The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume VIII.: InterviewsIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Volume VIII.: Interviews
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
And then follows the speech of Paul, wherein he gives an account of
his conversion. It seems a little curious to me that Paul, for
the purpose of quieting a mob, would speak to that mob in an unknown
language. If I were mobbed in the city of Chicago, and wished to
defend myself with an explanation, I certainly would not make that
explanation in Choctaw, even if I understood that tongue. My
present opinion is that I would speak in English; and the reason
I would speak in English is because that language is generally
understood in this city, and so I conclude from the account in the
twenty-first chapter of the Acts that Hebrew was the language of
Jerusalem at that time, or Paul would not have addressed the mob
in that tongue.
_Question_. Did you read Mr. Courtney's answer?
_Answer_. I read what Mr. Courtney read from others, and think
some of his quotations very good; and have no doubt that the authors
will feel complimented by being quoted. There certainly is no need
of my answering Dr. Courtney; sometime I may answer the French
gentlemen from whom he quoted.
_Question_. But what about there being "belief" in Matthew?
_Answer_. Mr. Courtney says that certain people were cured of
diseases on account of faith. Admitting that mumps, measles, and
whooping-cough could be cured in that way, there is not even a
suggestion that salvation depended upon a like faith. I think he
can hardly afford to rely upon the miracles of the New Testament
to prove his doctrine. There is one instance in which a miracle
was performed by Christ without his knowledge; and I hardly think
that even Mr. Courtney would insist that any faith could have been
great enough for that. The fact is, I believe that all these
miracles were ascribed to Christ long after his death, and that
Christ never, at any time or place, pretended to have any supernatural
power whatever. Neither do I believe that he claimed any supernatural
origin. He claimed simply to be a man; no less, no more. I do
not believe Mr. Courtney is satisfied with his own reply.
_Question_. And now as to Prof. Swing?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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