http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Fri, 3 Dec 2004 13:35:43 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/02/200319.php#comment-101663 There are two quotes by Ingersoll, that I always keep close by, even though I believe in God. I do not believe in the Church of today. ----- It is contended by many that ours is a Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon the book as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our country. The truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of gods, but upon the rights of men. Our Constitution was framed, not to declare and uphold the deity of Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. Ours is the first government made by the people and for the people. It is the only nation with which the gods have had nothing to do. And yet there are some judges dishonest and cowardly enough to solemnly decide that this is a Christian country, and that our free institutions are based upon the infamous laws of Jehovah. -- Robert Ingersoll, "Individuality" (1873) I oppose the church because she is the enemy of liberty; because her dogmas are infamous and cruel; because she humiliates and degrades woman; because she teaches the doctrines of eternal torment and the natural depravity of man; because she insists upon the absurd, the impossible, and the senseless; because she resorts to falsehood and slander; because she is arrogant and revengeful; because she allows men to sin on a credit; because she discourages self-reliance, and laughs at good works; because she believes in vicarious virtue and vicarious vice -- vicarious punishment and vicarious reward; because she regards repentance of more importance than restitution, and because she sacrifices the world we have to one we know not of. - Preface to a speech, 1878, Washington, DC. 101663@blogcritics.org Fri, 3 Dec 2004 13:35:43 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/02/200319.php#comment-101654 Whew - is this one too hot to touch? Seems so - and as a reporter who has to get along with EVERYONE I'm not going there. However, no one should be afraid to ask questions. When you shut down questions is when you show fear. Polite but aggressive questions. 101654@blogcritics.org Fri, 3 Dec 2004 13:14:39 EST