The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called "faith." What man, who ever thinks, can believe that blood can appease God? And yet, our entire system of religion is based upon that belief. The Jews pacified Jehovah with the blood of animals, and according to the Christian system, the blood of Jesus softened the heart of God a little, and rendered possible the salvation of a fortunate few. It is hard to conceive how the human mind can give assent to such terrible ideas, or how any sane man can read the Bible and still believe in the doctrine of inspiration.

The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called "faith." What man, who ever thinks, can believe that blood can appease God? And yet, our entire system of religion is based upon that belief. The Jews pacified Jehovah with the blood of animals, and according to the Christian system, the blood of Jesus softened the heart of God a little, and rendered possible the salvation of a fortunate few. It is hard to conceive how the human mind can give assent to such terrible ideas, or how any sane man can read the Bible and still believe in the doctrine of inspiration.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote
Similar Quotes by robert-g-ingersoll

I am the inferior of any man whose rights I trample under foot. Men are not superior by reason of the accidents of race or color. They are superior who have the best heart — the best brain.

Robert G. Ingersoll, The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. IX
Save QuoteView Quote

The hands that help are better far than lips that pray.

Robert G. Ingersoll, The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. IV
Save QuoteView Quote

Give me the storm and tempest of thought and action, rather than the dead calm of ignorance and faith! Banish me from Eden when you will; but first let me eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge!

Robert G. Ingersoll, The Works Of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. Iii
Save QuoteView Quote

The real difference is this: the Christian says that he has knowledge; the Agnostic admits that he has none; and yet the Christian accuses the Agnostic of arrogance, and asks him how he has the impudence to admit the limitations of his mind. To the Agnostic every fact is a torch, and by this light, and this light only, he walks.The Agnostic knows that the testimony of man is not sufficient to establish what is known as the miraculous. We would not believe to-day the testimony of millions to the effect that the dead had been raised. The church itself would be the first to attack such testimony. If we cannot believe those whom we know, why should we believe witnesses who have been dead thousands of years, and about whom we know nothing?The Agnostic takes the ground that human experience is the basis of morality. Consequently, it is of no importance who wrote the gospels, or who vouched or vouches for the genuineness of the miracles. In his scheme of life these things are utterly unimportant. He is satisfied that “the miraculous” is the impossible. He knows that the witnesses were wholly incapable of examining the questions involved, that credulity had possession of their minds, that 'the miraculous' was expected, that it was their daily food.

Robert G. Ingersoll, The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol 1: Lectures
Save QuoteView Quote

The present is the necessary product of all the past the necessary cause of all the future.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote

Reason observation and experience - the Holy Trinity of Science.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote

With soap baptism is a good thing.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote

In nature there are neither rewards or punishments-there are consequences.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote

In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are consequences.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote

The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here.

Robert G. Ingersoll
Save QuoteView Quote
Related Topics to robert-g-ingersoll Quotes