The Pantheist: Or the Dial of Progress (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Inhaltsangabe

Excerpt from The Pantheist: Or the Dial of Progress

On a certain occasion when Themistocles of Greece was making a Speech to his people, his life was endangered by the violence of a mob. Says he, Strike, but hear me. I court as much forbearance from the reader, when in the course of these writings, I make innovations on his preconceived Opinions, by exposing their folly, and showing up his per sistent inconsistency. Jefferson said, It is right to tolerate error when reason is left free to combat it, and every one who has the capacity to reason, and who has any confidence that his opinions are right, must sub scribe to this principle; and it presumes that there are no privileged in dividuals or favored classes who have the right to say for others what is truth.or what is error, but that all alike have the right not only to think for themselves, but to assert or write any Opinion so long as it can be maintained by reason. I rejoice to believe that reason is king over nearly all questions in most countries at this time; but it is to be as much de plored that religion is not, nor ever was governed by reason, but still con tinues to trample it under foot. Religion has usurped the crown, but I shall in the following pages endeavor to restore it to its legitimate inher itor. I am aware, however, that the bigot, feeling the weakness of his cause, has found it proper to place religion above reason, and that in mat ters spiritual, he wants nothing to do with reason. He is joined to his idols and like J efi'. Davis, all he wants is to be let alone. Mahomet said, if the mountain would not come to him, he would go to it, and this is the language of reason to religion. If truth is mighty and will prevail, its empire is destined to be universal, and religion, too, must eventually bow its head to its mild sceptre.

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