A Handbook of Freethought: Containing in Condensed and Systematized Form a Vast Amount of Evidence Against the Superstitious Doctrines of Christianity

About this eBook

Editor

Bell, W. S. (William S.), 1832-

Title

A handbook of Freethought : containing in condensed and systematized form a vast amount of evidence against the superstitious doctrines of Christianity

Credits

Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

Language

English

LoC Class

BL: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Religion: General, Miscellaneous and Atheism

Subject

Christianity -- Controversial literature

Category

Text

eBook-No.

45414

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45414

Release Date

April 16, 2014

Copyright

Public domain in the USA.

Contents

1. 1.Untitled
2. 2.PREFACE.
3. 3.CREATION. — The Difference Between the Two Cosmogonies as Given in the First Two Chapters of Genesis. — Evidence of the Vast Age of the Universe.
4. 4.PROPHECY.
5. 5.MIRACLES. — David Hume’s Argument on Miracles. — Some Extra Miracles. — The Great Quail Story. — A Suit of Clothes Lasting Forty Years, and even then Not Old. — Lot’s Wife turned into a Pillar of Salt. — Cattle which were Killed Several Times After they were Dead. — People Get Up in the morning Dead. — Elisha Returns to Life.
6. 6.HEAVEN. — Elijah Went to Heaven in a Chariot of Fire. — Deluge. — The Ass and the Calf.
7. 7.JESUS CHRIST. — The Genealogy of Jesus. — When was Jesus Born? — Christianity Rests Upon a Dream. — THE GOLDEN RULE. — Jesus an Essene. — Jesus’ Teachings Not up to the Moral Standard of To-day. — Jesus Exhibits an Imperfect Sense of Justice. — Jesus Teaches the Duty of Submission to Wrong. — Immoral Teachings of Jesus. — Bitter and Unreasonable Denunciations of Jesus. — Jesus a False Prophet. — Jesus Curses the Fig Tree. — Contemporaneous Historians are Silent Concerning the Resurrection of Jesus. — The Resurrection of Jesus. — Jesus Foretells his Resurrection. — None of the Disciples Looking for a Resurrection. — The Evidence of Paul on the Resurrection of Jesus.
8. 8.CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT HISTORICAL BASIS. — The Canon. — The Value of Papias’ Testimony. — Ignorance and Dishonesty of the Early Fathers. — Jesus Not a Historical Character. — The Spurious Passage in Josephus. — EUSEBIUS. — The Father of Church History. — Spurious Writings of the Early Church. — The Bible Not an Inspired Revelation. — The Pentateuch. — The Bible Not Inspired. — God’s Ways are Not Our Ways.
9. 9.SELF-CONTRADICTIONS OF THE BIBLE. — THEOLOGICAL DOCTRINES. — God is Satisfied with his Works. — God is Dissatisfied with his Works. — God Dwells in Chosen Temples. — God Dwells Not in Temples. — God Dwells in Light. — God Dwells in Darkness. — God is Seen and Heard. — God is Invisible and Cannot be Heard. — God is Tired and Rests. — God is Never Tired and Never Rests. — God is Omnipresent, Sees and Knows all Things. — God is Not Omnipresent, Neither Sees nor Knows all Things. — God Knows the Hearts of Men. — God Tries Men to Find Out what is in their Hearts. — God is All-Powerful. — God is Not All-Powerful. — God is Unchangeable. — God is Changeable. — God is Just and Impartial. — God is Unjust and Partial. — God is Not the Author of Evil. — God is the Author of Evil. — God Gives Freely to those who Ask. — God Withholds his Blessings and Prevents their Reception. — God is to be Found by Those who Seek him. — God is Not to be Found by Those who Seek him. — God is Peaceful. — God is Warlike. — God is Kind, Merciful, and Good. — God is Cruel, Unmerciful, Destructive, and Ferocious. — God’s Anger is Slow, and Endures but for a Moment. — God’s Anger is Fierce, Frequent, and Endures Long. — God Commands, Approves of, and Delights in Burnt Offerings, Sacrifices, and Holy Days. — God Disapproves of, and has no Pleasure in, Burnt Offerings, Sacrifices, and Holy Days. — God Forbids Human Sacrifice. — God Commands and Accepts Human Sacrifices. — God Tempts No Man. — God Does Tempt Men. — God Cannot Lie. — God Lies; He Sends Forth Lying Spirits to Deceive. — Because of Man’s Wickedness God Destroys him. — Because of Man’s Wickedness God will Not Destroy him. — God’s Attributes are Revealed in his Works. — God’s Attributes Cannot be Discovered. — There is a Plurality of Gods. — MORAL PRECEPTS. — Robbery Commanded. — Robbery Forbidden. — Lying Commanded, Approved, and Sanctioned. — Lying Forbidden. — Killing Commanded and Sanctioned. — Killing Forbidden. — The Blood-Shedder Must Die. — The Blood-Shedder Must Not Die. — The Making of Images Forbidden. — The Making of Images Commanded. — Slavery and Oppression Ordained. — Slavery and Oppression Forbidden. — Improvidence Enjoined. — Improvidence Condemned. — Anger Approved. — Anger Disapproved. — Good Works to be Seen of Men. — Good Works Not to be Seen of Men. — Judging of Others Forbidden. — Judging of Others Approved. — Jesus Taught Non-Resistance. — Jesus Taught and Practiced Physical Resistance. — Jesus Warned his Followers Not to Fear Being Killed. — Jesus Himself Avoided the Jews for Fear of Being killed. — Public Prayer Sanctioned. — Public Prayer Disapproved. — Importunity in Prayer Commended. — Importunity in Prayer Condemned. — The Wearing of Long Hair by Men Sanctioned. — The Wearing of Long Hair by Men Condemned. — Circumcision Instituted. — Circumcision Condemned. — The Sabbath Instituted. — The Sabbath Repudiated. — The Sabbath Instituted because God Rested the Seventh Day. — The Sabbath Instituted for a Very Different Reason. — No Work to be Done on the Sabbath under Penalty of Death. — Jesus Broke the Sabbath and Justified the Act. — Baptism Commanded . — Baptism Not Commanded. — Every Kind of Animal Allowed for Food. — Certain Kinds of Animals Prohibited for Food. — The Taking of Oaths Sanctioned. — The Taking of Oaths Forbidden. — Marriage Approved and Sanctioned. — Marriage Disapproved. — Freedom of Divorce Permitted. — Divorce Restricted. — Adultery Sanctioned. — Adultery Forbidden. — Marriage or Cohabitation with a Sister Denounced. — Abraham Married his Sister, and God Blessed the Union. — A Man May Marry His Brother’s Widow. — A Man May Not Marry his Brother’s Widow. — Hatred to Kindred Enjoined. — Hatred to Kindred Condemned. — Intoxicating Beverages Recommended. — Intoxicating Beverages Discountenanced. — It is Our Duty to Obey Rulers, Who are God’s Ministers and Punish Evil Doers Only. — It is Not Our Duty Always to Obey Rulers, Who Sometimes Punish the Good, and Receive Damnation Therefor. — Woman’s Rights Denied. — Woman’s Rights Affirmed. — Obedience to Masters Enjoined. — Obedience Due to God Only. — There is an Unpardonable Sin. — There is No Unpardonable Sin. — HISTORICAL FACTS. — Man was Created After the Other Animals. — Man was Created Before the Other Animals. — Noah, by God’s Command, Took Into the Ark Clean Beasts by Sevens. — Noah, by God’s Command, Took Into the Ark Clean Beasts by Twos. — Seed Time and Harvest were Never to Cease. — Seed Time and Harvest Did Cease for Seven Years. — God Hardened Pharaoh’s Heart. — Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart. — All the Cattle and Horses in Egypt Died. — All the Horses of Egypt did Not Die. — John the Baptist Recognized Jesus as the Messiah. — John the Baptist did Not Recognize Jesus as the Messiah. — John the Baptist was Elias. — John the Baptist was Not Elias. — The Father of Joseph, Mary’s Husband, was Jacob. — The Father of Mary’s Husband was Heli. — The Father of Salah was Arphaxad. — The Father of Sala was Cainan. — The Infant Jesus was Taken into Egypt. — The Infant Jesus was Not Taken into Egypt. — Jesus was Tempted in the Wilderness. — Jesus was Not Tempted in the Wilderness. — Jesus Preached his First Sermon Sitting on the Mount. — He Preached his First Sermon Standing in the Plain. — John was in Prison when Jesus went into Galilee. — John was Not in Prison when Jesus went into Galilee. — The Disciples were Commanded to Take a Staff and Sandals. — They were Commanded to Take Neither Staves Nor Sandals. — Two Blind Men Besought Jesus. — Only One Blind Man Besought Him. — Two Men Coming Out of the Tombs Met Jesus. — Only One Man Coming Out of the Tombs Met Him. — A Centurion Besought Jesus to Heal his Servant. — Not the Centurion, but his Messengers, Besought Jesus. — Jesus was Crucified at the Third Hour. — He was Not Crucified Until the Sixth Hour. — The Two Thieves Reviled Jesus. — Only One of the Thieves Reviled Him. — Vinegar Mingled with Gall was Offered Jesus. — Wine Mingled with Myrrh was Offered to Him. — Satan Entered into Judas while at the Supper. — Satan Entered into him Before the Supper. — Judas Returned the Pieces of Silver. — Judas did Not Return the Pieces of Silver. — Judas Hanged Himself. — Judas did Not Hang Himself, but Died Another Way. — The Potter’s Field was Purchased by Judas. — The Potter’s Field was Purchased by the Chief Priests. — But One Woman Came to the Sepulcher. — Two Women Came to the Sepulcher. — Three Women Came to the Sepulcher. — More than Three Women Came to the Sepulcher. — It was at Sunrise when they Came to the Sepulcher. — It was some time Before Sunrise when They came. — Two Angels were Seen at the Sepulcher, Standing up. — But One Angel was Seen, and He was Sitting Down. — Two Angels were Seen within the Sepulcher. — But One Angel was Seen within the Sepulcher. — The One Angel Seen was Without the Sepulcher. — The Women went and Told the Disciples of Christ’s Resurrection. — The Women did Not Go and Tell the Disciples. — The Angels Appeared After Peter and John Visited the Sepulcher. — The Angels Appeared Before Peter Alone Visited the Sepulcher. — Jesus Appeared First to Mary Magdalene Only. — Jesus Appeared First to the Two Marys. — He Appeared to Neither of the Marys. — Jesus was to be Three Days and Three Nights in the Grave. — He was but Two Days and Two Nights in the Grave. — The Holy Ghost Was Bestowed at Pentecost. — The Holy Ghost was Bestowed Before Pentecost. — The Disciples were Commanded Immediately After the Resurrection to go into Galilee. — They were Commanded Immediately After the Resurrection to Tarry at Jerusalem. — Jesus First Appeared to the Eleven Disciples in a Room at Jerusalem. — He First Appeared to them on a Mountain in Galilee. — Jesus Ascended from Mount Olivet. — He Ascended from Bethany. — Did he Ascend from Either Place? — Paul’s Attendants Heard the Voice, and Stood Speechless. — His Attendants Heard Not the Voice, and were Prostrate. — Abraham Departed to go into Canaan. — Abraham Went not Knowing Where. — Abraham had Two Sons. — Abraham had but One Son. — Keturah was Abraham’s Wife. — Keturah was Abraham’s Concubine. — Abraham Begat a Son when he was a Hundred Years Old, by the Interposition of Providence. — Abraham Begat Six Children More After he was a Hundred Years Old, Without any Interposition of Providence. — Jacob Bought a Sepulcher of the Sons of Hamor. — Abraham Bought it of the Sons of Emmor. — God Promised the Land of Canaan to Abraham and his Seed. — Abraham and his Seed Never Received the Promised Land. — Baasha Died in the Twenty-sixth Year of Asa. — Baasha did Not Die in the Twenty-sixth Year of Asa. — Ahaziah was the Youngest Son of Jehoram. — Ahaziah was Not the Youngest Son of Jehoram. — Ahaziah was Twenty-two Years Old when he Began to Reign, being Eighteen Years Younger than his Father. — Ahaziah was Forty-two Years Old when he Began to Reign, being Two Years Older than his Father. — Michal had No Child. — Michal had Five Children. — David was Tempted by the Lord to Number the People. — David was Tempted by Satan to Number the People. — There were 800,000 Warriors of Israel and 500,000 of Judah. — There were 1,100,000 of Israel and 470,000 of Judah. — David Sinned in Numbering the People. — David Never Sinned except in the Matter of Uriah. — David Slew 700 Syrian Charioteers and 40,000 Horsemen. — David Slew 7,000 Syrian Charioteers and 40,000 Footmen. — David Paid for a Threshing Floor Fifty Shekels of Silver. — David Paid for it Six Hundred Shekels of Gold. — Goliath was Slain by David. — Goliath was Slain by Elhanan. — SPECULATIVE DOCTRINES. — Christ is Equal with God. — Christ is Not Equal with God. — Christ Judged Men. — Christ Judged No Man. — Jesus was All Powerful. — Jesus was Not All Powerful. — The Law was Superceded by the Christian Dispensation. — The Law was Not Superceded by the Christian Dispensation. — Christ’s Mission was Peace. — Christ’s Mission was Not Peace. — Christ Received not Testimony from Man. — Christ Did Receive Testimony from Man. — Christ’s Witness of Himself is True. — Christ’s Witness of Himself is Not True. — It was Lawful for the Jews to Put Jesus to Death. — It was Not Lawful for the Jews to Put him to Death. — Children are Punished for the Sins of their Parents. — Children are Not Punished for the Sins of their Parents. — Man is Justified by Faith Alone. — Man is Not Justified by Faith Alone. — It is Impossible to Fall from Grace. — It is Possible to Fall from Grace. — No Man is Without Sin. — Christians are Sinless. — There is to be a Resurrection of the Dead. — There is to be no Resurrection of the Dead. — Reward and Punishment to be Bestowed in this World. — Reward and Punishment to be Bestowed in the Next World. — Annihilation the Portion of all Mankind. — Endless Misery the Portion of a Part of Mankind. — The Earth is to be Destroyed. — The Earth is Never to be Destroyed. — No Evil Shall Happen to the Godly. — Evil Does Happen to the Godly. — Worldly Good and Prosperity the Lot of the Godly. — Worldly Misery and Destitution the Lot of the Godly. — Worldly Prosperity a Blessing and a Reward of Righteousness. — Worldly Prosperity a Curse and a Bar to Future Reward. — The Christian Yoke is Easy. — The Christian Yoke is Not Easy. — The Fruit of God’s Spirit is Love and Gentleness. — The Fruit of God’s Spirit is Vengeance and Fury. — Prosperity and Longevity Enjoyed by the Wicked. — Prosperity and Longevity Denied to the Wicked. — Poverty is a Blessing. — Riches a Blessing. — Neither Poverty nor Riches a Blessing. — Wisdom a Source of Enjoyment. — Wisdom a Source of Vexation, Grief, and Sorrow. — A Good Name a Blessing. — A Good Name is a Curse. — Laughter Commended. — Laughter Condemned. — The Rod of Correction a Remedy for Foolishness. — There is No Remedy for Foolishness. — Temptation to be Desired. — Temptation Not to be Desired. — Prophecy is Sure. — Prophecy is Not Sure. — Man’s Life was to be One Hundred and Twenty Years. — Man’s Life is but Seventy Years. — Miracles a Proof of Divine Mission. — Miracles Not a Proof of Divine Mission. — Moses was a Very Meek Man. — Moses was a Very Cruel Man. — Elijah Went up to Heaven. — None but Christ Ever Ascended into Heaven . — All Scripture is Inspired. — Some Scripture is Not Inspired.
10. 10.THE DEVIL.
11. 11.What is, and Where is the Soul? — IMMORTALITY. — Is This Life the “Be-all and End-all?” — Materialism—Prof. Tyndall. — The Origin of Belief in the Soul. — “When a Man Dies what Becomes of his Soul?” — Some Soul Questions.
12. 12.DESIGN ARGUMENT. — Providence. — First Cause.
13. 13.THE SUNDAY QUESTION. — The Days of the Week. — One Day in Seven? — The Edict of Constantine. — Sabbath Engenders Cruelty. — The Puritans. — Sunday Should be Regarded as a day of Rest and Recreation. — Unconstitutionality of Sunday Laws. — Ben. Franklin on Connecticut Sundays. — A Common Sense View of the Sunday Question. — Everybody’s Sunday.
14. 14.WHAT IS CIVILIZATION? — Industrial Influences. — Skepticism. — Science. — Metaphysical Method.
15. 15.RECAPITULATION. — Some things Christianity has Not Done. — The Conflict between Christianity and Civilization. — The Bible Sanctions Great Crimes. — Wars of Extermination. — Polygamy. — The Subjection of Woman. — Divorce. — The New Testament as well as the Old, Holds Woman in Servile Bondage. — The Bible Sanctions Slavery. — The New Testament Sanctions Slavery. — The American Church was the Bulwark of American Slavery. — The Reformation. — Christianity Teaches Immorality. — Prayer is Immoral. — Faith in Prayer. — A Specimen Prayer. — The Boston Man’s Prayer. — Prayer an Echo. — Other Worldliness. — Christianity is Intolerant. — Hell, Hades, Gehenna, Sheol. — Pictures of Hell. — The Church Opposed to Progress. — PROTESTANT PERSECUTIONS. — THE PURITANS INTOLERANT. — Galileo. — Bruno. — Torture. — The New Testament Teaches Intolerance. — The Inquisition in Spain, 1568. — The Inquisition. — The Church Opposed to Liberty. — The Bible Opposed to Liberty.
16. 16.SECULARISM. — Popular Questions and Objections. — Orthodoxy and Liberalism Compared. — Infidelity. — The Objects of Orthodoxy and Liberalism.
17. 17.CHRISTIANITY AND MATERIALISM COMPARED. — “Safest to Believe.” — The “Safe Side.” — Popular Objections to Infidelity Answered, Showing Some Mistakes of Christians. — “All Owing to the Bible.” — THE BIBLE ON TEMPERANCE. — The Inconsistency of Agnosticism. — God Responsible for the Ills Man Suffers. — The Idea of God Must Go. — Atheism. — Jehovah a Failure. — ATONEMENT. — Atonement for Sin, an Immoral Doctrine. — A MINORITY NOT A SECT.
18. 18.INDEX
19. 19.THE Truth Seeker Library.
20. 20.Table of Contents
21. 21.Colophon — Availability — Encoding — Revision History — External References — Corrections

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