The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-25
INoERsoLL cArRcHISED.

We print the following, not as an en- dorsement of the opinions expressed, but as the most carefully prepared and strongest argument which Ingersoif ha. ever advanced. There are doubtless many clereymen throughout the country who are able to successfully combat these expressions of in6delisy. THE ARKaN- SAW TRAvELER will take pleasure in publishing any well written reply from any defender of the faith. It is well enough to say that no attention should be paid to IngersoIl. Lofty disdain and pious poo-hoo may in some instances suffice, but in this instance, argument should be met by argument-not for the sake ot those who are strong in the belief inculcated in childhood, but for him who has little faith.-ED ARKANsAw TRAv. ELER
 Oae evening this week the editor of the San Fraaeiseas had the pleasure oi meeting sncially Colonel Robert C. inger- soil, and the conversation turned natur- ally upon the subject of religion. The result of the conversation was that Colonel lngersoli agreed to answer a number of question which the editor of the San EydncfScaa desired to put 10 him. The questions were submitted in writing, and Colonel lngersoll has sent us the following written replies. It will be seen that the editor eRdeavored to cover with his questions the main grounds of difference between the ceiebra ated han faith
 Qxesfics. Does christianity advance or retaTd civilixAtio
 Aaswey. If by christianity you mean the orthodox church, then unhesitatingly answer that 1t does retard civiliz ation, al- ways has retarded Il, and always will. can imagine no man who can be benefited by being made Catholic, or a plesby- terian, or Baptist, or a Methodist-or, iE other words, by being made an onho- dox christian. But by christianity do not mean morality, kindness, forgiveness, justice. Those virtues are not distinc- lively christian. They are claimed by Mohammedans and Buddhists, by in- 6dels and atheists-and practised by some of all classes. Christianity consists in the miraculous, the marvellous, and the impossible.
 The one thing that l most seriously object to in christianity is the doctrine ot eternal punishment That doctrine sub verts every idea of justice. It teaches the infinite absurdity that finite offense can be justly visited by eternal punishment. Another serious objection have is, that christianity endeavors to destroy intellec- tual ibersy. Nothing is better calculated to retard civilization than ts subvest the idea of justice. Nothing is better cal culated to retain barbarism than to deny to every human being the right to think. Justice and liberty are the two wings that bear man forward. The church. tor a thousand years, did all within it's power to prevent the expression of honest thought and when the church had power, there was in this world no civilization. We have advanced just in the proportion that christianity has lost power. Those nations in which the church IS still powerful are still almost savage-RN;ugAl, Spain, and many oshers might name. Probably no county is more completely uEdeT the contTol of the religious idea than Russia. The czzz is the direct representafive of Cod He is the head of the church, as well as of the state. In Russia every mouth is . oastile, and every tongue . ooovict This Russian pope, this repse- sentative Of God, has os easth his hell (Sihezial. and he initiates the orthodo1 God to the exfeat of his health and snngth.
 Evezyvhese man advances as the church loses power. h my judgmen1 1ue1And can nsver succeed unti; il ceases to be Catholic; and there can he 10 snccessfal uprising while the coafassioOal exises. At see time h England the church had ceapleae power. Thze vas