Anti-theistic Theories: Being the Baird Lecture for 1877 |
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Page 1
... wish to subject to examination the theories which are opposed to theism , and I hope to be able to prove that they are essentially irrational and erroneous . When A engaged in the attempt to establish that theism . has ATHEISM, I.
... wish to subject to examination the theories which are opposed to theism , and I hope to be able to prove that they are essentially irrational and erroneous . When A engaged in the attempt to establish that theism . has ATHEISM, I.
Page 6
... a right to make unless he can conclusive- ly prove it , and for which there will be found in many cases no proof whatever . The strangest and most monstrous beliefs can be conscientiously held by the 6 Anti - Theistic Theories .
... a right to make unless he can conclusive- ly prove it , and for which there will be found in many cases no proof whatever . The strangest and most monstrous beliefs can be conscientiously held by the 6 Anti - Theistic Theories .
Page 8
... prove that there is no God , but only to show that there is no reason for supposing that there is one ; but , of course ... proved . We have no desire to attach to any man a name which he dislikes , but a regard to truth forbids us to ...
... prove that there is no God , but only to show that there is no reason for supposing that there is one ; but , of course ... proved . We have no desire to attach to any man a name which he dislikes , but a regard to truth forbids us to ...
Page 9
... prove a negative , and there can be no negative so difficult to prove as that there is no God . Were a man to be landed on an unknown island , the print of a foot , a shell , a feather , a scratch on the bark of a tree , the perforation ...
... prove a negative , and there can be no negative so difficult to prove as that there is no God . Were a man to be landed on an unknown island , the print of a foot , a shell , a feather , a scratch on the bark of a tree , the perforation ...
Page 10
... proving an affirma- 1 See Appendix II . tive and proving a negative . From that difference it IO Anti - Theistic Theories .
... proving an affirma- 1 See Appendix II . tive and proving a negative . From that difference it IO Anti - Theistic Theories .
Common terms and phrases
absolute unity absolutely infinite admit affirms animal answer Appendix argument assertion atheism atoms attributes believe body Bradlaugh Brahma Buddha Buddhism called cause Christianity Comte conceived consciousness creation definite deism Deity Democritus deny distinct Divine doctrine duty Epicureans Epicurus essentially eternal evil existence explain fact feel finite force Hegel Holyoake human mind idea ignorance implies infinite intellect intelligence J. S. Mill kind knowledge Lepchas living logically Lucretius maintained materialism materialistic matter mental merely monism moral nature necessarily never Nirvana notion object origin pantheism person pessimism phenomena philosophy physical science polytheism positivism positivist present principles proved reason regard religion religious represented scepticism Schopenhauer scientific secularism secularist self-existent sensation sense Sir John Lubbock soul Spinoza spirit substance supposed supreme theistic theology theory things thought tion tribes true truth uncon universe Vedanta whole words worship
Popular passages
Page 160 - That gravity should be innate, inherent, and essential to matter, so that one body may act upon another at a distance through a vacuum, without the mediation of anything else, by and through which their action and force may be conveyed from one to. another, is to me so great an absurdity that I believe no man, who has iu philosophical matters a competent faculty of thinking, can ever fall into it.
Page 384 - Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him ? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth ? saith the Lord.
Page 172 - ... the passage from the current to the needle, if not demonstrable, is thinkable, and that we entertain no doubt as to the final mechanical solution of the problem. But the passage from the physics of the brain to the corresponding facts of consciousness is unthinkable. Granted that a definite thought, and a definite molecular action in the brain occur simultaneously ; we do not possess the intellectual organ, nor apparently any rudiment of the organ, which would enable us to pass, by a process...
Page 172 - ... following all their motions, all their groupings, all their electric discharges, if such there be ; and were we intimately acquainted with the corresponding states of thought and feeling, we should be as far as ever from the solution of the problem, " How are these physical processes connected with the facts of consciousness ? " The chasm between the two classes of phenomena would still remain intellectually impassable.
Page 76 - It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism ; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion : for while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further ; but when it beholdeth the chain of them, confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.
Page 48 - While life remains, let a man live happily, let him feed on ghee, even though he runs in debt, When once the body becomes ashes, how can it ever return again...
Page 172 - Were our minds and senses so expanded, strengthened, and illuminated as to enable us to see and feel the very molecules of the brain ; were we capable of following all their motions, all their groupings...
Page 495 - I feel bound to make before you is that I prolong the vision backward across the boundary of the experimental evidence, and discern in that matter, which we in our ignorance, and notwithstanding our professed reverence for its Creator, have hitherto covered with opprobrium, the promise and potency of every form and quality of life.
Page 76 - I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind.
Page 301 - God, created he him, male and female, that they should have dominion over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, and the beast of the field, &c.