Bill Hillman Presents
REASON vs. SUPERNATURAL & FAITH

 
 

What Robert Ingersoll wanted for Christmas
The following is from Robert Ingersoll’s “What I Want For Christmas” (1897)

If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to govern themselves.

I would have all the nobility crop their titles and give their lands back to the people.

I would have the Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God, is not infallible, and is just an ordinary Italian.

I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all their “flocks” to think for themselves, to be manly men and womanly women, and to do all in their power to increase the sum of human happiness.

I would have all the professors in colleges, all the teachers in schools of every kind, including those in Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what they know and not palm off guesses as demonstrated truths.

I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen:

Men who long to make their country great and free 
Men who care more for public good than private gain 
Men who long to be of use 
I would like to see all the editors of papers and magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentation, and to let the private affairs of the people alone.

I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both abolished.

I would like to see corporal punishment done away with in every home, in every school, in every asylum, reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades, kindness reforms and ennobles.

I would like to see millionaires unite and form a trust for the public good.

I would like to see a fair division of profits between capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough to mingle a little June with the December of his life.

I would like to see an international court established in which to settle disputes between nations, so that armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed to rust and rot in perfect peace.

I would like to see the whole world free — free from injustice, and free from superstition.

This will do for next Christmas. The following Christmas, I may want more 


~ See more from Ingersoll at: Reason vs. Superstition Quotes and ERB I

Reason vs. Supernatural Series
INTRODUCTION PAGE
Free Thinkers Through History
CONTENTS

I: A-D Quotes
Photos AB | Photos CD
II: E-H Quotes
Photos EF | Photos GH
III: I-O Quotes
Photos IL | Photos MO
IV: P-Z Quotes
Photos PR | Photos SZ
 V: Media Quotes
Photos I | Photos II
VI. Anonymous
VII. References
Cartoons I  |  II | III | IV | V
ERB I
ERB II
INSPIRATION
FAITH EXTREME
Words of the Pious
Photos I | Photos II
Creation Museum
A Photo Tour
L. Ron Hubbard
Scientology Founder
.

Bill Hillman
BACK TO THE HILLMAN ECLECTIC STUDIO
Copyright 2009