man did it.

But there was a time when there was a drought, and this tribe of
savages with their false notions of religion says somebody has been
wicked. Somebody has been lecturing on Sunday. Then the tribe hunted
out the wicked man. They said you've got to stop. We cannot allow you
to continue your wickedness, which brings punishment upon the whole of
us. What is the reason they allow me to speak tonight. Because the
Christians are not as firm in their belief now as they were a thousand
years ago. The luke warmness and hypocrisy of Christians now permit me
to speak tonight. If they felt as they did a thousand years ago they
would kill me. So religious persecution was born of the instinct of
self-defense. Is there any duty we owe to God? Can we help him, can
we add to his glory or happiness? They tell me this God is infinitely
wise, I cannot add to his wisdom; infinitely happy--I cannot add to his
happiness. What can I do? Maybe he wants me to make prayers that
won't be answered. I cannot see any relation that can exist between
the finite and the infinite. I acknowledge that I am under obligations
to my fellow man. We owe duties to our fellow man. And what? Simply
to make them happy.

The only good, is happiness; and the only evil, is misery, or
unhappiness. Only those things are right that tend to increase the
happiness of man; only those things are wrong which tend to increase
the misery of man. That is the basis of right and wrong. There never
would have been the idea of wrong except that man can inflict
sufferings upon others. Utility, then, is the basis of the idea of
right and wrong.

The church tells us that this world is a school to prepare us for
another, that it is a place to build up character. Well, if that is
the only way character can be developed it is bad for children who die
before they get any character. What would you think of a school-master
who would kill half his pupils the first day?

Now, I read the bible, and I find that God so loved this world that He
made up His mind to damn the most of us. I have read this book, and
what shall I say of it? I believe it is generally better to be honest.
Now, I don't believe the bible. Had I not better say so? They say
that if you do you will regret it when you come to die. If that be
true, I know a great many religious people who will have no cause to
regret it--they don't tell their honest convictions about the bible.
There ar