How has the church in every age, when in authority, defended itself? Always by a statute against blasphemy, against argument, against free speech. And there never was such a statute that did not stain the book that it was in and that did not certify to the savagery of the men who passed it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Churches historically used laws to suppress speech and argument.
- In plain terms
- Churces defend themselves by banning criticism and speech.
- What can you take from it?
- Suppression of speech often marks religious authority.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How should authority handle dissent?
- Is speech ever truly free?
Another view
It generalizes all religious institutions.
More from Robert G. Ingersoll
It seems to me that if there is some infinite being who wants us to think alike he would have made us alike.
Permalink to quote #71 Now, gentlemen, what is blasphemy? Of course nobody knows what it is, unless he takes into consideration where he is. What is blasphemy in one country would be…
Permalink to quote #73 No orthodox church ever had power that it did not endeavor to make people think its way by force and flame.
Permalink to quote #70
Related quotes
We hereby, in these documents, publish, announce, pronounce, sentence, and declare thee the aforesaid Brother Giordano Bruno to be an impenitent and pertinacio…
Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno quote #49 By God's grace, I know Satan very well. If Satan can turn God's Word upside down and pervert the Scriptures, what will he do with my words -- or the words of o…
Martin LutherMartin Luther quote #2 WARNING: Education corrupts your rationale to know. Students suspended for viewing Time Cube. Test free speech right to debate Time Cube. This site may be haza…
Gene RayGene Ray quote #14