The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 08 (of 12): Dresden Edition—InterviewsIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 08 (of 12): Dresden Edition—Interviews
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
nothing about Nature as it is. Finding that they were mistaken
about this world, we have no confidence in what they have said
about another. Every religion has had its philosophy about this
world, and every one has been mistaken. As education becomes
general, as scientific modes are adopted, this will become clearer
and clearer, until "ignorant as inspiration" will be a comparison.
_Question_. Have you seen the memorial to the New York Legislature,
to be presented this winter, asking for the repeal of such laws as
practically unite church and state?
_Answer_. I have seen a memorial asking that church property be
taxed like other property; that no more money should be appropriated
from the public treasury for the support of institutions managed
by and in the interest of sectarian denominations; for the repeal
of all laws compelling the observance of Sunday as a religious day.
Such memorials ought to be addressed to the Legislatures of all
the States. The money of the public should only be used for the
benefit of the public. Public money should not be used for what
a few gentlemen think is for the benefit of the public. Personally,
I think it would be for the benefit of the public to have Infidel
or scientific--which is the same thing--lectures delivered in every
town, in every State, on every Sunday; but knowing that a great
many men disagree with me on this point, I do not claim that such
lectures ought to be paid for with public money. The Methodist
Church ought not to be sustained by taxation, nor the Catholic,
nor any other church. To relieve their property from taxation is
to appropriate money, to the extent of that tax, for the support
of that church. Whenever a burden is lifted from one piece of
property, it is distributed over the rest of the property of the
State, and to release one kind of property is to increase the tax
on all other kinds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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