Religious Progress by Ambrose Bierce
"Religious Progress" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. The story follows a group of people who are on a mission to spread their religious beliefs to a remote village. Despite encountering various obstacles and challenges along the way, they remain determined to reach their destination and share their message with the villagers. However, as they arrive at the village, they realize that their efforts may have unintended consequences, leading them to question the true nature of their mission.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1873 · Genre: Religion, Philosophy, Non-fiction · 382 words
First lines
Every religion is important. When men rise above existing conditions a new religion comes in, and it is better than the old one. -- "Professor Howison".
Professor dear, I think it queer That all these good religions ('Twixt you and me, some two or three Are schemes for plucking pigeons) --
What this Textopian page supports
Religious Progress is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1873 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1873 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religion, Philosophy, Non-fiction
- Length: 382 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Religious Progress by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Religious Progress?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religion first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- France by Ambrose Bierce
- Religions Of Error by Ambrose Bierce
- The Christians Faith by Voltairine De Cleyre
- A Social Call by Ambrose Bierce
- An Apologue by Ambrose Bierce
- History by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Religion — The title directly suggests a focus on religious topics, considering thought or movement progression within a religious context.
- Philosophy — The concept of 'progress' implies an exploration of ideas and beliefs, which aligns with philosophical themes.
- Non-fiction — Ambrose Bierce is known for his works that provide commentary and analysis on several aspects of society and life.
Tags
historical fiction · religious themes · social commentary · satire · fiction · novel · American literature · 19th century literature · political satire · philosophy · ethics · morality