuous Method and lack of ReverentialCalm—Jephthah's Sacrifice—Hebrews xii Expounded—The Case ofAbraham—Darwinism and the Scriptures—Why God demands Sacrifices ofMan—Problems admitted to be Insoluble—Relation of human Geniusto Human Greatness—Shakespeare and Others—Christ and the FamilyRelation—Inaccuracy of Reference in the Reply—Ananias andSapphira—The Idea of Immortality—Immunity of Error in Belief fromMoral Responsibility—On Dishonesty in the Formation of Opinion—APlausibility of the Shallowest kind—The System of Thuggism—Persecutionfor Opinion's Sake—Riding an Unbroken Horse.Col. Ingersoll to Mr. Gladstone—On the "Impaired" State of the humanConstitution—Unbelief not Due to Degeneracy—Objections to theScheme of Redemption—Does Man Deserve only Punishment?—"ReverentialCalm"—The Deity of the Ancient Jews—Jephthah and Abraham—Relationbetween Darwinism and the Inspiration of the Scriptures—Sacrifices tothe Infinite—What is Common Sense?—An Argument that will Defend everySuperstition—The Greatness of Shakespeare—The Absolute Indissolubilityof Marriage—Is the Religion of Christ for this Age?—As to Ananias andSapphira—Immortality and People of Low Intellectual Development—Canwe Control our Thought?—Dishonest Opinions Cannot be Formed—SomeCompensations for Riding an "Unbroken Horse."
ROME OR REASON.
(1888.)"The Church Its Own Witness," by Cardinal Manning—Evidencethat Christianity is of Divine Origin—The Universality of theChurch—Natural Causes not Sufficient to Account for the CatholicChurch—-The World in which Christianity Arose—Birth of Christ—FromSt Peter to Leo XIII.—The First Effect of Christianity—DomesticLife's Second Visible Effect—Redemption of Woman from traditionalDegradation—Change Wrought by Christianity upon the Social, Politicaland International Relations of the World—Proof that Christianity is ofDivine Origin and Presence—St. John and the Christian Fathers—Sanctityof the Church not Affected by Human Sins.A Reply to Cardinal Manning—I. Success not a Demonstration of eitherDivine Origin or Supernatural Aid—Cardinal Manning's ArgumentMore Forcible in the Mouth of a Mohammedan—Why Churches Rise andFlourish—Mormonism—Alleged Universality of the Catholic Church—Its"inexhaustible Fruitfulness" in Good Things—The Inquisition andPersecution—Not Invincible—Its Sword used by Spain—Its Unity notUnbroken—The State of the World when Christianity was Established—TheVicar of Christ—A Selection from Draper's "History of the IntellectualDevelopment of Europe"—Some infamous Popes—Part II. How the PopeSpeaks—Religions Older than Catholicism and having the Same Ritesand Sacraments—Is Intellectual Stagnation a Demonstration of DivineOrigin?—Integration and Disintegration—The Condition of the World 300Years Ago—The Creed of Catholicism—The "One true God" with a Knowledgeof whom Catholicism has "filled the World"—Did the Catholic Churchoverthrow Idolatry?—Marriage—Celibacy—Human Passions—The Cardinal'sExplanation of Jehovah's abandonment of the Children of Men forfour thousand Years—Catholicism tested by Paganism—Canon Lawand Convictions had Under It—Rival Popes—Importance of a Greek"Inflection"—The Cardinal Witnesses.
IS DIVORCE WRONG?
(1889.)Preface by the Editor of the North American Review—Introduction, by theRev. S. W. Dike, LL. D.—A Catholic View by Cardinal Gibbons—Divorceas Regarded by the Episcopal Church, by Bishop, Henry C. Potter—FourQuestions Answered, by Robert G. Ingersoll.
DIVORCE.
Reply to Cardinal Gibbons—Indissolubility of Marriage a Reactionfrom Polygamy—Biblical Marriage—Polygamy Simultaneous andSuccessive—Marriage and Divorce in the Light of Experience—Replyto Bishop Potter—Reply to Mr. Gladstone—Justice Bradley—SenatorDolph—The argument Continued in Colloquial Form—Dialogue betweenCardinal Gibbons and a Maltreated Wife—She Asks the Advice of Mr.Gladstone—The Priest who Violated his Vow—Absurdity of the Divorcelaws of Some States.REPLY TO DR. LYMAN ABBOTT.(1890)Dr. Abbott's Equivocations—Crimes Punishable by Death under Mosaicand English Law—Severity of Moses Accounted for by Dr. Abbott—TheNecessity for the Acceptance of Christianity—Christians should beGlad to Know that the Bible is only the Work of Man and that the NewTestament Life of Christ is Untrue—All the Good Commandments, Knownto the World thousands of Years before Moses—Human Happiness ofMore Consequence than the Truth about God—The Appeal to GreatNames—Gladstone not the Greatest Statesman—What the Agnostic Says—TheMagnificent Mistakes of Genesis—The Story of Joseph—Abraham as a"self-Exile for Conscience's Sake."REPLY TO ARCHDEACON FARRAR.(1890.)Revelation as an Appeal to Man's "Spirit"—What is Spirit and what is"Spiritual Intuition"?—The Archdeacon in Conflict with St. Paul—II.The Obligation to Believe without Evidence—III. Ignorant Credulity—IV.A Definition of Orthodoxy—V. Fear not necessarily Cowardice—Prejudiceis Honest—The Ola has the Advantage in an Argument—St.Augustine—Jerome—the Appeal to Charlemagne—Roger Bacon—Lord Bacona Defender of the Copernican System—The Difficulty of finding outwhat Great Men Believed—Names Irrelevantly Cited—Bancroft on theHessians—Original Manuscripts of the Bible—VI. An Infinite Personalitya Contradiction in Terms—VII. A Beginningless Being—VIII. TheCruelties of Nature not to be Harmonized with the Goodness of aDeity—Sayings from the Indian—Origen, St. Augustine, Dante, Aquinas.
IS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT DEGRADING?
(1890.)A Reply to the Dean of St. Paul—Growing Confidence in the Power ofKindness—Crimes against Soldiers and Sailors—Misfortunes Punishedas Crimes—The Dean's Voice Raised in Favor of the Brutalities of thePast—Beating of Children—Of Wives—Dictum of Solomon.
DETAILED CONTENTS OF VOLUME VII.
MY REVIEWERS REVIEWED.
MY CHICAGO BIBLE CLASS.
TO THE INDIANAPOLIS CLERGY.
THE BROOKLYN DIVINES.
THE LIMITATIONS OF TOLERATION.
A CHRISTMAS SERMON.
SUICIDE OF JUDGE NORMILE.
IS SUICIDE A SIN?
IS AVARICE TRIUMPHANT?
A REPLY TO THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE AND CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH.
AN INTERVIEW ON CHIEF JUSTICE COMEGYS.
A REPLY TO REV. DRS. THOMAS AND LORIMER.
A REPLY TO REV. JOHN HALL AND WARNER VAN NORDEN.
A REPLY TO THE REV. DR. PLUMB.
A REPLY TO THE NEW YORK CLERGY ON SUPERSTITION.
MY REVIEWERS REVIEWED.(1877.)Answer to San Francisco Clergymen—Definition of Liberty, Physicaland Mental—The Right to Compel Belief—Woman the Equal of Man—TheGhosts—Immortality—Slavery—Witchcraft—Aristocracy of theAir—Unfairness of Clerical Critics—Force and Matter—Doctrine ofNegation—Confident Deaths of Murderers—Childhood Scenes returned toby the Dying—Death-bed of Voltaire—Thomas Paine—The FirstSectarians Were Heretics—Reply to Rev. Mr. Guard—Slaughter ofthe Canaanites—Reply to Rev. Samuel Robinson—ProtestantPersecutions—Toleration—Infidelity and Progress—TheOccident—Calvinism—Religious Editors—Reply to the Rev. Mr.Ijams—Does the Bible teach Man to Enslave his Brothers?—Reply toCaliforniaChristian Advocate—Self-Government of French People atand Since the Revolution—On the Site of the Bastile—FrenchPeasant's Cheers for Jesus Christ—Was the World created in SixDays—Geology—What is the Astronomy of the Bible?—The Earth the Centreof the Universe—Joshua's Miracle—Change of Motion into Heat—Geographyand Astronomy of Cosmas—Does the Bible teach the Existence ofthat Impossible Crime called Witchcraft?—Saul and the Woman ofEndor—Familiar Spirits—Demonology of the New Testament—Temptation ofJesus—Possession by Devils—Gadarene Swine Story—Test of Belief—BibleIdea of the Rights of Children—Punishment of the RebelliousSon—Jephthah's Vow and Sacrifice—Persecution of Job—The Gallantryof God—Bible Idea of the Rights of Women—Paul's Instructions toWives—Permission given to Steal Wives—Does the Bible SanctionPolygamy and Concubinage?—Does the Bible Uphold and Justify PoliticalTyranny?—Powers that be Ordained of God—Religious Liberty ofGod—Sun-Worship punishable with Death—Unbelievers to be damned—Doesthe Bible describe a God of Mercy?—Massacre Commanded—EternalPunishment Taught in the New Testament—The Plan of Salvation—Falland Atonement Moral Bankruptcy—Other Religions—ParseeSect—Brahmins—Confucians—Heretics and Orthodox.MY CHICAGO BIBLE CLASS.(1879.)Rev. Robert Collyer—Inspiration of the Scriptures—Rev. Dr.Thomas—Formation of the Old Testament—Rev. Dr. Kohler—Rev. Mr.Herford—Prof. Swing—Rev. Dr. Ryder.TO THE INDIANAPOLIS CLERGY.TO THE INDIANAPOLIS CLERGY.(1882.)Rev. David Walk—Character of Jesus—Two or Three Christs Describedin the Gospels—Christ's Change of Opinions—Gospels Later than theEpistles—Divine Parentage of Christ a Late Belief—The Man Christprobably a Historical Character—Jesus Belittled by his Worshipers—Henever Claimed to be Divine—Christ's Omissions—Difference betweenChristian and other Modern Civilizations—Civilization not Promotedby Religion—Inventors—French and American Civilization: HowProduced—Intemperance and Slavery in Christian Nations—Advance due toInventions and Discoveries—Missionaries—Christian Nations Preserved byBayonet and Ball—Dr. T. B. Taylor—Origin of Life on this Planet—SirWilliam Thomson—Origin of Things Undiscoverable—Existence afterDeath—Spiritualists—If the Dead Return—Our Calendar—Christ andChristmas-The Existence of Pain—Plato's Theory of Evil—Will God doBetter in Another World than he does in this?—Consolation—Life Not aProbationary Stage—Rev. D.O'Donaghue—The Case of Archibald Armstrongand Jonathan Newgate—Inequalities of Life—Can Criminals live aContented Life?—Justice of the Orthodox God Illustrated.THE BROOKLYN DIVINES.(1883.)Are the Books of Atheistic or Infidel Writers ExtensivelyRead?—Increase in the Number of Infidels—Spread of ScientificLiterature—Rev. Dr. Eddy—Rev. Dr. Hawkins—Rev. Dr. Haynes—Rev.Mr. Pullman—Rev. Mr. Foote—Rev. Mr. Wells—Rev. Dr. Van Dyke—Rev.Carpenter—Rev. Mr. Reed—Rev. Dr. McClelland—Ministers Opposed toDiscussion—Whipping Children—Worldliness as a Foe of the Church—TheDrama—Human Love—Fires, Cyclones, and Other Afflictions as Promotersof Spirituality—Class Distinctions—Rich and Poor—Aristocracies—TheRight to Choose One's Associates—Churches Social Affairs—Progressof the Roman Catholic Church—Substitutes for the Churches—HenryWard Beecher—How far Education is Favored by the Sects—Rivals of thePulpit—Christianity Now and One Hundred Years Ago—French Revolutionproduced by the Priests—Why the Revolution was a Failure—Infidelityof One Hundred Years Ago—Ministers not more Intellectual than a CenturyAgo—Great Preachers of the Past—New Readings of Old Texts—ClericalAnswerers of Infidelity—Rev. Dr. Baker—Father Fransiola—Faith andReason—Democracy of Kindness—Moral Instruction—Morality Born of HumanNeeds—The Conditions of Happiness—The Chief End of Man.THE LIMITATIONS OF TOLERATION.(1888.)Discussion between Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, Hon. Frederic R. Coudert,and ex-Gov. Stewart L. Woodford before the Nineteenth Century Club ofNew York—Propositions—Toleration not a Disclaimer but a Waiver of theRight to Persecute—Remarks of Courtlandt Palmer—No Responsibility forThought—Intellectual Hospitality—Right of Free Speech—Origin of theterm "Toleration"—Slander and False Witness—Nobody can Control his ownMind: Anecdote—Remarks of Mr. Coudert—Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, andIngersoll—General Woodford's Speech—Reply by Colonel Ingersoll—ACatholic Compelled to Pay a Compliment to Voltaire—Responsibility forThoughts—The Mexican Unbeliever and his Reception in the Other Country.A CHRISTMAS SERMON.(1891.)Christianity's Message of Grief—Christmas a Pagan Festival—Replyto Dr. Buckley—Charges by the Editor of the Christian Advocate—TheTidings of Christianity—In what the Message of Grief Consists—Fearand Flame—An Everlasting Siberia—Dr. Buckley's Proposal to Boycott theTelegram—Reply to Rev. J. M. King and Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr. Cana Daybe Blasphemed?—Hurting Christian feelings—For Revenue only What isBlasphemy?—Balaam's Ass wiser than the Prophet—The Universalists—CanGod do Nothing for this World?—The Universe a Blunder if Christianityis true—The Duty of a Newspaper—Facts Not Sectarian—The Rev.Mr. Peters—What Infidelity Has Done—Public School System notChristian—Orthodox Universities—Bruno on Oxford—As to PublicMorals—No Rewards or Punishments in the Universe—The AtonementImmoral—As to Sciences and Art—Bruno, Humboldt, Darwin—ScientificWriters Opposed by the Church—As to the Liberation of Slaves—As tothe Reclamation of Inebriates—Rum and Religion—The Humanityof Infidelity—What Infidelity says to the Dying—The BattleContinued—Morality not Assailed by an Attack on Christianity—TheInquisition and Religious Persecution—Human Nature Derided byChristianity—Dr. DaCosta—"Human Brotherhood" as exemplified bythe History of the Church—The Church and Science, Art andLearning——Astronomy's Revenge—Galileo and Kepler—Mrs. Browning:Science Thrust into the Brain of Europe—Our Numerals—Christianity andLiterature—Institution's of Learning—Stephen Girard—James Lick—OurChronology—Historians—Natural Philosophy—Philology—MetaphysicalResearch—Intelligence, Hindoo, Egyptian—Inventions—JohnEricsson—Emancipators—Rev. Mr. Ballou—The Right of Goa toPunish—Rev. Dr. Hillier—Rev. Mr. Haldeman—George A. Locey—The "GreatPhysician"—Rev. Mr. Talmage—Rev. J. Benson Hamilton—How VoltaireDied—The Death-bed of Thomas Paine—Rev. Mr. Holloway—OriginalSin—Rev. Dr. Tyler—The Good Samaritan a Heathen—Hospitals andAsylums—Christian Treatment of the Insane—Rev. Dr. Buckley—TheNorth American Review Discussion—Judge Black, Dr. Field,Mr. Gladstone—Circulation of Obscene Literature—Eulogy ofWhiskey—Eulogy of Tobacco—Human Stupidity that Defies the Gods—Rev.Charles Deems—Jesus a Believer in a Personal Devil—The Man Christ.SUICIDE OF JUDGE NORMILE.(1892.)Reply to theWestern Watchman—Henry D'Arcy—Peter'sPrevarication-Some Excellent Pagans-Heartlessness of aCatholic—Wishes do not Affect the Judgment—Devout Robbers—PenitentMurderers—Reverential Drunkards—Luther's Distich—JudgeNormile—Self-destruction.IS SUICIDE A SIN?(1894.)Col. Ingersoll's First Letter inThe New York World—Under whatCircumstances a Man has the Right to take his Own Life—Medicine and theDecrees of God—Case of the Betrayed Girl—Suicides not Cowards—Suicideunder Roman Law—Many Suicides Insane—Insanity Caused by Religion—TheLaw against Suicide Cruel and Idiotic—Natural and Sufficient Cause forSelf-destruction—Christ's Death a Suicide—Col. Ingersoll's Reply to hisCritics—Is Suffering the Work of God?—It is not Man's Duty toEndure Hopeless Suffering—When Suicide is Justifiable—TheInquisition—Alleged Cowardice of Suicides—PropositionsDemonstrated—Suicide the Foundation of the ChristianReligion—Redemption and Atonement—The Clergy on Infidelityand Suicide—Morality and Unbelief—Better injure yourself thanAnother—Misquotation by Opponents—Cheerful View the Best—TheWonder is that Men endure—Suicide a Sin (Interview in The NewYork Journal)—Causes of Suicide—Col. Ingersoll Does Not AdviseSuicide—Suicides with Tracts or Bibles in their Pockets—Suicide a Sin(Interview in The New York Herald)—Comments on Rev. Alerle St. CroixWright's Sermon—Suicide and Sanity (Interview in The York World)—As tothe Cowardice of Suicide—Germany and the Prevalence of Suicide—Killingof Idiots and Defective Infants—Virtue, Morality, and Religion.IS AVARICE TRIUMPHANT?(1891.)Reply to General Rush Hawkins' Article, "Brutality and AvariceTriumphant"—Croakers and Prophets of Evil—Medical Treatmentfor Believers in Universal Evil—Alleged Fraud in ArmyContracts—Congressional Extravagance—Railroad "Wreckers"—HowStockholders in Some Roads Lost Their Money—The Star-RouteTrials—Timber and Public Lands—Watering Stock—The Formationof Trusts—Unsafe Hotels: European Game and Singing Birds—SealFisheries—Cruelty to Animals—Our Indians—Sensible and ManlyPatriotism—Days of Brutality—Defence of Slavery by the Websters,Bentons, and Clays—Thirty Years' Accomplishment—Ennobling Influence ofWar for the Right—The Lady ana the Brakeman—American Esteem of Honestyin Business—Republics do not Tend to Official Corruption—This the BestCountry in the World.A REPLY TO THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE AND CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH.(1878.)Defence of the Lecture on Moses—How Biblical Miracles are sought tobe Proved—SomeNon Sequiturs—A Grammatical Criticism—ChristianityDestructive of Manners—Cuvier and Agassiz on Mosaic Cosmogony—ClericalAdvance agents—Christian Threats and Warnings—Catholicism the UpasTree—Hebrew Scholarship as a Qualification for Deciding Probababilities—Contradictions and Mistranslations of the Bible—Number of Errors inthe Scriptures—The Sunday Question.AN INTERVIEW ON CHIEF JUSTICE COMEGYS.(1881.)Charged with Blasphemy in the State of Delaware—Can a ConditionlessDeity be Injured?—Injustice the only Blasphemy—The Lecturein Delaware—Laws of that State—All Sects in turn Charged withBlasphemy—Heresy Consists in making God Better than he is Thoughtto Be—A Fatal Biblical Passage—Judge Comegys—WilmingtonPreachers—States with Laws against Blasphemy—No Danger of InfidelMobs—No Attack on the State of Delaware Contemplated—Comegys aResurrection—Grand Jury's Refusal to Indict—Advice about the Cuttingout of Heretics' Tongues—Objections to the Whipping-post—Mr. Bergh'sBill—One Remedy for Wife-beating.A REPLY TO REV. DRS. THOMAS AND LORIMER.(1882.)Solemnity—Charged with Being Insincere—Irreverence—Old TestamentBetter than the New—"Why Hurt our Feelings?"—Involuntary Action ofthe Brain—Source of our Conceptions of Space—Good and Bad—Right andWrong—The Minister, the Horse and the Lord's Prayer—Men Responsiblefor their Actions—The "Gradual" Theory Not Applicable tothe Omniscient—Prayer Powerless to Alter Results—ReligiousPersecution—Orthodox Ministers Made Ashamed of theirCreed—Purgatory—Infidelity and Baptism Contrasted—Modern Conceptionof the Universe—The Golden Bridge of Life—"The Only Salutation"—TheTest for Admission to Heaven—"Scurrility."A REPLY TO REV. JOHN HALL AND WARNER VAN NORDEN.(1892.)Dr. Hall has no Time to Discuss the subject of StarvingWorkers—Cloakmakers' Strike—Warner Van Norden of the Church ExtensionSociety—The Uncharitableness of Organized Charity—Defence of theCloakmakers—Life of the Underpaid—On the Assertion that Assistanceencourages Idleness and Crime—The Man without Pity an IntellectualBeast—Tendency of Prosperity to Breed Selfishness—Thousands Idlewithout Fault—Egotism of Riches—Van Norden's Idea of Happiness—TheWorthy Poor.A REPLY TO THE REV. DR. PLUMB.(1898.)Interview in a Boston Paper—Why should a Minister call this a "Poor"World?—Would an Infinite God make People who Need a Redeemer?—GospelGossip—Christ's Sayings Repetitions—The Philosophy of Confucius—Rev.Mr. Mills—The Charge of "Robbery"—The Divine Plan.A REPLY TO THE NEW YORK CLERGY ON SUPERSTITION.(1898.)Interview in the New York Journal—Rev. Roberts. MacArthur—APersonal Devil—Devils who held Conversations with Christ not simplypersonifications of Evil—The Temptation—The "Man of Straw"—Christ'sMission authenticated by the Casting Out of Devils—Spain—GodResponsible for the Actions of Man—Rev. Dr. J. Lewis Parks—Rev. Dr. E.F. Moldehnke—Patience amidst the Misfortunes of Others—Yellow Feveras a Divine Agent—The Doctrine that All is for the Best—Rev. Mr.Hamlin—Why Did God Create a Successful Rival?—A Compliment by theRev. Mr. Belcher—Rev. W. C. Buchanan—No Argument Old until it isAnswered—Why should God Create sentient Beings to be Damned?—Rev. J.W. Campbell—Rev. Henry Frank—Rev. E. C.J. Kraeling on Christ and theDevil—Would he make a World like This?
MY REVIEWERS REVIEWED.
(1877.)Answer to San Francisco Clergymen—Definition of Liberty, Physicaland Mental—The Right to Compel Belief—Woman the Equal of Man—TheGhosts—Immortality—Slavery—Witchcraft—Aristocracy of theAir—Unfairness of Clerical Critics—Force and Matter—Doctrine ofNegation—Confident Deaths of Murderers—Childhood Scenes returned toby the Dying—Death-bed of Voltaire—Thomas Paine—The FirstSectarians Were Heretics—Reply to Rev. Mr. Guard—Slaughter ofthe Canaanites—Reply to Rev. Samuel Robinson—ProtestantPersecutions—Toleration—Infidelity and Progress—TheOccident—Calvinism—Religious Editors—Reply to the Rev. Mr.Ijams—Does the Bible teach Man to Enslave his Brothers?—Reply toCaliforniaChristian Advocate—Self-Government of French People atand Since the Revolution—On the Site of the Bastile—FrenchPeasant's Cheers for Jesus Christ—Was the World created in SixDays—Geology—What is the Astronomy of the Bible?—The Earth the Centreof the Universe—Joshua's Miracle—Change of Motion into Heat—Geographyand Astronomy of Cosmas—Does the Bible teach the Existence ofthat Impossible Crime called Witchcraft?—Saul and the Woman ofEndor—Familiar Spirits—Demonology of the New Testament—Temptation ofJesus—Possession by Devils—Gadarene Swine Story—Test of Belief—BibleIdea of the Rights of Children—Punishment of the RebelliousSon—Jephthah's Vow and Sacrifice—Persecution of Job—The Gallantryof God—Bible Idea of the Rights of Women—Paul's Instructions toWives—Permission given to Steal Wives—Does the Bible SanctionPolygamy and Concubinage?—Does the Bible Uphold and Justify PoliticalTyranny?—Powers that be Ordained of God—Religious Liberty ofGod—Sun-Worship punishable with Death—Unbelievers to be damned—Doesthe Bible describe a God of Mercy?—Massacre Commanded—EternalPunishment Taught in the New Testament—The Plan of Salvation—Falland Atonement Moral Bankruptcy—Other Religions—ParseeSect—Brahmins—Confucians—Heretics and Orthodox.
MY CHICAGO BIBLE CLASS.
(1879.)Rev. Robert Collyer—Inspiration of the Scriptures—Rev. Dr.Thomas—Formation of the Old Testament—Rev. Dr. Kohler—Rev. Mr.Herford—Prof. Swing—Rev. Dr. Ryder.
TO THE INDIANAPOLIS CLERGY.
TO THE INDIANAPOLIS CLERGY.(1882.)Rev. David Walk—Character of Jesus—Two or Three Christs Describedin the Gospels—Christ's Change of Opinions—Gospels Later than theEpistles—Divine Parentage of Christ a Late Belief—The Man Christprobably a Historical Character—Jesus Belittled by his Worshipers—Henever Claimed to be Divine—Christ's Omissions—Difference betweenChristian and other Modern Civilizations—Civilization not Promotedby Religion—Inventors—French and American Civilization: HowProduced—Intemperance and Slavery in Christian Nations—Advance due toInventions and Discoveries—Missionaries—Christian Nations Preserved byBayonet and Ball—Dr. T. B. Taylor—Origin of Life on this Planet—SirWilliam Thomson—Origin of Things Undiscoverable—Existence afterDeath—Spiritualists—If the Dead Return—Our Calendar—Christ andChristmas-The Existence of Pain—Plato's Theory of Evil—Will God doBetter in Another World than he does in this?—Consolation—Life Not aProbationary Stage—Rev. D.O'Donaghue—The Case of Archibald Armstrongand Jonathan Newgate—Inequalities of Life—Can Criminals live aContented Life?—Justice of the Orthodox God Illustrated.
THE BROOKLYN DIVINES.
(1883.)Are the Books of Atheistic or Infidel Writers ExtensivelyRead?—Increase in the Number of Infidels—Spread of ScientificLiterature—Rev. Dr. Eddy—Rev. Dr. Hawkins—Rev. Dr. Haynes—Rev.Mr. Pullman—Rev. Mr. Foote—Rev. Mr. Wells—Rev. Dr. Van Dyke—Rev.Carpenter—Rev. Mr. Reed—Rev. Dr. McClelland—Ministers Opposed toDiscussion—Whipping Children—Worldliness as a Foe of the Church—TheDrama—Human Love—Fires, Cyclones, and Other Afflictions as Promotersof Spirituality—Class Distinctions—Rich and Poor—Aristocracies—TheRight to Choose One's Associates—Churches Social Affairs—Progressof the Roman Catholic Church—Substitutes for the Churches—HenryWard Beecher—How far Education is Favored by the Sects—Rivals of thePulpit—Christianity Now and One Hundred Years Ago—French Revolutionproduced by the Priests—Why the Revolution was a Failure—Infidelityof One Hundred Years Ago—Ministers not more Intellectual than a CenturyAgo—Great Preachers of the Past—New Readings of Old Texts—ClericalAnswerers of Infidelity—Rev. Dr. Baker—Father Fransiola—Faith andReason—Democracy of Kindness—Moral Instruction—Morality Born of HumanNeeds—The Conditions of Happiness—The Chief End of Man.
THE LIMITATIONS OF TOLERATION.
(1888.)Discussion between Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, Hon. Frederic R. Coudert,and ex-Gov. Stewart L. Woodford before the Nineteenth Century Club ofNew York—Propositions—Toleration not a Disclaimer but a Waiver of theRight to Persecute—Remarks of Courtlandt Palmer—No Responsibility forThought—Intellectual Hospitality—Right of Free Speech—Origin of theterm "Toleration"—Slander and False Witness—Nobody can Control his ownMind: Anecdote—Remarks of Mr. Coudert—Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, andIngersoll—General Woodford's Speech—Reply by Colonel Ingersoll—ACatholic Compelled to Pay a Compliment to Voltaire—Responsibility forThoughts—The Mexican Unbeliever and his Reception in the Other Country.
A CHRISTMAS SERMON.
(1891.)Christianity's Message of Grief—Christmas a Pagan Festival—Replyto Dr. Buckley—Charges by the Editor of the Christian Advocate—TheTidings of Christianity—In what the Message of Grief Consists—Fearand Flame—An Everlasting Siberia—Dr. Buckley's Proposal to Boycott theTelegram—Reply to Rev. J. M. King and Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr. Cana Daybe Blasphemed?—Hurting Christian feelings—For Revenue only What isBlasphemy?—Balaam's Ass wiser than the Prophet—The Universalists—CanGod do Nothing for this World?—The Universe a Blunder if Christianityis true—The Duty of a Newspaper—Facts Not Sectarian—The Rev.Mr. Peters—What Infidelity Has Done—Public School System notChristian—Orthodox Universities—Bruno on Oxford—As to PublicMorals—No Rewards or Punishments in the Universe—The AtonementImmoral—As to Sciences and Art—Bruno, Humboldt, Darwin—ScientificWriters Opposed by the Church—As to the Liberation of Slaves—As tothe Reclamation of Inebriates—Rum and Religion—The Humanityof Infidelity—What Infidelity says to the Dying—The BattleContinued—Morality not Assailed by an Attack on Christianity—TheInquisition and Religious Persecution—Human Nature Derided byChristianity—Dr. DaCosta—"Human Brotherhood" as exemplified bythe History of the Church—The Church and Science, Art andLearning——Astronomy's Revenge—Galileo and Kepler—Mrs. Browning:Science Thrust into the Brain of Europe—Our Numerals—Christianity andLiterature—Institution's of Learning—Stephen Girard—James Lick—OurChronology—Historians—Natural Philosophy—Philology—MetaphysicalResearch—Intelligence, Hindoo, Egyptian—Inventions—JohnEricsson—Emancipators—Rev. Mr. Ballou—The Right of Goa toPunish—Rev. Dr. Hillier—Rev. Mr. Haldeman—George A. Locey—The "GreatPhysician"—Rev. Mr. Talmage—Rev. J. Benson Hamilton—How VoltaireDied—The Death-bed of Thomas Paine—Rev. Mr. Holloway—OriginalSin—Rev. Dr. Tyler—The Good Samaritan a Heathen—Hospitals andAsylums—Christian Treatment of the Insane—Rev. Dr. Buckley—TheNorth American Review Discussion—Judge Black, Dr. Field,Mr. Gladstone—Circulation of Obscene Literature—Eulogy ofWhiskey—Eulogy of Tobacco—Human Stupidity that Defies the Gods—Rev.Charles Deems—Jesus a Believer in a Personal Devil—The Man Christ.
SUICIDE OF JUDGE NORMILE.
(1892.)Reply to theWestern Watchman—Henry D'Arcy—Peter'sPrevarication-Some Excellent Pagans-Heartlessness of aCatholic—Wishes do not Affect the Judgment—Devout Robbers—PenitentMurderers—Reverential Drunkards—Luther's Distich—JudgeNormile—Self-destruction.
IS SUICIDE A SIN?
(1894.)Col. Ingersoll's First Letter inThe New York World—Under whatCircumstances a Man has the Right to take his Own Life—Medicine and theDecrees of God—Case of the Betrayed Girl—Suicides not Cowards—Suicideunder Roman Law—Many Suicides Insane—Insanity Caused by Religion—TheLaw against Suicide Cruel and Idiotic—Natural and Sufficient Cause forSelf-destruction—Christ's Death a Suicide—Col. Ingersoll's Reply to hisCritics—Is Suffering the Work of God?—It is not Man's Duty toEndure Hopeless Suffering—When Suicide is Justifiable—TheInquisition—Alleged Cowardice of Suicides—PropositionsDemonstrated—Suicide the Foundation of the ChristianReligion—Redemption and Atonement—The Clergy on Infidelityand Suicide—Morality and Unbelief—Better injure yourself thanAnother—Misquotation by Opponents—Cheerful View the Best—TheWonder is that Men endure—Suicide a Sin (Interview in The NewYork Journal)—Causes of Suicide—Col. Ingersoll Does Not AdviseSuicide—Suicides with Tracts or Bibles in their Pockets—Suicide a Sin(Interview in The New York Herald)—Comments on Rev. Alerle St. CroixWright's Sermon—Suicide and Sanity (Interview in The York World)—As tothe Cowardice of Suicide—Germany and the Prevalence of Suicide—Killingof Idiots and Defective Infants—Virtue, Morality, and Religion.
IS AVARICE TRIUMPHANT?
(1891.)Reply to General Rush Hawkins' Article, "Brutality and AvariceTriumphant"—Croakers and Prophets of Evil—Medical Treatmentfor Believers in Universal Evil—Alleged Fraud in ArmyContracts—Congressional Extravagance—Railroad "Wreckers"—HowStockholders in Some Roads Lost Their Money—The Star-RouteTrials—Timber and Public Lands—Watering Stock—The Formationof Trusts—Unsafe Hotels: European Game and Singing Birds—SealFisheries—Cruelty to Animals—Our Indians—Sensible and ManlyPatriotism—Days of Brutality—Defence of Slavery by the Websters,Bentons, and Clays—Thirty Years' Accomplishment—Ennobling Influence ofWar for the Right—The Lady ana the Brakeman—American Esteem of Honestyin Business—Republics do not Tend to Official Corruption—This the BestCountry in the World.
A REPLY TO THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE AND CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH.
(1878.)Defence of the Lecture on Moses—How Biblical Miracles are sought tobe Proved—SomeNon Sequiturs—A Grammatical Criticism—ChristianityDestructive of Manners—Cuvier and Agassiz on Mosaic Cosmogony—ClericalAdvance agents—Christian Threats and Warnings—Catholicism the UpasTree—Hebrew Scholarship as a Qualification for Deciding Probababilities—Contradictions and Mistranslations of the Bible—Number of Errors inthe Scriptures—The Sunday Question.
AN INTERVIEW ON CHIEF JUSTICE COMEGYS.
(1881.)Charged with Blasphemy in the State of Delaware—Can a ConditionlessDeity be Injured?—Injustice the only Blasphemy—The Lecturein Delaware—Laws of that State—All Sects in turn Charged withBlasphemy—Heresy Consists in making God Better than he is Thoughtto Be—A Fatal Biblical Passage—Judge Comegys—WilmingtonPreachers—States with Laws against Blasphemy—No Danger of InfidelMobs—No Attack on the State of Delaware Contemplated—Comegys aResurrection—Grand Jury's Refusal to Indict—Advice about the Cuttingout of Heretics' Tongues—Objections to the Whipping-post—Mr. Bergh'sBill—One Remedy for Wife-beating.
A REPLY TO REV. DRS. THOMAS AND LORIMER.
(1882.)Solemnity—Charged with Being Insincere—Irreverence—Old TestamentBetter than the New—"Why Hurt our Feelings?"—Involuntary Action ofthe Brain—Source of our Conceptions of Space—Good and Bad—Right andWrong—The Minister, the Horse and the Lord's Prayer—Men Responsiblefor their Actions—The "Gradual" Theory Not Applicable tothe Omniscient—Prayer Powerless to Alter Results—ReligiousPersecution—Orthodox Ministers Made Ashamed of theirCreed—Purgatory—Infidelity and Baptism Contrasted—Modern Conceptionof the Universe—The Golden Bridge of Life—"The Only Salutation"—TheTest for Admission to Heaven—"Scurrility."
A REPLY TO REV. JOHN HALL AND WARNER VAN NORDEN.
(1892.)Dr. Hall has no Time to Discuss the subject of StarvingWorkers—Cloakmakers' Strike—Warner Van Norden of the Church ExtensionSociety—The Uncharitableness of Organized Charity—Defence of theCloakmakers—Life of the Underpaid—On the Assertion that Assistanceencourages Idleness and Crime—The Man without Pity an IntellectualBeast—Tendency of Prosperity to Breed Selfishness—Thousands Idlewithout Fault—Egotism of Riches—Van Norden's Idea of Happiness—TheWorthy Poor.
A REPLY TO THE REV. DR. PLUMB.
(1898.)Interview in a Boston Paper—Why should a Minister call this a "Poor"World?—Would an Infinite God make People who Need a Redeemer?—GospelGossip—Christ's Sayings Repetitions—The Philosophy of Confucius—Rev.Mr. Mills—The Charge of "Robbery"—The Divine Plan.
A REPLY TO THE NEW YORK CLERGY ON SUPERSTITION.
(1898.)Interview in the New York Journal—Rev. Roberts. MacArthur—APersonal Devil—Devils who held Conversations with Christ not simplypersonifications of Evil—The Temptation—The "Man of Straw"—Christ'sMission authenticated by the Casting Out of Devils—Spain—GodResponsible for the Actions of Man—Rev. Dr. J. Lewis Parks—Rev. Dr. E.F. Moldehnke—Patience amidst the Misfortunes of Others—Yellow Feveras a Divine Agent—The Doctrine that All is for the Best—Rev. Mr.Hamlin—Why Did God Create a Successful Rival?—A Compliment by theRev. Mr. Belcher—Rev. W. C. Buchanan—No Argument Old until it isAnswered—Why should God Create sentient Beings to be Damned?—Rev. J.W. Campbell—Rev. Henry Frank—Rev. E. C.J. Kraeling on Christ and theDevil—Would he make a World like This?