The pulpit complains that people are indifferent to religion. Why
shouldn’t they be? It is about time they were indifferent to it. Our
wonder is, that the people tolerate a single priest or church on earth. Of
what benefit is religion to mankind? Come now, ye that uphold religion,
tell us what it does to make the world better, nobler, truer? Why should
man worship God? Why should he build thousands of costly churches all over
the earth, and pay priests and ministers large salaries to preach and pray
in these churches?
If the churches were the humblest buildings in the land; if the ministers
and priests were paid no more than carpenters or spinners, if there were
any agreement between what religion _professes to be_ and what it _is as
matter of fact_, then less could be said in the way of condemnation of
religion. But think you that men who live in hovels can respect men who
preach in palaces as followers of the man of Nazareth? The thing is too
ridiculous. The world is beginning to see how it has been humbugged, and
it is becoming indifferent. It may in time become indignant. There will
then be occasion for ministers to be alarmed.
But just now the people have reached a condition of utter indifference
respecting religion. They don’t care for it. They don’t care to build it
up or tear it down. They don’t care whether it is good or bad. They don’t
care anything about it.
Some regret this state of things; we rejoice in it. It shows that the
people are thinking, and when the people think long enough they will find
what is true and right.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐