| We want to stand upon our own feet and look fair and square at the world—its good facts, its bad facts, its beauties, and its ugliness; see the world as it is and be not afraid of it. Conquer the world by intelligence and not merely by being slavishly subdued by the terror that comes from it. —Bertrand Russell |
Ingersoll’s Birthday August 11, 2006
Posted by Rastaban in : Atheist Culture, Freethinkers, Ingersoll , add a commentRobert Green Ingersoll, one of the most famous progressives of the 19th century, was born August 11, 1833. Following in the tradition of Paine & Jefferson, Ingersoll spent his life as an advocate for progressive causes, becoming arguably America’s greatest orator at a time when oratory was practically the national pastime.
Had he not openly rejected Christianity and God, Ingersoll’s speaking skills would have taken him a long way in the political arena, perhaps to the highest office in the land. Few could match his ability to appeal to both heart and intellect at once.
His books and speeches are still impressive today; they are intelligent and eminently quotable despite the patina of more than a century between his time and ours. (more…)
Berkeley, Cohen & Materialism May 27, 2005
Posted by Rastaban in : Freethinkers, Naturalism , add a commentI am a fan of Chapman Cohen, who about a century ago was a writer for Freethinker magazine and president of its parent organization in Great Britain, the National Secular Society. I have his Essays in Freethinking, Volume Two. I am not always in agreement with him, but his perspective is usually interesting.
His essay, The Ghost of Religion, is of particular interest — although in my opinion largely mistaken. (more…)
Ingersoll Reviews “The Passion of Christ” February 16, 2005
Posted by Rastaban in : Freethinkers, Ingersoll, The Bible , 4 commentsSuppose, however, that God did give this law to the Jews, and did tell them that whenever a man preached a heresy, or proposed to worship any other God that they should kill him; and suppose that afterward this same God took upon himself flesh, and came to this very chosen people and taught a different religion, and that thereupon the Jews crucified him; I ask you, did he not reap exactly what he had sown? What right would this god have to complain of a crucifixion suffered in accordance with his own command?”– Robert G. Ingersoll, “Some Mistakes of Moses”
