Ingersoll introduces an absurdity and then effectively piles on observation after contradiction to demonstrate what tripe it all is. Short sentences, staccato-like rhythm and repetition are all tools that he uses to drive home his point. In fact, Ingersoll almost seems to ape the mantra-like style that many down home preachers of his day likely used, and this would be in line with his clever approach throughout that is laced with mocking wit and irony. Far from adhering to a respectful tone, Ingersoll implements the only kind of language that can be used to counter such patent absurdity that has nonetheless convinced so many ignoramuses through the ages. A common conclusion that Ingersoll arrives at when trying to understand the thinking of those who preach, defend and worship christianity is that of insanity. Even regarding the asshole who helped to get the fucked-up ball rolling:

"We know, if we know anything, that devils do not exist-that Christ never cast them out, and that if he pretended to, he was either ignorant, dishonest or insane."

Together with the obsessive reverence many seem to show christianity because of the outlet it provides for their own sadistic feelings, another theme that runs throughout Ingersoll's piece is the almost universal condemnation by these wackos of all that is most pleasurable in life.

Not only does the puritanical, controlling, shrew-like mindset of christ lovers demonstrate their warped view but it also seems to inhibit those artistic tendencies which result in the other-worldly rendering by the most skilled of writers.

Though a small sample, he highlights some of the writers who most affected him with their ability to deal with human nature, love and the beauty of women against the paucity of similar examples from the puritans as another demonstration of the skewed, self-punishing, just plain anti-all-that-makes-life-wonderful outlook, as another reason to dismiss these fraudulent control freaks and their load of shit. (One author who Ingersoll cites is Shakespeare...a fair number of interesting articles on whether he was in fact atheist/agnostic.)

Though eviscerating the non-logic behind christianity, Ingersoll also touches on the utter lack of originality in its holy book, pointing out that the same basic foundations can be found throughout all religions:

"I concluded that all religions had the same foundation-a belief in the supernatural-a power above nature that man could influence by worship-by sacrifice and prayer. I found that all religions rested on a mistaken conception of nature- that the religion of a people was the science of that people, that is to say, their explanation of the world-of life and death-of origin and destiny. I concluded that all religions had substantially the same origin, and that in fact there has never been but one religion in the world. The twigs and leaves may differ, but the trunk is the same."