← Table of contents
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Complete Contents

Volume 2 — Introductory material

Reading edition

(1885.) I. Happiness the true End and Aim of Life—Spiritual People and their Literature—Shakespeare's Clowns superior to Inspired Writers—Beethoven's Sixth Symphony Preferred to the Five Books of Moses—Venus of Milo more Pleasing than the Presbyterian Creed—II. Religions Naturally Produced—Poets the Myth-makers—The Sleeping Beauty—Orpheus and Eurydice—Red Riding Hood—The Golden Age—Elysian Fields—The Flood Myth—Myths of the Seasons—III. The Sun-god—Jonah, Buddha, Chrisnna, Horus, Zoroaster—December 25th as a Birthday of Gods—Christ a Sun-God—The Cross a Symbol of the Life to Come—When Nature rocked the Cradle of the Infant World—IV. Difference between a Myth and a Miracle—Raising the Dead, Past and Present—Miracles of Jehovah—Miracles of Christ—Everything Told except the Truth—The Mistake of the World—V. Beginning of Investigation—The Stars as Witnesses against Superstition—Martyrdom of Bruno—Geology—Steam and Electricity—Nature forever the Same—Persistence of Force—Cathedral, Mosque, and Joss House have the same Foundation—Science the Providence of Man—VI. To Soften the Heart of God—Martyrs—The God was Silent—Credulity a Vice—Develop the Imagination—"The Skylark" and "The Daisy"—VII. How are we to Civilize the World?—Put Theology out of Religion—Divorce of Church and State—Secular Education—Godless Schools—VIII. The New Jerusalem—Knowledge of the Supernatural possessed by Savages—Beliefs of Primitive Peoples—Science is Modest—Theology Arrogant—Torque-mada and Bruno on the Day of Judgment—IX. Poison of Superstition in the Mother's Milk—Ability of Mistakes to take Care of Themselves—Longevity of Religious Lies—Mother's religion pleaded by the Cannibal—The Religion of Freedom—O Liberty, thou art the God of my Idolatry

Explore with AITake your curiosity a little further.

Reading settings