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
"But supposing all these obstacles overcome, so that we might frame
a valid conception of a cause which is also absolute and infinite:
have we then explained the origin of the universe? Have we advanced
one step toward explaining how the Absolute can be the source of
the Relative, or how the Infinite can give rise to the Finite?" To
continue with Mr. Mansel, "if the condition of causal activity is
a higher state than that of quiescence, the Absolute ... has passed
from a condition of comparative imperfection to one of comparative
perfection; and therefore was not originally perfect. If the state of
activity is an inferior state to that of quiesence, the Absolute in
becoming a cause has lost its original perfection. There remains only
the supposition that the two states are equal, and the act of creation
one of complete indifference. But this supposition annihilates the
unity of the Absolute." (John Fiske, "Cosmic Philosophy.")
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
It is related that once upon a time, a number of grave and reverend
rabbins earnestly disputed among themselves, whether it was lawful or
not to eat an egg that was laid upon the Sabbath day. In the minds of
some of these grave and wise masters it was held to be a prohibited
egg, but in the stomachs of others of their number such eggs were
held as too good to be despised.
In the Blue Laws of Connecticut by Rev. Sam Peters, we have Puritan
scruples put in rhyme:
"Upon the Sabbath day they'll no physick take,
Lest it should worke, and so the Sabbath breake."
There have always been great disputes over this subject which
we call in general terms the "Sunday Question." Why do so many
misunderstandings arise upon this matter? Simply because people
do not understand the question. Millions of devout worshippers use
the terms Sunday and Sabbath as if they were synonymous. Millions
of superstitious persons cherish obligations to maintain better
conduct on Sunday than on any other day in the week. They cannot
understand that it is fit and proper to do on Sunday anything that
it is fit and proper to do on any other day. The tendency to perform
the duties of life correctly on Sunday leaves room and disposition
not to perform them so well on the other six days of the week. Such
people live cream lives on Sunday and skim-milk lives all the rest
of the week. It won't do; because it tends to demoralize rather
than establish the noble sentiments of morality and manhood. If we
would know how to observe Sunday we must know something more about
it than we have unconsciously learned from the nursery stories of
our childhood. Let us begin with the names of
The Days of the Week.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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