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
_Answer_. I suppose it will be a substantial copy of the old one.
I am satisfied with the old one with one addition. I want a plank
to the effect that no man shall be deprived of any civil or political
right on account of his religious or irreligious opinions. The
Republican party having been foremost in freeing the body ought to
do just a little something now for the mind. After having wasted
rivers of blood and treasure uncounted, and almost uncountable, to
free the cage, I propose that something ought to be done for the
bird. Every decent man in the United States would support that
plank. People should have a right to testify in courts, whatever
their opinions may be, on any subject. Justice should not shut
any door leading to truth, and as long as just views neither affect
a man's eyesight or his memory, he should be allowed to tell his
story. And there are two sides to this question, too. The man is
not only deprived of his testimony, but the commonwealth is deprived
of it. There should be no religious test in this country for
office; and if Jehovah cannot support his religion without going
into partnership with a State Legislature, I think he ought to give
it up.
_Question_. Is there anything new about religion since you were
last here?
_Answer_. Since I was here I have spoken in a great many cities,
and to-morrow I am going to do some missionary work at Milwaukee.
Many who have come to scoff have remained to pray, and I think that
my labors are being greatly blessed, and all attacks on me so far
have been overruled for good. I happened to come in contact with
a revival of religion, and I believe what they call an "outpouring"
at Detroit, under the leadership of a gentleman by the name of
Pentecost. He denounced me as God's greatest enemy. I had always
supposed that the Devil occupied that exalted position, but it
seems that I have, in some way, fallen heir to his shoes. Mr.
Pentecost also denounced all business men who would allow any
advertisements or lithographs of mine to hang in their places of
business, and several of these gentlemen thus appealed to took the
advertisements away. The result of all this was that I had the
largest house that ever attended a lecture in Detroit. Feeling
that ingratitude is a crime, I publicly returned thanks to the
clergy for the pains they had taken to give me an audience. And
I may say, in this connection, that if the ministers do God as
little good as they do me harm, they had better let both of us
alone. I regard them as very good, but exceedingly mistaken men.
They do not come much in contact with the world, and get most of
their views by talking with the women and children of their
congregations. They are not permitted to mingle freely with society.
They cannot attend plays nor hear operas. I believe some of them
have ventured to minstrel shows and menageries, where they confine
themselves strictly to the animal part of the entertainment. But,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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