Humanity's Gain from Unbelief
Charles Bradlaugh’s Humanity’s Gain from Unbelief is a collection of essays that explore the benefits of unbelief and the dangers of religious superstition. Bradlaugh argues that religious superstition has been a major source of human suffering throughout history, and that it has been used to oppress and control people. He also argues that religious superstition has been used to justify wars and other forms of violence. He further argues that religious superstition has been used to limit scientific progress and to prevent people from thinking for themselves. Finally, he argues that unbelief can lead to greater freedom, progress, and happiness. Bradlaugh’s essays are written in a clear and accessible style, and they provide a powerful argument for the benefits of unbelief.
By Charles Bradlaugh · First published 1889 · Genre: Philosophy, Religion, Non-Fiction · 7,194 words
First lines
As an unbeliever, I ask leave to plead that humanity has been real gainer from scepticism, and that the gradual and growing rejection of Christianity -- like the rejection of the faiths which preceded it -- has in fact added, and will add, to man's happiness and well being. I maintain that in physics science is the outcome of scepticism, and that general progress is impossible without scepticism on matters of religion. I mean by religion every form of belief which accepts or asserts the supernatural. I write as a Monist, and use the word "nature" as meaning all phenomena, every phenomenon, all that is necessary for the happening of any and every phenomenon. Every religion is constantly changing, and at any given time is the measure of the civilisation attained by what Guizot described as the "juste milieu" of those who profess it. Each religion is slowly but certainly modified in its dogma and practice by the gradual development of the peoples amongst whom it is professed. Each discovery destroys in whole or part some theretofore cherished belief. No religion is suddenly rejected by any people; it is rather gradually out-grown. None see a religion die; dead religions are like dead languages and obsolete customs; the decay is long and -- like the glacier march -- is only perceptible to the careful watcher by comparisons extending over long periods. A superseded religion may often be traced in the festivals, ceremonies, and dogmas of the religion which has replaced it. Traces of obsolete religions may often be found in popular customs, in old wives' stories, and in children's tales.
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Humanity's Gain from Unbelief is listed on Textopian as an essay by Charles Bradlaugh, dated 1889 CE.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: Charles Bradlaugh
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Non-Fiction, History, Essay
- Length: 7,194 words
- Structure: 1 section, 55 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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Genres
- Philosophy — The book examines the philosophical implications of unbelief and its potential benefits to humanity.
- Religion — The book explores the relationship between religion and unbelief, and how it affects humanity.
- Non-Fiction — The book is a non-fiction work that examines the implications of unbelief on humanity.
- History — The book looks at the history of unbelief and its effects on humanity.
Tags
1 · Atheism · Free thought · abolition · belief · centuries · century · christian · christianity · christians · church · churches