The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 04 (of 12): Dresden Edition—LecturesIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 04 (of 12): Dresden Edition—Lectures
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
Then comes the story of the two men possessed with devils who came from
the tombs, and were exceeding fierce. It is said that when they saw
Jesus they cried out: "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of
God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"
If these were simply personifications of evil, how did they know that
Jesus was the Son of God, and how can a personification of evil be
tormented?
We are told that at the same time, a good way off, many swine were
feeding, and that the devils besought Christ, saying: "If thou cast
us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine." And he said unto
them: "Go."
Is it possible that personifications of evil would desire to enter the
bodies of swine, and is it possible that it was necessary for them
to have the consent of Christ before they could enter the swine? The
question naturally arises: How did they enter into the body of the man?
Did they do that without Christ's consent, and is it a fact that Christ
protects swine and neglects human beings? Can personifications have
desires?
In the ninth chapter of Matthew there was a dumb man brought to Jesus,
possessed with a devil. Jesus cast out the devil and the dumb man spake.
Did a personification of evil prevent the dumb man from talking? Did it
in some way paralyze his organs of speech? Could it have done this had
it only been a personification of evil?
In the tenth chapter Jesus gives his twelve disciples power to cast
out unclean spirits. What were unclean spirits supposed to be? Did they
really exist? Were they shadows, impersonations, allegories?
When Jesus sent his disciples forth on the great mission to convert the
world, among other things he told them to heal the sick, to raise the
dead and to cast out devils. Here a distinction is made between the sick
and those who were possessed by evil spirits.
Now, what did Christ mean by devils?
In the twelfth chapter we are told of a very remarkable case. There was
brought unto Jesus one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb, and
Jesus healed him. The blind and dumb both spake and saw. Thereupon the
Pharisees said: "This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub,
the prince of devils."
Jesus answered by saying: "Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation. If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against
himself."
Why did not Christ tell the Pharisees that he did not cast
out devils--only personifications of evil; and that with these
personifications Beelzebub had nothing to do?
Another question: Did the Pharisees believe in the existence of devils,
or had they the personification idea?
At the same time Christ said: "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of
God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."
If he meant anything by these words he certainly intended to convey
the idea that what he did demonstrated the superiority of God over the
Devil.
Did Christ believe in the existence of the Devil?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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