Day 10... 1/4 of the way through the journey called "Atheism for Lent". And I've learned so much and downloaded more reading material that I can digest in forty days.
Today I am heavy with thought. Bart Campolo has introduced me to Robert Ingersoll over and over again on the "Humanize Me" podcast. Ingersoll is a big influence for Bart and I can understand why. There is so much depth in the dives of his thoughts. I had to share a few quotes that I gleaned from my internet search. I will end this post with a few of them.I had to download his work for further reading, but it may take time... I'm still reading Jean Meslier and Pete Rollins.
When I became convinced that the universe is natural, that all the ghosts and gods are myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood the sense, the feeling, the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell. The dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts and bars and manacles became dust. ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL, Why I Am An Agnostic
We can be as honest as we are ignorant. If we are, when asked what is beyond the horizon of the known, we must say that we do not know. We can tell the truth, and we can enjoy the blessed freedom that the brave have won. We can destroy the monsters of superstition, the hissing snakes of ignorance and fear. We can drive from our minds the frightful things that tear and wound with beak and fang. We can civilize our fellow-men. We can fill our lives with generous deeds, with loving words, with art and song, and all the ecstasies of love. We can flood our years with sunshine -- with the divine climate of kindness, and we can drain to the last drop the golden cup of joy.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, "Why I Am an Agnostic", The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll
Great virtues may draw attention from defects, they cannot sanctify them. A pebble surrounded by diamonds remains a common stone, and a diamond surrounded by pebbles is still a gem.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, The Great Infidels
Justice is the only worship.
Love is the only priest.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, The Philosophy of Ingersoll
Take theology from the world, and the money wasted on superstition will do away with want.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, Six Interviews with Robert G. Ingersoll on Six Sermons by the Rev. T. De Witt Talmage
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.
ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL, Some Mistakes of Moses
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.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, Some Mistakes of Moses
It may be that ministers really think that their prayers do good, and it may be that frogs imagine that their croaking brings spring.
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, "Which Way?"
There is but one blasphemy, and that is injustice.
ROBERT GREEN INGERSOLL, lecture, Chicago, September 20, 1880
