The Necessity of Atheism

by David Marshall Brooks

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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PREFACE

Plain speaking is necessary in any discussion of religion, for if the freethinker attacks the religious dogmas with hesitation, the orthodox believer assumes that it is with regret that the freethinker would remove the crutch that supports the orthodox. And all religious beliefs are "crutches" hindering the free locomotive efforts of an advancing humanity. There are no problems related to human progress and happiness in this age which any theology can solve, and which the teachings of freethought cannot do better and without the aid of encumbrances.