I hope it will not be supposed that I have any personal animus against
Christians or Christian ministers, although I am hostile to the Church.
Many ministers and many Christian laymen I have known are admirable
men. Some I know personally are as able and as good as any men I have
met; but I speak of the Churches, not of individuals.

I have known Catholic priests and sisters who were worthy and charming,
and there are many such; but I do not like the Catholic Church. I have
known Tories and Liberals who were real good fellows, and clever fellows,
and there are many such; but I do not like the Liberal and Tory parties.
I have known clergymen of the Church of England who were real live men,
and real English gentlemen, and there are many such; but I do not like
the Church.

I was not always an Agnostic, or a Rationalist, or an "Infidel," or
whatever Christians may choose to call me.

I was not perverted by an Infidel book. I had not read one when I
wavered first in my allegiance to the orthodoxies. I was set doubting
by a religious book written to prove the "Verity of Christ's Resurrection
from the Dead." But as a child I was thoughtful, and asked myself
questions, as many children do, which the Churches would find it hard
to answer to-day.

I have not ceased to believe what I was taught as a child because I
have grown wicked. I have ceased to believe it because, after twenty
years' hard thinking, I _cannot_ believe it.

I cannot believe, then, that the Christian religion is true.