People You Should Know About...

[JayB]

... but probably don't.

 

R.G. Ingersoll. (1833-1899)

 

One of the most popular orators of the late nineteenth century, and all but forgotten. I discovered the guy while rummaging through the library trying to find an appropriate topic for my senior thesis, and was amazed to discover a man whose thinking seemed so at odds with my understanding of nineteenth century morays. His popularity was even more surprising, for the same reasons. I ended up choosing another topic, but enjoyed killing quite a few hours in the library reading through some of his collected works. I imagine that Dave_Schuldt and some other folks who post here will enjoy this guys work, if they haven't discovered the guy already.

 

Some quotes:

 

"It is contended by many that ours is a Christian government, founded upon the Bible, and that all who look upon the book as false or foolish are destroying the foundation of our country. The truth is, our government is not founded upon the rights of gods, but upon the rights of men. Our Constitution was framed, not to declare and uphold the deity of Christ, but the sacredness of humanity. Ours is the first government made by the people and for the people. It is the only nation with which the gods have had nothing to do. And yet there are some judges dishonest and cowardly enough to solemnly decide that this is a Christian country, and that our free institutions are based upon the infamous laws of Jehovah."

-- Robert Green Ingersoll, "Individuality" (1873)"

 

"The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called "faith." "

-- Robert Green Ingersoll, The Gods

 

"If there is a God who will damn his children forever, I would rather go to hell than to go to heaven and keep the society of such an infamous tyrant. I make my choice now. I despise that doctrine. It has covered the cheeks of this world with tears. It has polluted the hearts of children, and poisoned the imaginations of men.... What right have you, sir, Mr. clergyman, you, minister of the gospel to stand at the portals of the tomb, at the vestibule of eternity, and fill the future with horror and with fear? I do not believe this doctrine, neither do you. If you did, you could not sleep one moment. Any man who believes it, and has within his breast a decent, throbbing heart, will go insane. A man who believes that doctrine and does not go insane has the heart of a snake and the conscience of a hyena.

-- Robert Green Ingersoll, "The Liberty Of All" (1877)"

 

Wikipedia Entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G._Ingersoll

 

Internet Archive. Check out "The Gods," if nothing else.

http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/

 

"The Gods,"

http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/gods.html

 

 

 

[tvashtarkatena]

Another hate-filled, atheistic 'pedofile'.

[JayB]

"He was a prominent member of the Republican Party. Although he never held elected office, he was an active participant. His speech nominating James G. Blaine for the 1884 Presidential election, result in Blaine receiving the Republican. His candidacy was unsuccessful, but the speech itself, known as the "Plumed Knight" speech, was considered a model of political oratory.

 

Ingersoll was involved in several prominent trials as an attorney, notably the Star Route trials, a major political scandal in which his clients were acquitted. He also defended a New Jersey man for blasphemy. Although he did not win acquittal, his vigorous defense is considered to have discredited blasphemy laws and few other prosecutions followed.

 

Ingersoll was most noted as an orator, the most popular of the age, when oratory was public entertainment. He spoke on every subject, from Shakespeare to Reconstruction, but his most popular subjects were agnosticism and the sanctity and refuge of the family. He committed his speeches to memory although they were sometimes more than three hours long. His audiences were said never to be restless.

 

His radical views on religion, slavery, woman's suffrage, and other issues of the day effectively prevented him from ever pursuing or holding political offices higher than that of Attorney General. Illinois Republicans tried to pressure him into running for Governor on the condition that Ingersoll conceal his agnosticism during the campaign. He refused the nomination because he thought concealing information from the public was immoral.

 

Many of Ingersoll's speeches advocated freethought and humanism, and often poked fun at religious belief. For this the press often attacked him, but neither his views nor the negative press could stop his rising popularity. At the height of Ingersoll's fame, audiences would pay $1 or more to hear him speak, a giant sum for his day."

 

 

[tvashtarkatena]

Clone him.