of men.

But the Christian seems to suspect the Infidel of rejecting the
Christian religion out of sheer wantonness, or from some base or
sinister motive.

The fact being that the Infidel can only believe those things which
his own reason tells him are true. He opposes the popular religion
because his reason tells him it is not true, and because his reason
tells him insistently that a religion that is not true is not good,
but bad. In thus obeying the dictates of his own reason, and in thus
advocating what to him seems good and true, the Infidel is acting
honourably, and is as well within his right as any Pope or Prelate.

That base or mercenary motives should be laid to the charge of the
Infidel seems to me as absurd as that base or mercenary motives
should be laid to the charge of the Socialist. The answer to such
libels stares us in the face. Socialism and Infidelity are not
popular, nor profitable, nor respectable.

If you wish to lose caste, to miss preferment, to endanger your
chances of gaining money and repute, turn Infidel and turn Socialist.

Briefly, Infidelity does not pay. It is "not a pleasant thing to be
an Infidel."

The Christian thinks it his duty to "make it an unpleasant thing" to
deny the "true faith." He thinks it his duty to protect God, and to
revenge His outraged name upon the Infidel and the Heretic. The Jews
thought the same. The Mohammedan thinks the same. How many cruel