The Gods
Ingersoll's famous opening lecture attacking the concept of supernatural beings.
Each nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled his creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he was invariably found on the side of those in power.
Each god was intensely patriotic, and detested all nations but his own. All these gods demanded praise, flattery, and worship. Most of them were pleased with sacrifice, and the smell of innocent blood has ever been considered a divine perfume. All these gods have insisted upon having a vast number of priests. The priest has always thought that he could do better for himself than the god could do for him.
The god has always been deaf, dumb, and blind; but the priest has always been sharp-sighted, quick-eared, and loud-mouthed.
The Honest God
An honest god is the noblest work of man. Each nation has created a god, and the god has always resembled his creators. He hated and loved what they hated and loved, and he was invariably found on the side of those in power.
"Fear is the dungeon of the mind."
If we wish to know the history of a nation, we must look at its gods. It is the same with individuals.
(This is a sample excerpt. You can paste the full text of the lecture here later.)