The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-10-25

193ys -
 might male | tour q the world, cd 6nd that superstition always has been. . aad forever will be, inconsistent with hnnan advancement
 Qs<s1ss. Does not the evidences d design in the uEiverse prove Creasosf
 AssUsv. II there sere any evidences oi design in the universe, certainly tAey would tend to prove desisner. but they would not prove a creator. Design does not prove creation. A man mAkes q machine. That does net prove that he made the material out of which the ma chine is constructed. You find the planets arranged in accordance with what you call a plan. This does not prove that they were created It may prove that they are governed. bat it certainly does not prove that were created. ls 1t consistent to say that design cannot ex- iss without designer. but that designer can? Does not designer need design as much as design needs a designer {? Does not a creator need a creator as much as the thing we think has been created! In other words, is not this simply a circle of human ignorance Why not say that the universe has en- isted from eternity: And do you not thus avoid at least one absurdity by say ing that the universe has existed from eternity. instead of saying that il was created by a creator who existed from eternity. Because If your Creator ex- issed from eternity, and created the uni- verse. there was time when he com menced; and back of that, according to Shelley. is an eternity Of idleness-' Some people say that God existed from eternity, and has created eternity
 1, is impossible to conceive oi an act CO., equal with eternity. if you say that God has existed forever, and has always acted. then you make the universe eternal, and you make the universe as old as God :: and if the universe be as old as God, he certainly did not create It.
 These questions ot origin and deStiny of infinite gods-ase beyond the posers of the human mind. They cannot be solved. We might as well try to travel tas enough to get beyond the hor's n. It + like a man trying to run away from his Airdle. Consequently, 1 believe in turnin, our attention to things of import anee--to questions that maY by some possibility be solved. h is of no import ance to me whether God exists or net. l exist. and i, is important to me 10 be appy while exist. Therefore had bel ter turn my attention 10 finding out the secret of happiness, instead of trying to ascertain the secret of the universe, say with regardto Cod % not know ; and therefore am accused of being sr- rogant and egotistic Religious papers say that do know, because Webster told me They use Webster as a witness to prove the divinity of Christ. They say that Webster was on the God side, and therefore ought to DC. can hardly af- 1 ford 10 take Websters ideas of another world, when his ideas about this were so bad When hloodhounds were pursuing a woman through the tangled swamps of the sou,h-she hungry for liberty-Web- stcr took the side of the bloodhounds
 Such man is no authority for me.
 Bacon denied the Coperniean system of astronomy he is an unsafe guide Wes- Icy believed in witches; cannot follow him. No man should quote a name in stead of an argument no man should bring forward person instead of prin- ciple, unless he is willing to accep. all the ideas of that person.
 OuesfIon. Is no, a pleasant illusion preferable to dreary truth-a future life being in question
 %nsuey. think it is. think that a pleasing illusion is better than terrible truth, so far AS its immediate results are concerned. would rather think the one love living, than to think her dead. I would rather think thz At had large bal ance in bank than that my accoun; was overdrawu. would rather think was healthy than to know that had can cer. But if we have an illusion, let us have il pleasing. The orthodox illusion is the worst tkat can possibly be con- ceived. Take hell out of that illusion take eternal pain away from that dream, ands say that the whole world is to be happy forever-then you might have an excuse for calling it a pleasant illusion ; bu, it is, in fact, nightmare per petual horror-a cross, on which the hap piness of man has been erucihel.
 DH<sfioa. Are not religion and morals inseparabie?
 Answ<r Religion and morality have nothing in common, and yet there is 10 religion ex 1ept the practice of morality. But what you call religion is simply su- persti,ion. Religion as ii IS now taught teaches our duties toward God our ob- ligaticns to the infinite, and the results of failure to discharge those obligations. l believe that we are under no obliga- tions to the infinite; that we cannot be. All our obligations are to each other. and to sentient beings. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' '' has nothing to do with morality. Do unto others as ye would that others should do unto you !" has cothihg to do with believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. iiaptism has nothing to do with morality. " Pay your honest debts Tha; has nothing to do with b. p,ism. What is called religion is simple superstition, with which morality has nothing to do.
 The churches do not prevent people from committing natural ohenses, but re-