Views of Religion.

VIEWS OF RELIGION, COLLECTED by RUFUS K. NOYES, M. D. This is a necessary Work simply because of the falsehoods told against those of us who do not believe, cannot believe, the religious beliefs of the nation of area we live in - or believe any pre-defined set of myths taught in churches and schools. Perhaps those who believe foolishness must be the foundation of morality need to believe those who have risen above such beliefs cannot be as honest and moral as those who fear the mythical horror of eternal burning in an impossible hell. But the facts are quite the contrary, the superstition that preaches the eternal hell also preaches the eternal redemption, the idea being that one can do as he - or she - pleases and then painlessly return to the fold of the unsullied by simply doing some ritual or repeating a few words of regret to some invisible and impossible being that can return the "sinner" to the purity of a new born babe in its manger. The fact is that no morality can survive such a delusion of redemption and rebirth. The Preface of this book tells us of the contents of the book as being statements of famous, and not so famous, people who do not accept religion and have lived good, productive and useful lives. It reads: "PREFACE, This book contains the views on religion of many great, good learned and wise persons. Among these are citizens, statesmen, presidents, kings, queens, emperors, philosophers, poets, physicians, lawyers, judges, theologians, ministers, authors, musicians and others. Many of these men and women have lived and died, or are still living, without religion, in any sense, or in its usual sense; and they are known to mankind, and their names and memories live, through their energy, character, views, deeds, morals and personal worth. The object of this book is to show that some of the best and most honorable men and women, as well as those most highly esteemed in public life, are on record as being either extremely liberal anti-religious, or skeptical on religion. It will also show that goodness, rightness, truth and justice are things to be desired and attained for their own sake; that happiness and success in life do not depend upon having religion or upon going to church; that right conduct does not depend upon religion; that ethics have no natural relation to theology; that Bibles and so-called inspired books are not ethical guides; that morality, therefore, has only a scientific basis; that ministers, priests and pious individuals are not the sole custodians of goodness; and that religionists are not necessarily the ones to be followed, as to ways of thinking, modes of living, or theories of dying." I know of no Atheist, or others of skepticism about religion, who would return to the tyranny of believing in a vengeful god and the horror of a burning hell. Emmett F. Fields