A handbook of Freethought : $b containing in condensed and systematized form a vast amount of evidence against the superstitious doctrines of Christianity
Religion
A handbook of Freethought : $b containing in condensed and systematized form a vast amount of evidence against the superstitious doctrines of Christianity
Christianity -- Controversial literature; Free thought
I have nothing new to offer on this old subject, and I therefore warn
the reader not to expect any wonderful revelations. The Devil is not
an object of recent discovery. He is as old as the hills. Everybody
seems to know him, and he seems to know everybody. It would therefore
be in vain for me to attempt to give any information respecting
this old friend. However, as there are some thoughts which persist
in bolting into my mind regarding old Nick, I have concluded to jot
them down for those who have a taste for devilish reading.
It was always a question that greatly perplexed me, when a boy, why
God should create the Devil. I never could see it in any other light
than that of an egregious blunder. Why should an infinitely good being
create an infinitely bad being? Why did not the Creator make all of
his creatures perfect? Why did he not save them from being lost? Why
did he form man to place him in the garden to be tempted and ruined
when it was in the Creator's power to prevent his fall? Why did he not
create him so good and so strong that it would be impossible for him
to do wrong? Why was the Serpent (the Devil) made so much stronger and
wiser than man? If Adam had only been made a great deal stronger, and
the Serpent less seductive, the human race might have had a glorious
and brilliant career. But as it was a powerful serpent-devil on the
one hand, and on the other, a weak-headed know-nothing man, is it
not clear that better results could not have been expected?
Why did not the author of the red man (Adam) tell him that he was
going to have a severe temptation?--that he was soon to meet his great
adversary? It is highly probable that Adam could have made a better
showing if he had only been advised of the situation in time. But as
it was he did not have a fair chance. It would have been no more than
justice to have told Adam and Eve all about the Serpent-devil which
was hid away somewhere in the garden like a snake in the grass. It
would have been only fair to have posted on all the fences and walls
about the garden, this sign, "Adam and Eve, Beware of Snakes!" This
would have given them a chance for their lives. Poor Adam and Eve! They
were not a bad lot, but were transplanted too early, and were nipped
in the bud by the great original Serpent, who was acting according
to his nature and circumstances, and therefore we cannot find it
in our hearts to be too severe on his Satanic Majesty. If Satan was
great, it was not won by his own powers, he had greatness thrust upon
him. Let us be just; let us give the Devil his due. I have no doubt
but he has grievances, if there were any court where he could offer
his complaints.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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