The Great Agnostic

1. Robert Ingersoll: America's Forgotten Champion of Reason and Secularism

"There is no such thing as a new atheist. You know this, of course, and are usually careful to give ample credit to your predecessors. They made you possible, by waging the battle for reason and freedom of conscience at considerable risk to their own lives and liberty"

A forgotten hero. Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899) was once a household name in America, known as the "Great Agnostic" for his powerful advocacy of reason, science, and secularism. Despite his immense popularity during the Gilded Age, Ingersoll's legacy has faded from public memory.

Ingersoll's impact. As a gifted orator and writer, Ingersoll reached audiences across the nation, challenging religious orthodoxy and promoting a humanistic worldview. His lectures on science, religion, and social issues drew thousands, influencing both intellectuals and ordinary citizens. Notable admirers included:

• Mark Twain
• Thomas Edison
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton
• Walt Whitman

Relevance today. Ingersoll's arguments for separation of church and state, women's rights, and scientific understanding remain pertinent in contemporary America. His ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences offers valuable lessons for modern freethinkers and advocates of reason.

2. The Founding Fathers' Vision: A Secular Nation Built on Human Authority

"They knew that to put God in the Constitution was to put man out. They knew that the recognition of a Deity would be seized upon by fanatics and zealots as a pretext for destroying the liberty of thought."

Secular foundation. Ingersoll emphasized that the United States was founded as the world's first secular government, deliberately omitting any reference to God in the Constitution. This decision was a radical departure from European models of governance based on divine right.

Key points:

• The Constitution begins with "We the People," not an invocation of deity
• No religious tests for public office were allowed
• The First Amendment protected freedom of and from religion

Historical context. Ingersoll worked tirelessly to remind Americans of this secular heritage at a time when many were trying to rewrite history and claim a Christian founding for the nation. His efforts to preserve the memory of Enlightenment figures like Thomas Paine were crucial in maintaining the thread of secular thought in American history.

3. Evolution vs. Religion: Ingersoll's Defense of Darwin's Revolutionary Ideas

"I believe that man came up from lower animals. When I first heard of that doctrine I did not like it. ... After all I had rather belong to a race that started from the skull-less vertebrates in the dim Laurentian seas, vertebrates wiggling without knowing why they wiggled, swimming without knowing where they were going, but that in some way began to develop, and began to get a little higher and a little higher in the scale of existence"

Science advocate. Ingersoll was a passionate defender of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, recognizing its revolutionary implications for understanding human origins and our place in nature. He skillfully communicated these complex ideas to general audiences, making them accessible and compelling.

Key arguments:

• Evolution does not degrade humanity but elevates our understanding of our origins
• Scientific knowledge is superior to religious dogma in explaining the natural world
• Acceptance of evolution is compatible with wonder and appreciation for life

Broader impact. By championing evolution and other scientific advances, Ingersoll helped pave the way for greater acceptance of scientific thinking in American society. His efforts contributed to the ongoing dialogue between science and religion that continues to shape public discourse.

4. The Humanist Approach: Combining Reason and Compassion in Social Reform

"While I am opposed to all orthodox creeds, I have a creed myself; and my creed is this. Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so."

Ethical framework. Ingersoll promoted a humanistic approach to ethics and social reform, emphasizing reason and compassion rather than religious doctrine. He argued that morality and goodness could exist independent of belief in a deity.

Key principles:

• Focus on alleviating suffering and promoting happiness in this life
• Rejection of religious justifications for social inequality
• Emphasis on education and science as tools for human progress

Progressive causes. Ingersoll's humanism led him to support numerous progressive causes, including:

• Women's rights and suffrage
• Racial equality
• Labor rights and the eight-hour workday
• Opposition to the death penalty

His ability to connect these issues to broader philosophical and ethical principles helped galvanize support for social reform movements.

5. Separation of Church and State: Ingersoll's Crusade Against Religious Influence in Government

"I believe that this realm of thought is not a democracy, where the majority rule; it is not a republic. It is a country with one inhabitant."

Constitutional principle. Ingersoll was a tireless advocate for the strict separation of church and state, arguing that this principle was essential to protecting individual liberty and preventing religious tyranny.

Key arguments:

• Religious beliefs should not influence public policy or law
• Government should remain neutral on matters of faith
• Public education should be secular and free from religious indoctrination

Ongoing relevance. Ingersoll's defense of church-state separation remains highly relevant in contemporary American politics, where debates over the role of religion in government continue. His arguments provide a valuable historical perspective on these issues.

6. Women's Rights and Social Progress: Ingersoll's Progressive Stance

"I know that good for the human race can never be accomplished by torture. I also know that all that has been ascertained by vivisection could have been done by the dissection of the dead. I know that all the torture has been useless."

Gender equality. Ingersoll was a strong supporter of women's rights, advocating for gender equality in education, employment, and political participation. He recognized that religious doctrines often justified the oppression of women and argued for a more egalitarian society.

Key positions:

• Support for women's suffrage
• Advocacy for women's economic independence
• Criticism of religious justifications for gender inequality

Broader vision. Ingersoll's support for women's rights was part of a larger vision of social progress that included racial equality, workers' rights, and opposition to cruelty in all forms (including his stance against vivisection). His holistic approach to social reform set him apart from many of his contemporaries.

7. The Legacy of Freethought: Ingersoll's Impact on American Intellectual History

"He was the poet of that divine democracy which gives equal rights to all the sons and daughters of men. He uttered the great American voice; uttered a song worthy of the great Republic."

Intellectual bridge. Ingersoll played a crucial role in preserving and advancing the tradition of American freethought, serving as a bridge between the Enlightenment ideals of the Founding Fathers and the secular movements of the 20th century.

Key contributions:

• Popularizing skeptical and rationalist ideas for a mass audience
• Defending freedom of thought and expression
• Challenging religious orthodoxy and promoting scientific understanding

Enduring influence. Although Ingersoll's name has faded from public memory, his ideas and arguments continue to influence American intellectual and cultural life. Modern secularists, humanists, and advocates for reason owe a debt to Ingersoll's pioneering work in making these ideas accessible and compelling to a broad audience.

Last updated: November 12, 2024