The Necessity of Atheism

by David Marshall Brooks

DR. D. M. BROOKS

FREETHOUGH PRESS ASSOCIATION
NEW YORK

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Dedicated to
JOSEPH LEWIS IN AMERICA
AND
CHAPMAN COHEN IN ENGLAND
OF WHOM
IT MAY BE SAID:

"How often it has happened that one man, standing at the right point of view, has descried the truth, and, after having been denounced and persecuted by all others, they have eventually been constrained to adopt his declarations!"—(Draper.)

For the old Gods came to an end long ago. And verily it was a good and joyful end of Gods!

They did not die lingering in the twilight—although that lie is told! On the contrary, they once upon a time laughed themselves to death!

That came to pass when, by a God himself, the most ungodly word was uttered, the word: "There is but one God! Thou shalt have no other Gods before me."

An old grim beard of a God, a jealous one, forgot himself thus.

And then all Gods laughed and shook on their chairs and cried: "Is Godliness not just that there are Gods, but no God?"

Whoever hath ears let him hear.

"Thus Spake Zarathrustra"—Friedrich Nietzsche

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Contents

I	THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS	[21]
II	THE KORAN AND THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS	[31]
III	THE PROPHETS MOHAMMED, JESUS, AND MOSES CHARLATANS OR VICTIMS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISEASE	[65]
IV	SOUNDNESS OF A FOUNDATION FOR A BELIEF IN A DEITY	[94]
V	THE PERSISTENCE OF RELIGION	[115]
VI	RELIGION AND SCIENCE	[120]
VII	RELIGION AND MEDICINE	[126]
VIII	RELIGION AND ASTRONOMY	[148]
IX	RELIGION AND GEOGRAPHY	[151]
X	RELIGION AND CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS	[154]
XI	RELIGION AND GEOLOGY, PHILOLOGY AND EVOLUTION	[157]
XII	RELIGION AND WITCHCRAFT	[163]
XIII	RELIGION AND MORALITY	[193]
XIV	CHRISTIANITY AND WAR	[211]
XV	CHRISTIANITY AND SLAVERY	[214]
XVI	CHRISTIANITY AND LABOR	[224]
XVII	RELIGION AND WOMAN	[242]
XVIII	THE PHILOSOPHERS AND THE GREAT ILLUSION	[251]
XIX	THE DOOM OF RELIGION; THE NECESSITY OF ATHEISM	[269]
XX	CONTEMPORARY OPINION	[309]

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