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The idea of hell was born of ignorance, brutality, fear, cowardice, and revenge. This idea testifies that our remote ancestors were the lowest beasts. Only from dens, lairs, and caves, only from mouths filled with cruel fangs, only from hearts of fear and hatred, only from the conscience of hunger and lust, only from the lowest and most debased could come this most cruel, heartless and bestial of all dogmas.

Robert G. Ingersoll#49

ReligionFearDogmaHell

About this quote

What does it mean?
The concept of hell stems from primitive fears and negative human traits.
In plain terms
Hell comes from fear and hatred not love.
What can you take from it?
Fear creates harsh religious ideas.

Where it applies

  • religious critique
  • historical analysis
  • theology

Putting it to work

  • challenging religious fear
  • examining origins of dogma

Questions to consider

  • Why do we believe in hell?
  • What creates religious fear?

Another view

Hell can serve a moral function beyond its origins.

More from Robert G. Ingersoll

  1. The God of Hell should be held in loathing, contempt and scorn. A God who threatens eternal pain should be hated, not loved - cursed, not worshiped. A heaven p…

    Permalink to quote #48
  2. Whoever attacks a custom or a creed, will be confronted with a list of the names of the dead who upheld the custom, or believed the creed. He is asked in a ver…

    Permalink to quote #50
  3. In the estimation of good orthodox Christians I am a criminal, because I am trying to take from loving mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, an…

    Permalink to quote #47

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