Col. Ingersoll (than whom there is no person-be he priest or minister-who is better informed as to the history and contents of the Bible) says: "All that is necessary, as it seems to me, to convince any reasonable person that the Bible is simply and purely human invention-of barbarous inventionis to read it. Read it as you would any other book; think of it as you would any other; get the bandage of reverence from your eyes; drive from your heart the phantom of fear; push from the throne of your brain the cowled form of superstition; then read the 'Holy Bible,' and you will be amazed that you ever for one moment supposed a being of infinite goodness and purity to be the author of such ignorance and such atrocity." I have not sought so much (as may be noticed) to present my own opinions on this matter of inspiration; not even to merely urge the views of those of acknowledged reliability (most of whom are Christian writers of eminence, whose authority cannot easily be gainsaid by other Christians), but rather to place the subject before your readers as an historical one; proving, I think, most conclusively thereby, the falsity and absurdity of any claim of inspiration for the Bible. It seems incredible that cultured, reasoning people can believe in the "inspiration" of such a book; and inconceivable that on such belief could rest (as does) the entire fabric of orthodox Christianity.. It is incomprehensible that truthful, pure-minded persons can respect a book that contains (as it undeniably does) more that is false and obscene than any other book that is permitted in the sanctuary of our homes. Baxter-and many other Christian writers-considered many parts of the Bible immoral. Bishop Colenso asks the significant question: "Would it not be well to eliminate from the Bible whatever is untruthful and immoral?" Richard B. Westbrook, D. D., LL. B., also asks: "Why should we not have a Bible that all can read without shame, and the truths of which none can reasonably deny?" Noah Webster says: "Many passages of the Bible are expressed in language which decency forbids to be repeated.” And yet to circulate such a book probably not less than twenty millions of dollars, possibly more than double that sum, are annually expended by the Christian Church. And James Anthony Froude says: "Considering the enormous and astounding follies which the Bible has been made to justify, and which its indiscriminate reading has suggested, and that the devil himself (if there be a devil) could not have invented an implement more potent to fill the world with lies and blood and fury, I think that to send hawkers over the world, loaded with copies of this book, scattering it in all places, among all persons, is the most culpable folly of which it is possible for man to be guilty." OF THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIANITY. RTHODOX clergymen of the Christian Church have usually been unwilling to admit certain facts of history, fearing, doubtless, that they might tend to lessen confidence in the Orthodox Church. One of these facts is that Christianity is borrowed from the older religions: that it is, in many respects, almost an exact copy of previously existing religions, or, to say the least, that there is between it and the more ancient religions, a most remarkable similitude, agreement or coincidence. In view of this truth it is gratifying to read from a recent number of the New York Observer of "the organization of a society for the study of comparative religion,'" which the writer says is a "field of research which has been much neglected by Christian scholarship" (!) and that, to so orthodox a clergyman as the Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, Rev. Dr. F. F. Ellinwood, this organization is principally due. The Observer states that "Christian apologists" formerly endeavored to show "that the Christian religion was unlike all others, both in its essence and requirements, and therefore, could not be referred to that origin;" but that a change has taken place; that "the battle-ground of to-day is totally different. Christianity does not now, as formerly, deny or ignore these coincidences and resemblances." It asks the question "Do they (these coincidences and resemblances) exist;" and answers, with the admission, "Yes, many and marvelous." And of what do these coincidences and resemblances consist? The Observer answers: "They consist in ideas, truths, cosmogonies, symbols, feasts and festivals," and adds that " ethnological, philological and archæological research has revealed astonishing coincidences between the religion of the Bible and other ancient religions." These wholesale admissions, coming from so unexpected (so orthodox) a quarter, are most noteworthy; although it is simply an historical fact that all, or nearly all, that pertains to Christianity is found in earlier religions; a fact well attested, as follows: Rev. R. Heber Newton says: "There is in fact, as we now see, nothing in the externals of the Christian Church which is not a survival from the Churches of Paganism. Tonsured head and silvery bells and swinging censer; Christmas and Easter festivals; Holy Madonna with her child; the sacramental use of bread, of water and of wine. The very sign of the cross; are all ancient human institutions, rites and symbols. Scratch a Christian and you come upon a Pagan. Christianity is re-baptized Paganism.” Rev. M. J. Savage says: "Every rite and symbol of the Christian Church may be found in the older religions." Peter Eckler (in Gibbon's Christianity.) says: "There is not a rite, ceremony or belief we now practice or profess that cannot be traced to its origin in Chaldean idolatry, in Assyrian, Egyptian or Roman mythology." Judge R. B. Westbrook says: "We find in all scriptures, ancient and modern, the same symbols, sacraments and ceremonies." Rev. John W. Chadwick says: "The great religions of the world differ in degree only, not in kind. The holy water at the door of a Roman Catholic Church is a survival of the lustral water of the Pagan temple; its censers and tapers and votive offerings, of Pagan censers and tapers and votive offerings; "The worship of the Virgin Mary is a survival of the worship of Vesta. . The conversion of the Roman Empire by Christianity was about equally the conversion of Christianity by the Roman Empire. The Empire became Christian; Christianity became Pagan." In Charles B. Waite's History of the Christian Religion, we read that "many of the more prominent doctrines of the Christian religion, prevailed hundreds and-in some instances. -thousands of years before Christ. The doctrine of the immaculate conception, of an infant deity, was not uncommon in very ancient times. The title of 'Son of God' was very common in very ancient times. The belief in miracles has been common in all ages of the world. Resurrection from the dead was claimed for Mithras, Quexalcote, Osiris, Christna and others. The doctrine of the atonement has, in some forms pervaded the religion of all countries. The Trinity was an essential feature in the religion of many oriental countries and is considered, by Worsely, of very great antiquity. The doctrine of the remission of sins prevailed in India, Persia, and China. The doctrines of original sin, fall of man, and endless punishment, are all to be found in the religious systems of several ancient nations. Sprinkling with water was a religious ceremony of much antiquity. The sacrament was practiced among the Brahmins, the ancient Mexicans, and was introduced with the mysteries of Mithras.” Capt. Robert C. Adams (son of the orthodox Rev. Nehemiah Adams, of Boston), says: "All the doctrines that are deemed essential to Christianity are the outgrowth of earlier beliefs. . In India-900 B. C.-Christna was born of the Virgin Devaki, and-500 B. C.-Buddha was born of the Virgin Maya. In Egypt, Horus and his virgin mother, Isis, were worshipped long before the time of Christ. The doctrine of the Trinity was held by the Brahmins, who worshipped Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, and by the Buddhists who reverenced 'the three pure, precious and honorable Fo.' The term logos, or word, was applied to Apollo. The Holy Ghost is symbolized by the dove of Venus. . The sacrament of bread and wine was observed in honor of |