Fragments Of Ingersoll

Robert Ingersoll,

SUPERSTITION puts belief above goodness -- credulity above virtue.

Here are two men. One is industrious, frugal, honest, generous. He has a happy home -- loves his wife and children -- fills their lives with sunshine. He enjoys study, thoughts, music, and all the subtleties of Art -- but he does not believe the creed -- cares nothing for sacred books, worships no god and fears no devil.

The other is ignorant, coarse, brutal, beats his wife and children -- but he believes -- regards the Bible as inspired - bows to the priests, counts his beads, says his prayers, confesses and contributes, and the Catholic Church declares and the Protestant Churches declare that he is the better man.

The ignorant believer, coarse and brutal as he is, is going to heaven. He will be washed in the blood of the Lamb. He will have wings -- a harp and a halo.

The intelligent and generous man who loves his fellow-men -- who develops his brain, who enjoys the beautiful, is going to hell -- to the eternal prison.

Such is the justice of God -- the mercy of Christ.