Lectures IV and V

A. It means nothing; and it seems, so far as I can observe, useless to others. I am sixty-seven years of age and have resided in ⸻ fifty years, and have been in business forty-five, consequently I have some little experience of life and men, and some women too, and I find that the most religious and pious people are as a rule those most lacking in uprightness and morality. The men who do not go to church or have any religious convictions are the best. Praying, singing of hymns, and sermonizing are pernicious⁠—they teach us to rely on some supernatural power, when we ought to rely on ourselves. I tee totally disbelieve in a God. The God-idea was begotten in ignorance, fear, and a general lack of any knowledge of Nature. If I were to die now, being in a healthy condition for my age, both mentally and physically, I would just as lief, yes, rather, die with a hearty enjoyment of music, sport, or any other rational pastime. As a timepiece stops, we die⁠—there being no immortality in either case. Q. What comes before your mind corresponding to the words God, Heaven, Angels, etc. ? A. Nothing whatever. I am a man without a religion. These words mean so much mythic bosh. Q. Have you had any experiences which appeared providential? A. None whatever. There is no agency of the superintending kind. A little judicious observation as well as knowledge of scientific law will convince anyone of this fact. Q. What things work most strongly on your emotions?