say, in respect to our duties to the Deity, why should it be relied upon
in matters respecting the rights of our fellows? Why should we throw
away the law given to Moses by God Himself, and have the audacity to
make some of our own? How dare we drown the thunders of Sinai by
calling the ayes and naes in a petty legislature? If reason can
determine what is merciful, what is just, the duties of man to man, what
more do we want either in time or eternity?

Down, forever down, with any religion that requires upon its ignorant
altar its sacrifice of the goddess Reason; that compels her to abdicate
forever the shining throne of the soul, strips from her form the
imperial purple, snatches from her hand the sceptre of thought and makes
her the bond-woman of senseless faith.

If a man should tell you he had the most beautiful painting in the
world, and after taking you where it was should insist upon having your
eyes shut, you would likely suspect either that he had no painting or
that it was some pitiful daub. Should he tell you that he was a most
excellent performer on the violin, and yet refused to play unless your
ears were stopped, you would think, to say the least of it, that he had
an odd way of convincing you of his musical ability. But would this
conduct be any more wonderful than that of a religionist who asks that
before examining his creed you will have the kindness to throw away your
reason? The first gentleman says: "Keep your eyes shut; my picture
will bear everything but being seen. Keep your ears stopped; my music
objects to nothing but being heard." The last says: "Away with your
reason; my religion dreads nothing but being understood."

So far as I am concerned, I most cheerfully admit that most Christians
are honest and most ministers sincere. We do not attack them; we