III. 



ON THE SPURIOUS BIBLE. 



IN contrast to the great Stone Bible written by Nature, 

 or if we like so to call the process, by God, there exists 

 a spurious Bible written by man, and the authors are 

 unknown, 1 in which is recorded the supposed creation 

 of this world and of the universe. This generation 

 and past generations have been educated by the priests 

 in the conception that this Bible is absolutely true. 

 It wants little intelligence to find, from its own 

 inherent qualities, that it cannot be true. 



The record states that the universe was created by a 

 being of which we have even now not the slightest 

 conception, and which is called " God." 2 



God, who is described in terms of an organic being, 

 is stated to have created out of nothing, in six days, 

 the whole of the universe, of course including the 

 heaven, the earth, the objects in space, stars, &c. 



1 " We criticize it" (The Bible), " freely, and find it to be a col- 

 lection of various writings of various ages, by unknown or doubtful 

 authors, and containing, with much that is of the highest truth and 

 highest interest, much that bears evident traces of the ignorance, 

 superstition, ferocity, and immorality of the rude and barbarous 

 ages over which its traditions extend." ("Problems of the Future," 

 S. Laing, 1894, p. 292.) 



2 " ' God is a blank sheet, upon which nothing is found, but what 

 you have yourself written.' Luther." ("Force and Matter," Dr. 

 Louis Buchner, 1864, p. 184.) 



