Just in proportion that the human race has advanced, the Church has lost
power. There is no exception to this rule. No nation ever materially
advanced that held strictly to the religion of its founders. No nation
ever gave itself wholly to the control of the Church without losing its
power, its honor, and existence. Every Church pretends to have found
the exact truth. This is the end of progress. Why pursue that which you
have? Why investigate when you know? Every creed is a rock in running
water; humanity sweeps by it. Every creed cries to the universe, "Halt!"
A creed is the ignorant Past bullying the enlightened Present.