"But here in the first place it may be demanded, who or what is it that has put forth this great claim in its behalf?
"Not the work itself. It nowhere claims the authorship of one man, or makes the impious declaration that it is the writing of Almighty God." (Draper's "Conflict Between Religion and Science.")
"In 1847, the American Bible Society appointed a committee of its members to prepare a standard edition of King James's version, free from typographical errors. They prepared such an edition, correcting, as they stated, twenty-four thousand errors; but alarmed at the attacks made upon it, it was withdrawn; and the American Bible Society continues to this day to circulate for the word of God a book having in it twenty-four thousand acknowledged errors." ("Common Sense Thoughts on the Bible," Wm. Denton.)
2. The Bible sanctions cruelties. The wars of extermination waged by the Jews upon surrounding nations afford ample proof.
3. The Bible indorses immorality. It indorses war, slavery, polygamy, intemperance, and superstition.
4. The writers of the gospels do not claim to be inspired.
5. We do not know when, where, or by whom, either the gospels or the books supposed to be written by Moses, were composed.
6. Paul says: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God; but there is (1.) no definite meaning attached to the word inspiration. (2.) He does not refer to the gospels for they had no existence when he wrote.
7. Inspiration is not a success. There are a thousand different sects quarreling about the meaning of the "inspired scriptures."
8. Inspiration should be pure. The Bible abounds in obscenity.
9. The Bible undergoes revisions, improvements, etc. An infallible book cannot be improved.
10. The Bible has no plan or system, and hence has no definite object. Millions upon millions of Christians have differed regarding its teachings.
11. The Bible is a fetich. Millions of people have a slavish regard for the Holy Bible who have little or no respect for Humanity, Truth, or Justice.
"Now this God either did or he did not believe in and command murder and rapine in the days when he used to sit around evenings and chat with Abraham and Moses and the rest of them. His especial plans and desires were 'revealed' or they were not. The ideas of justice and right were higher in those days than they are now, or else we are wiser and better than God, or else the Bible is not his revealed will. You can take your choice. My choice is to keep my respect for divine justice and honor, and let the Bible bear the burden of its own mistakes.