eans gone hand
in hand in strength and development, but that even contrariwise the
most religious times and countries have produced the greatest number
of crimes and sins against the laws of morality, and indeed, as daily
experience teaches, still produce them. The history of nearly all
religions is filled with such horrible abominations, massacres, and
boundless wickednesses of every kind that at the mere recollection of
them the heart of a philanthropist seems to stand still, and we turn
with disgust and horror from a mental aberration which could produce
such deeds. If it is urged in vindication of religion that it has
advanced and elevated human civilization, even this merit appears very
doubtful in presence of the facts of history, and at least as very
rarely or isolatedly the case. In general, however, it cannot be denied
that most systems of religion have proved rather inimical than friendly
to civilization. For religion, as already stated, tolerates no doubt, no
discussion, no contradiction, no investigations, those eternal pioneers
of the future of science and intellect! Even the simple circumstance
that our present state of culture has already long since left far
behind it all and even the highest intellectual ideals established and
elaborated by former religions may show how little intellectual progress
is influenced by religion. Mankind is perpetually being thrown to and
fro between science, and religion, but it advances moro intellectually,
morally and physically in proportion as it turns away from religion and
to science.

* "In China, where people are, as is well-known, very
indifferent or tolerant in religious matters, this fine
proverb is current: Religions are various, but reason is
one, and we are all brothers.'"

"It is therefore clear that for our present age and for the future a
foundation must be sought and found for culture and morality, different
from that which can be furnished to us by religion. It is not the fear
of God that acts amelioratingly or ennoblingly upon manners, of which
the middle ages furnish us with a striking proof; but the ennobling of
the conception of the world in general which goes hand in hand with
the advance of civilization. Let us then give up making a show of the
profession of hypocritical words of faith, the only purpose of which
seems to be that they may be continually shown to be lies by the actions
and deeds of their professors! The man of the