A handbook of Freethought

by Unknown

Table of Contents

• [PREFACE.] [3]
• [CREATION.] [5]
  • [The Difference Between the Two Cosmogonies as Given in the First Two Chapters of Genesis.] [29]
  • [Evidence of the Vast Age of the Universe.] [30]
• [PROPHECY.] [31]
• [MIRACLES.] [36]
  • [David Hume’s Argument on Miracles.] [50]
  • [Some Extra Miracles.] [66]
  • [The Great Quail Story.] [67]
  • [A Suit of Clothes Lasting Forty Years, and even then Not Old.] [67]
  • [Lot’s Wife turned into a Pillar of Salt.] [67]
  • [Cattle which were Killed Several Times After they were Dead.] [67]
  • [People Get Up in the morning Dead.] [68]
  • [Elisha Returns to Life.] [68]
• [HEAVEN.] [69]
  • [Elijah Went to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire.] [69]
  • [Deluge.] [70]
  • [The Ass and the Calf.] [71]
• [JESUS CHRIST.] [72]
  • [The Genealogy of Jesus.] [72]
  • [When was Jesus Born?] [73]
  • [Christianity Rests Upon a Dream.] [76]
  • [THE GOLDEN RULE.] [77]
  • [Jesus an Essene.] [79]
  • [Jesus’ Teachings Not up to the Moral Standard of To-day.] [81]
  • [Jesus Exhibits an Imperfect Sense of Justice.] [83]
  • [Jesus Teaches the Duty of Submission to Wrong.] [86]
  • [Immoral Teachings of Jesus.] [87]
  • [Bitter and Unreasonable Denunciations of Jesus.] [88]
  • [Jesus a False Prophet.] [89]
  • [Jesus Curses the Fig Tree.] [90]
  • [Contemporaneous Historians are Silent Concerning the Resurrection of Jesus.] [91]
  • [The Resurrection of Jesus.] [91]
  • [Jesus Foretells his Resurrection.] [103]
  • [None of the Disciples Looking for a Resurrection.] [106]
  • [The Evidence of Paul on the Resurrection of Jesus.] [110]
• [CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT HISTORICAL BASIS.] [119]
  • [The Canon.] [121]
  • [The Value of Papias’ Testimony.] [124]
  • [Ignorance and Dishonesty of the Early Fathers.] [124]
  • [Jesus Not a Historical Character.] [127]
  • [The Spurious Passage in Josephus.] [127]
  • [EUSEBIUS. The Father of Church History.] [131]
  • [Spurious Writings of the Early Church.] [133]
  • [The Bible Not an Inspired Revelation.] [133]
  • [The Pentateuch.] [140]
  • [The Bible Not Inspired.] [140]
  • [God’s Ways are Not Our Ways.] [141]
• [SELF-CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE.] [145]
  • [THEOLOGICAL DOCTRINES.] [145]
    • [God is Satisfied with his Works.] [145]
    • [God is Dissatisfied with his Works.] [145]
    • [God Dwells in Chosen Temples.] [145]
    • [God Dwells Not in Temples.] [145]
    • [God Dwells in Light.] [145]
    • [God Dwells in Darkness.] [145]
    • [God is Seen and Heard.] [146]
    • [God is Invisible and Cannot be Heard.] [146]
    • [God is Tired and Rests.] [146]
    • [God is Never Tired and Never Rests.] [146]
    • [God is Omnipresent, Sees and Knows all Things.] [147]
    • [God is Not Omnipresent, Neither Sees nor Knows all Things.] [147]
    • [God Knows the Hearts of Men.] [147]
    • [God Tries Men to Find Out what is in their Hearts.] [147]
    • [God is All-Powerful.] [148]
    • [God is Not All-Powerful.] [148]
    • [God is Unchangeable.] [148]
    • [God is Changeable.] [148]
    • [God is Just and Impartial.] [149]
    • [God is Unjust and Partial.] [149]
    • [God is Not the Author of Evil.] [150]
    • [God is the Author of Evil.] [150]
    • [God Gives Freely to those who Ask.] [151]
    • [God Withholds his Blessings and Prevents their Reception.] [151]
    • [God is to be Found by Those who Seek him.] [151]
    • [God is Not to be Found by Those who Seek him.] [151]
    • [God is Peaceful.] [151]
    • [God is Warlike.] [151]
    • [God is Kind, Merciful, and Good.] [152]
    • [God is Cruel, Unmerciful, Destructive, and Ferocious.] [152]
    • [God’s Anger is Slow, and Endures but for a Moment.] [152]
    • [God’s Anger is Fierce, Frequent, and Endures Long.] [153]
    • [God Commands, Approves of, and Delights in Burnt Offerings, Sacrifices, and Holy Days.] [153]
    • [God Disapproves of, and has no Pleasure in, Burnt Offerings, Sacrifices, and Holy Days.] [153]
    • [God Forbids Human Sacrifice.] [154]
    • [God Commands and Accepts Human Sacrifices.] [154]
    • [God Tempts No Man.] [155]
    • [God Does Tempt Men.] [155]
    • [God Cannot Lie.] [155]
    • [God Lies; He Sends Forth Lying Spirits to Deceive.] [156]
    • [Because of Man’s Wickedness God Destroys him.] [156]
    • [Because of Man’s Wickedness God will Not Destroy him.] [156]
    • [God’s Attributes are Revealed in his Works.] [156]
    • [God’s Attributes Cannot be Discovered.] [156]
    • [There is a Plurality of Gods.] [157]
  • [MORAL PRECEPTS.] [157]
    • [Robbery Commanded.] [157]
    • [Robbery Forbidden.] [157]
    • [Lying Commanded, Approved, and Sanctioned.] [157]
    • [Lying Forbidden.] [158]
    • [Killing Commanded and Sanctioned.] [159]
    • [Killing Forbidden.] [159]
    • [The Blood-Shedder Must Die.] [159]
    • [The Blood-Shedder Must Not Die.] [159]
    • [The Making of Images Forbidden.] [159]
    • [The Making of Images Commanded.] [159]
    • [Slavery and Oppression Ordained.] [159]
    • [Slavery and Oppression Forbidden.] [160]
    • [Improvidence Enjoined.] [160]
    • [Improvidence Condemned.] [160]
    • [Anger Approved.] [161]
    • [Anger Disapproved.] [161]
    • [Good Works to be Seen of Men.] [161]
    • [Good Works Not to be Seen of Men.] [161]
    • [Judging of Others Forbidden.] [161]
    • [Judging of Others Approved.] [161]
    • [Jesus Taught Non-Resistance.] [161]
    • [Jesus Taught and Practiced Physical Resistance.] [162]
    • [Jesus Warned his Followers Not to Fear Being Killed.] [162]
    • [Jesus Himself Avoided the Jews for Fear of Being killed.] [162]
    • [Public Prayer Sanctioned.] [162]
    • [Public Prayer Disapproved.] [162]
    • [Importunity in Prayer Commended.] [162]
    • [Importunity in Prayer Condemned.] [163]
    • [The Wearing of Long Hair by Men Sanctioned.] [163]
    • [The Wearing of Long Hair by Men Condemned.] [163]
    • [Circumcision Instituted.] [163]
    • [Circumcision Condemned.] [163]
    • [The Sabbath Instituted.] [163]
    • [The Sabbath Repudiated.] [163]
    • [The Sabbath Instituted because God Rested the Seventh Day.] [164]
    • [The Sabbath Instituted for a Very Different Reason.] [164]
    • [No Work to be Done on the Sabbath under Penalty of Death.] [164]
    • [Jesus Broke the Sabbath and Justified the Act.] [164]
    • [Baptism Commanded.] [165]
    • [Baptism Not Commanded.] [165]
    • [Every Kind of Animal Allowed for Food.] [165]
    • [Certain Kinds of Animals Prohibited for Food.] [165]
    • [The Taking of Oaths Sanctioned.] [165]
    • [The Taking of Oaths Forbidden.] [166]
    • [Marriage Approved and Sanctioned.] [166]
    • [Marriage Disapproved.] [166]
    • [Freedom of Divorce Permitted.] [166]
    • [Divorce Restricted.] [166]
    • [Adultery Sanctioned.] [167]
    • [Adultery Forbidden.] [167]
    • [Marriage or Cohabitation with a Sister Denounced.] [167]
    • [Abraham Married his Sister, and God Blessed the Union.] [167]
    • [A Man May Marry His Brother’s Widow.] [167]
    • [A Man May Not Marry his Brother’s Widow.] [167]
    • [Hatred to Kindred Enjoined.] [168]
    • [Hatred to Kindred Condemned.] [168]
    • [Intoxicating Beverages Recommended.] [168]
    • [Intoxicating Beverages Discountenanced.] [168]
    • [It is Our Duty to Obey Rulers, Who are God’s Ministers and Punish Evil Doers Only.] [168]
    • [It is Not Our Duty Always to Obey Rulers, Who Sometimes Punish the Good, and Receive Damnation Therefor.] [169]
    • [Woman’s Rights Denied.] [170]
    • [Woman’s Rights Affirmed.] [170]
    • [Obedience to Masters Enjoined.] [170]
    • [Obedience Due to God Only.] [171]
    • [There is an Unpardonable Sin.] [171]
    • [There is No Unpardonable Sin.] [171]
  • [HISTORICAL FACTS.] [171]
    • [Man was Created After the Other Animals.] [171]
    • [Man was Created Before the Other Animals.] [171]
    • [Noah, by God’s Command, Took Into the Ark Clean Beasts by Sevens.] [171]
    • [Noah, by God’s Command, Took Into the Ark Clean Beasts by Twos.] [172]
    • [Seed Time and Harvest were Never to Cease.] [172]
    • [Seed Time and Harvest Did Cease for Seven Years.] [172]
    • [God Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart.] [172]
    • [Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart.] [172]
    • [All the Cattle and Horses in Egypt Died.] [172]
    • [All the Horses of Egypt did Not Die.] [172]
    • [John the Baptist Recognized Jesus as the Messiah.] [172]
    • [John the Baptist did Not Recognize Jesus as the Messiah.] [173]
    • [John the Baptist was Elias.] [173]
    • [John the Baptist was Not Elias.] [173]
    • [The Father of Joseph, Mary’s Husband, was Jacob.] [173]
    • [The Father of Mary’s Husband was Heli.] [173]
    • [The Father of Salah was Arphaxad.] [173]
    • [The Father of Sala was Cainan.] [173]
    • [The Infant Jesus was Taken into Egypt.] [173]
    • [The Infant Jesus was Not Taken into Egypt.] [173]
    • [Jesus was Tempted in the Wilderness.] [174]
    • [Jesus was Not Tempted in the Wilderness.] [174]
    • [Jesus Preached his First Sermon Sitting on the Mount.] [174]
    • [He Preached his First Sermon Standing in the Plain.] [174]
    • [John was in Prison when Jesus went into Galilee.] [174]
    • [John was Not in Prison when Jesus went into Galilee.] [174]
    • [The Disciples were Commanded to Take a Staff and Sandals.] [175]
    • [They were Commanded to Take Neither Staves Nor Sandals.] [175]
    • [Two Blind Men Besought Jesus.] [175]
    • [Only One Blind Man Besought Him.] [175]
    • [Two Men Coming Out of the Tombs Met Jesus.] [175]
    • [Only One Man Coming Out of the Tombs Met Him.] [175]
    • [A Centurion Besought Jesus to Heal his Servant.] [175]
    • [Not the Centurion, but his Messengers, Besought Jesus.] [175]
    • [Jesus was Crucified at the Third Hour.] [176]
    • [He was Not Crucified Until the Sixth Hour.] [176]
    • [The Two Thieves Reviled Jesus.] [176]
    • [Only One of the Thieves Reviled Him.] [176]
    • [Vinegar Mingled with Gall was Offered Jesus.] [176]
    • [Wine Mingled with Myrrh was Offered to Him.] [176]
    • [Satan Entered into Judas while at the Supper.] [176]
    • [Satan Entered into him Before the Supper.] [176]
    • [Judas Returned the Pieces of Silver.] [177]
    • [Judas did Not Return the Pieces of Silver.] [177]
    • [Judas Hanged Himself.] [177]
    • [Judas did Not Hang Himself, but Died Another Way.] [177]
    • [The Potter’s Field was Purchased by Judas.] [177]
    • [The Potter’s Field was Purchased by the Chief Priests.] [177]
    • [But One Woman Came to the Sepulcher.] [177]
    • [Two Women Came to the Sepulcher.] [177]
    • [Three Women Came to the Sepulcher.] [177]
    • [More than Three Women Came to the Sepulcher.] [177]
    • [It was at Sunrise when they Came to the Sepulcher.] [178]
    • [It was some time Before Sunrise when They came.] [178]
    • [Two Angels were Seen at the Sepulcher, Standing up.] [178]
    • [But One Angel was Seen, and He was Sitting Down.] [178]
    • [Two Angels were Seen within the Sepulcher.] [178]
    • [But One Angel was Seen within the Sepulcher.] [178]
    • [The One Angel Seen was Without the Sepulcher.] [178]
    • [The Women went and Told the Disciples of Christ’s Resurrection.] [178]
    • [The Women did Not Go and Tell the Disciples.] [179]
    • [The Angels Appeared After Peter and John Visited the Sepulcher.] [179]
    • [The Angels Appeared Before Peter Alone Visited the Sepulcher.] [179]
    • [Jesus Appeared First to Mary Magdalene Only.] [179]
    • [Jesus Appeared First to the Two Marys.] [179]
    • [He Appeared to Neither of the Marys.] [179]
    • [Jesus was to be Three Days and Three Nights in the Grave.] [179]
    • [He was but Two Days and Two Nights in the Grave.] [180]
    • [The Holy Ghost Was Bestowed at Pentecost.] [180]
    • [The Holy Ghost was Bestowed Before Pentecost.] [180]
    • [The Disciples were Commanded Immediately After the Resurrection to go into Galilee.] [180]
    • [They were Commanded Immediately After the Resurrection to Tarry at Jerusalem.] [180]
    • [Jesus First Appeared to the Eleven Disciples in a Room at Jerusalem.] [180]
    • [He First Appeared to them on a Mountain in Galilee.] [181]
    • [Jesus Ascended from Mount Olivet.] [181]
    • [He Ascended from Bethany.] [181]
    • [Did he Ascend from Either Place?] [181]
    • [Paul’s Attendants Heard the Voice, and Stood Speechless.] [181]
    • [His Attendants Heard Not the Voice, and were Prostrate.] [181]
    • [Abraham Departed to go into Canaan.] [181]
    • [Abraham Went not Knowing Where.] [182]
    • [Abraham had Two Sons.] [182]
    • [Abraham had but One Son.] [182]
    • [Keturah was Abraham’s Wife.] [182]
    • [Keturah was Abraham’s Concubine.] [182]
    • [Abraham Begat a Son when he was a Hundred Years Old, by the Interposition of Providence.] [182]
    • [Abraham Begat Six Children More After he was a Hundred Years Old, Without any Interposition of Providence.] [182]
    • [Jacob Bought a Sepulcher of the Sons of Hamor.] [183]
    • [Abraham Bought it of the Sons of Emmor.] [183]
    • [God Promised the Land of Canaan to Abraham and his Seed.] [183]
    • [Abraham and his Seed Never Received the Promised Land.] [183]
    • [Baasha Died in the Twenty-sixth Year of Asa.] [183]
    • [Baasha did Not Die in the Twenty-sixth Year of Asa.] [183]
    • [Ahaziah was the Youngest Son of Jehoram.] [183]
    • [Ahaziah was Not the Youngest Son of Jehoram.] [184]
    • [Ahaziah was Twenty-two Years Old when he Began to Reign, being Eighteen Years Younger than his Father.] [184]
    • [Ahaziah was Forty-two Years Old when he Began to Reign, being Two Years Older than his Father.] [184]
    • [Michal had No Child.] [184]
    • [Michal had Five Children.] [184]
    • [David was Tempted by the Lord to Number the People.] [184]
    • [David was Tempted by Satan to Number the People.] [184]
    • [There were 800,000 Warriors of Israel and 500,000 of Judah.] [185]
    • [There were 1,100,000 of Israel and 470,000 of Judah.] [185]
    • [David Sinned in Numbering the People.] [185]
    • [David Never Sinned except in the Matter of Uriah.] [185]
    • [David Slew 700 Syrian Charioteers and 40,000 Horsemen.] [185]
    • [David Slew 7,000 Syrian Charioteers and 40,000 Footmen.] [185]
    • [David Paid for a Threshing Floor Fifty Shekels of Silver.] [185]
    • [David Paid for it Six Hundred Shekels of Gold.] [185]
    • [Goliath was Slain by David.] [186]
    • [Goliath was Slain by Elhanan.] [186]
  • [SPECULATIVE DOCTRINES.] [186]
    • [Christ is Equal with God.] [186]
    • [Christ is Not Equal with God.] [186]
    • [Christ Judged Men.] [186]
    • [Christ Judged No Man.] [186]
    • [Jesus was All Powerful.] [186]
    • [Jesus was Not All Powerful.] [187]
    • [The Law was Superceded by the Christian Dispensation.] [187]
    • [The Law was Not Superceded by the Christian Dispensation.] [187]
    • [Christ’s Mission was Peace.] [187]
    • [Christ’s Mission was Not Peace.] [187]
    • [Christ Received not Testimony from Man.] [187]
    • [Christ Did Receive Testimony from Man.] [188]
    • [Christ’s Witness of Himself is True.] [188]
    • [Christ’s Witness of Himself is Not True.] [188]
    • [It was Lawful for the Jews to Put Jesus to Death.] [188]
    • [It was Not Lawful for the Jews to Put him to Death.] [188]
    • [Children are Punished for the Sins of their Parents.] [188]
    • [Children are Not Punished for the Sins of their Parents.] [188]
    • [Man is Justified by Faith Alone.] [188]
    • [Man is Not Justified by Faith Alone.] [189]
    • [It is Impossible to Fall from Grace.] [189]
    • [It is Possible to Fall from Grace.] [189]
    • [No Man is Without Sin.] [190]
    • [Christians are Sinless.] [190]
    • [There is to be a Resurrection of the Dead.] [190]
    • [There is to be no Resurrection of the Dead.] [190]
    • [Reward and Punishment to be Bestowed in this World.] [191]
    • [Reward and Punishment to be Bestowed in the Next World.] [191]
    • [Annihilation the Portion of all Mankind.] [191]
    • [Endless Misery the Portion of a Part of Mankind.] [191]
    • [The Earth is to be Destroyed.] [192]
    • [The Earth is Never to be Destroyed.] [192]
    • [No Evil Shall Happen to the Godly.] [192]
    • [Evil Does Happen to the Godly.] [192]
    • [Worldly Good and Prosperity the Lot of the Godly.] [193]
    • [Worldly Misery and Destitution the Lot of the Godly.] [193]
    • [Worldly Prosperity a Blessing and a Reward of Righteousness.] [193]
    • [Worldly Prosperity a Curse and a Bar to Future Reward.] [194]
    • [The Christian Yoke is Easy.] [194]
    • [The Christian Yoke is Not Easy.] [194]
    • [The Fruit of God’s Spirit is Love and Gentleness.] [195]
    • [The Fruit of God’s Spirit is Vengeance and Fury.] [195]
    • [Prosperity and Longevity Enjoyed by the Wicked.] [195]
    • [Prosperity and Longevity Denied to the Wicked.] [195]
    • [Poverty is a Blessing.] [196]
    • [Riches a Blessing.] [196]
    • [Neither Poverty nor Riches a Blessing.] [196]
    • [Wisdom a Source of Enjoyment.] [196]
    • [Wisdom a Source of Vexation, Grief, and Sorrow.] [196]
    • [A Good Name a Blessing.] [197]
    • [A Good Name is a Curse.] [197]
    • [Laughter Commended.] [197]
    • [Laughter Condemned.] [197]
    • [The Rod of Correction a Remedy for Foolishness.] [197]
    • [There is No Remedy for Foolishness.] [197]
    • [Temptation to be Desired.] [197]
    • [Temptation Not to be Desired.] [197]
    • [Prophecy is Sure.] [198]
    • [Prophecy is Not Sure.] [198]
    • [Man’s Life was to be One Hundred and Twenty Years.] [198]
    • [Man’s Life is but Seventy Years.] [198]
    • [Miracles a Proof of Divine Mission.] [198]
    • [Miracles Not a Proof of Divine Mission.] [199]
    • [Moses was a Very Meek Man.] [199]
    • [Moses was a Very Cruel Man.] [199]
    • [Elijah Went up to Heaven.] [199]
    • [None but Christ Ever Ascended into Heaven.] [199]
    • [All Scripture is Inspired.] [199]
    • [Some Scripture is Not Inspired.] [199]
• [THE DEVIL.] [200]
• [SOUL FARRAGO. What is, and Where is the Soul?] [216]
  • [IMMORTALITY.] [229]
    • [Is This Life the “Be-all and End-all?”] [230]
    • [Materialism—Prof. Tyndall.] [232]
    • [The Origin of Belief in the Soul.] [235]
    • [“When a Man Dies what Becomes of his Soul?”] [236]
    • [Some Soul Questions.] [237]
• [DESIGN ARGUMENT.] [239]
  • [Providence.] [247]
  • [First Cause.] [252]
• [THE SUNDAY QUESTION.] [255]
  • [The Days of the Week.] [256]
  • [One Day in Seven?] [257]
  • [The Edict of Constantine.] [263]
  • [Sabbath Engenders Cruelty.] [266]
  • [The Puritans.] [267]
  • [Sunday Should be Regarded as a day of Rest and Recreation.] [269]
  • [Unconstitutionality of Sunday Laws.] [269]
  • [Ben. Franklin on Connecticut Sundays.] [273]
  • [A Common Sense View of the Sunday Question.] [275]
  • [Everybody’s Sunday.] [279]
• [WHAT IS CIVILIZATION?] [281]
  • [Industrial Influences.] [286]
  • [Skepticism.] [287]
  • [Science.] [287]
  • [Metaphysical Method.] [288]
• [RECAPITULATION.] [289]
  • [Some things Christianity has Not Done.] [289]
  • [The Conflict between Christianity and Civilization.] [290]
  • [The Bible Sanctions Great Crimes.] [291]
    • [Wars of Extermination.] [291]
    • [Polygamy.] [292]
    • [The Subjection of Woman.] [294]
    • [Divorce.] [294]
    • [The New Testament as well as the Old, Holds Woman in Servile Bondage.] [297]
    • [The Bible Sanctions Slavery.] [299]
    • [The New Testament Sanctions Slavery.] [300]
    • [The American Church was the Bulwark of American Slavery.] [300]
  • [The Reformation.] [302]
  • [Christianity Teaches Immorality.] [302]
  • [Prayer is Immoral.] [304]
    • [Faith in Prayer.] [310]
    • [A Specimen Prayer.] [310]
    • [The Boston Man’s Prayer.] [311]
    • [Prayer an Echo.] [311]
  • [Other Worldliness.] [312]
  • [Christianity is Intolerant.] [312]
    • [Hell, Hades, Gehenna, Sheol.] [313]
    • [Pictures of Hell.] [314]
  • [The Church Opposed to Progress.] [319]
  • [PROTESTANT PERSECUTIONS.] [321]
  • [THE PURITANS INTOLERANT.] [328]
  • [Galileo.] [330]
  • [Bruno.] [331]
  • [Torture.] [332]
  • [The New Testament Teaches Intolerance.] [335]
  • [The Inquisition in Spain, 1568.] [336]
  • [The Inquisition.] [336]
  • [The Church Opposed to Liberty.] [336]
  • [The Bible Opposed to Liberty.] [337]
• [SECULARISM.] [339]
  • [Popular Questions and Objections.] [339]
  • [Orthodoxy and Liberalism Compared.] [343]
  • [Infidelity.] [346]
  • [The Objects of Orthodoxy and Liberalism.] [348]
• [CHRISTIANITY AND MATERIALISM COMPARED.] [349]
  • [“Safest to Believe.”] [351]
  • [The “Safe Side.”] [353]
  • [Popular Objections to Infidelity Answered, Showing Some Mistakes of Christians.] [354]
  • [“All Owing to the Bible.”] [356]
  • [THE BIBLE ON TEMPERANCE.] [358]
  • [The Inconsistency of Agnosticism.] [368]
  • [God Responsible for the Ills Man Suffers.] [372]
  • [The Idea of God Must Go.] [373]
  • [Atheism.] [374]
  • [Jehovah a Failure.] [376]
  • [ATONEMENT. Atonement for Sin, an Immoral Doctrine.] [377]
  • [A MINORITY NOT A SECT.] [379]
• [INDEX] [383]