Book Quote by Robert Green Ingersoll
“We are told in the Pentateuch, that god, the father of us all, gave thousands of maidens, after having killed their fathers, their mothers, and their brothers, to satisfy the brutal lusts of savage men. If there be a god, I pray him to write in his book, opposite my name, that I denied this lie for him.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on religion, 1880s
The speaker condemns the violence and exploitation justified by religion, calling for moral accountability.
In simple terms: Religion used to excuse cruelty.
Key Takeaway
Question and reject harmful doctrines.
Themes
morality
religion
violence
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- historical analysis
- activism
- education
- policy debate
Key Concepts
ethical critique
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies prevent religious justification of violence?
- What alternatives to faith‑based morality exist?
A Different Perspective
Complex historical contexts may affect interpretation.
![“[Sacrifice of Isaac] is a major theme of the so-called Elohist [one authorial strand in the Pentateuch]. It is marked by all of his linguistic characteristics, and so on. We cannot determine what is historical and what isn't. As literary critics, we would understand the importance of this for…” quote by Frank Moore Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7b3/frank-moore-cross-14963_characteristics_sacrifice-of-isaac-is-a-major-theme-of-t_309064.jpg)
![“I want to go back to the child I used to be, and to read with the same naiveté [the Pentateuch]. I want to leave science aside and go back to the pure perception offered to me in the text that is waiting there for me year after year.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fa4/elie-wiesel-341_children_i-want-to-go-back-to-the-child-i-used-to_1311866.jpg)
