Robert Ingersoll may have been called “The Great Agnostic,” but when you read some of his rhetoric, you realize he would’ve made one hell of a New Atheist.

George White has a piece about Ingersoll in the just-now-online-even-though-it’s-from-August issue of Freethought Today. Just check out some of Ingersoll’s statements:

“It may be that ministers really think that their prayers do good and it may be that frogs imagine that their croaking brings spring.” … “The inspiration of the Bible depends upon the ignorance of the gentleman who reads it.” … The book, called the bible, is filled with passages equally horrible, unjust and atrocious. This is the book to be read in schools in order to make our children loving, kind and gentle! This is the book they wish to be recognized in our Constitution as the source of all authority and justice! … The clergy know that I know that they know that they do not know. … Is there an intelligent man or woman now in the world who believes in the Garden of Eden story? If you find any man who believes it, strike his forehead and you will hear an echo. Something is for rent.

This is all from a guy born in 1833.

I’m happy to say there are quite a lot of people like him today. We’re still in the minority, but we’re definitely not alone.

By the way, you can read the complete collection of Ingersoll’s lectures here.

(P.S. That lady in the picture looks strangely familiar…)



