If the people of Europe had known as much of astronomy and … - Robert Green Ingersoll

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If the people of Europe had known as much of astronomy and geology when the bible was introduced among them, as they do now, there never could have been one believer in the doctrine of inspiration. If the writers of the various parts of the bible had known as much about the sciences as is now known by every intelligent man, the book never could have been written. It was produced by ignorance, and has been believed and defended by its author. It has lost power in the proportion that man has gained knowledge. A few years ago, this book was appealed to in the settlement of all scientific questions; but now, even the clergy confess that in such matters, it has ceased to speak with the voice of authority. For the establishment of facts, the word of man is now considered far better than the word of God. In the world of science, Jehovah was superseded by Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler. All that God told Moses, admitting the entire account to be true, is dust and ashes compared to the discoveries of Descartes, Laplace, and Humboldt. In matters of fact, the bible has ceased to be regarded as a standard. Science has succeeded in breaking the chains of theology. A few years ago, Science endeavored to show that it was not inconsistent with the bible. The tables have been turned, and now, Religion is endeavoring to prove that the bible is not inconsistent with Science. The standard has been changed.

Robert Green Ingersoll

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belief word-of-god astronomy religion god christians inspiration the-bible science intelligent copernicus des-cartes descartes galileo galileo-galilei chains geology inconsistent la-place laplace marquis-de-laplace moses nicolaus-copernicus pierre-simon pierre-simon-laplace prove rené-descartes standard wilhelm-humboldt wilhelm-von-humboldt true author ignorance jehovah authority yahweh alexander-humboldt alexander-von-humboldt humboldt book johannes-kepler europe kepler doctrine believer facts theology clergy discovery bible knowledge

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About Robert Green Ingersoll

Robert Green Ingersoll (August 11, 1833 – July 21, 1899) was a lawyer, a Civil War veteran, political leader, and orator of the United States during the Golden Age of Freethought, noted for his broad range of culture and his defense of agnosticism. He was nicknamed "The Great Agnostic".

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Alternative Names: Robert Ingersoll • The Great Agnostic • Robert G. Ingersoll

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Thomas Paine James Anthony Froude Voltaire John Henry Newman Clarence Darrow

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The sciences are not sectarian. People do not persecute each other on account of disagreements in mathematics. Families are not divided about botany, and astronomy does not even tend to make a man hate his father and mother. It is what people do not know, that they persecute each other about. Science will bring, not a sword, but peace.

In all ages hypocrites, called priests, have put crowns on the heads of thieves, called kings.

Progress is born of doubt and inquiry. The Church never doubts, never inquires. To doubt is heresy, to inquire is to admit that you do not know — the Church does neither.

If the people of Europe had known as much of astronomy and geology when the bible was introduced among them, as they do now, there never could have b… - Robert Green Ingersoll

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