Religious Intoxication and The Modern Thought

After reading this book three times, Mark Twain commented: "Everyone should read this book. IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT YOU SHOULD BUY IT... BORROW IT... OR BEG IT..." This edition includes new COPYRIGHTED material to original work (1906) CONTENTS: PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION, PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION THE SITUATION Chapter I. THE GRAVITY OF THE PRESENT SITUATION § 1. The Truth of the Matter § 2. The Attitude of the Laity § 3. Christianity and Science not Reconciled § 4. The Genesis and Character of the New Outburst § 5. Apologetics " Found Wanting." § 6. More Things, which Confuse the Issue. Chapter II. THE EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF APOLOGETICS WITH REGARD TO MIRACLES § 1. Preliminary Remarks. THE VIEW OF SCIENCE. WHY HAVE MIRACLES CEASED? BELIEF IN MIRACLES ESSENTIAL. § 2. Miracle Apologetics § 3. The Fundamental Miracles THE RESURRECTION. THE ASCENSION. THE INCARNATION. CONCLUDING REMARKS Chapter III. THE DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER OF MODEEN BIBLE CRITICISM § 1. Clashing Views on Bible Criticism. § 2. A Summary of the Results of Bible Criticism. § 3. By Whom the " Higher Criticism " is Accepted. § 4. Admissions by Orthodox Apologists. § 5. Some Remaining Difficulties. WE MUST ACCEPT THE WHOLE OR REJECT THE WHOLE. SILENCE OF HISTORIANS THOUGHTS ON " TRADITION " AS GOD'S METHOD FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF TRUTH TO POSTERITY. THE ALLEGED SINLESSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST. THE IGNORANCE OF JESUS CHRIST. COMPARATIVE MYTHOLOGY Chapter IV. THE GRAVE SUSPICIONS AROUSED BY THE STUDY OF ANCIENT BELIEFS § 1. The Nee Theological Theory of a Progressive Revelation. § 2. Parallels in Ancient Religions, and Some Remarks Upon Them. KRISHNA AND BUDDHA. PARALLELS OTHER THAN KRISHNA AND BUDDHA. ARE THE KRISHNA AND BUDDHA LEGENDS BORROWED FROM CHRISTIANITY? § 3. Parallels' in the Beliefs of Primitive Man, and some Remarks Upon Them. THE RELIGIONS OF ANCIENT AMERICA. VEGETATION GODS. WHY MEN EAT THEIR GOD. § 4. The Solar Myth. JONAH AND THE WHALE. THE CHRISTIAN THEORY IGNORED BY SCIENCE. THE SUN AS A SYMBOL. 91 § 5. Concluding Remarks on Christian and Anti-Christian Theories. ARGUMENT FEOM ESSENISM. ARGUMENT FROM MITHRAISM. Chapter V. IRRECONCILABLE DIFFICULTIES CONNECTED WITH EVOLUTION § 1. Preliminary Remarks. THE DOCTRINE OF EVOLUTION. DARWINISM. THE AVERAGE PERSON'S IDEAS ON THE EVOLUTION OF MAN. THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH. § 2. " Nature Red in Tooth and Claw." § 3. The Bible Account of Creation Irreconcilable with Science in Each and Every Respect. § 4. Proofs of Our Animal Origin. THE EXTRAORDINARY AFFINITY OF BODILY STRUCTURE. THE REVELATIONS OF EMBRYOLOGY. THE TALE TOLD BY THE USELESS RUDIMENTARY ORGANS. § 5. The Overthrow of the Doctrines of the Fall and Original Sin. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION. AN INSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER'S THEORY. THE ARCHDEACON OF MANCHESTER'S THEORY. THE RATIONALIST'S THEORY. CONCLUSIONS. THEISM Chapter VI. THE FAILURE OF THEISTIC ARGUMENTS § 1. Preliminary Remarks. THEISM, AND WHO ARE THEISTS. § 2. The Existence of a First Cause - An Uncaused Cause. § 3. The First Cause an Intelligence. DESIGN AND DIRECTIVITY. DIRECTIVITY. DESIGN. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG THEISTIC APOLOGISTS. § 4. The First Cause a Beneficent Intelligence. A PERSONAL GOD. DIVINE IMMANENCE IN NATURE. A FACT IN HISTORY. THE PAST AND PRESENT POSITION OF THE ETHICAL ARGUMENT EVIL FOR WHICH MAN IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE EVIL FOR WHICH MAN IS HELD RESPONSIBLE. CONSCIENCE. FREEWILL. § 5. Religious Experience. MYSTICISM AND CONVERSION. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PRAYER. THE RELIGIOUS (?) EXPERIENCES OF INTOXICATION. MUSIC AND THE EMOTIONS. SEXUAL LOVE. REVIVALISM. § 6. The Inevitable Conclusion. NOTE ON RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY. POPULAR ARGUMENTS, etc....