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
Man can be as just in this world as in any other, and justice must
be the same in all worlds. Secularism teaches a man to be generous,
and generosity is certainly as good here as it can be anywhere
else. Secularism teaches a man to be charitable, and certainly
charity is as beautiful in this world and in this short life as it
could be were man immortal.
But orthodox people insist that there is something higher than
Secularism; but, as a matter of fact, the mind of man can conceive
of nothing better, nothing higher, nothing more spiritual, than
goodness, justice, generosity, charity. Neither has the mind of
men been capable of finding a nobler incentive to action than human
love. Secularism has to do with every possible relation. It says
to the young man and to the young woman: "Don't marry unless you
can take care of yourselves and your children." It says to the
parents: "Live for your children; put forth every effort to the
end that your children may know more than you--that they may be
better and grander than you." It says: "You have no right to
bring children into the world that you are not able to educate and
feed and clothe." It says to those who have diseases that can be
transmitted to children: "Do not marry; do not become parents; do
not perpetuate suffering, deformity, agony, imbecility, insanity,
poverty, wretchedness."
Secularism tells all children to do the best they can for their
parents--to discharge every duty and every obligation. It defines
the relation that should exist between husband and wife; between
parent and child; between the citizen and the Nation. And not only
that, but between nations.
Secularism is a religion that is to be used everywhere, and at all
times--that is to be taught everywhere and practiced at all times.
It is not a religion that is so dangerous that it must be kept out
of the schools; it is not a religion that is so dangerous that it
must be kept out of politics. It belongs in the schools; it belongs
at the polls. It is the business of Secularism to teach every
child; to teach every voter. It is its business to discuss all
political problems, and to decide all questions that affect the
rights or the happiness of a human being.
Orthodox religion is a firebrand; it must be kept out of the schools;
it must be kept out of politics. All the churches unite in saying
that orthodox religion is not for every day use. The Catholics
object to any Protestant religion being taught to children.
Protestants object to any Catholic religion being taught to
children. But the Secularist wants his religion taught to all;
and his religion can produce no feeling, for the reason that it
consists of facts--of truths. And all of it is important; important
for the child, important for the parent, important for the politician
--for the President--for all in power; important to every legislator,
to every professional man, to every laborer and every farmer--that
is to say, to every human being.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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