Recommended Holiday Reading: Some Mistakes of moses

A few months ago, I came across a book called “Some Mistakes of Moses” by Robert Ingersoll.
There are not too many books out there that systematically criticize the religion (Christian in this case, but the parallels to Judaism are striking) and the Hebrew Bible, so my curiosity was aroused. I decided to buy a print version, despite the fact that online versions are also available.

I was not disappointed.

Some quotes:

• Until every soul is freely permitted to investigate every book, and creed, and dogma for itself, the world cannot be free. Mankind will be enslaved until there is mental grandeur enough to allow each man to have his thought and say. 

• Why should a believer in God hate an atheist? Surely the atheist has not injured God, and surely he is human, capable of joy and pain, and entitled to all the rights of man. Would it not be far better to treat this atheist, at least, as well as he treats us?

• You can hardly expect a bishop to leave his palace, or the pope to vacate the Vatican. As long as people want popes, plenty of hypocrites will be found to take the place. And as long as labor fatigues, there will be found a good many men willing to preach once a week, if other folks will work and give them bread. In other words, while the demand lasts, the supply will never fail.
  
  If the people were a little more ignorant, astrology would flourish -- if a little more enlightened, religion would perish!

• Nearly all authors of sacred books have given an account of the creation of the universe, the origin of matter, and the destiny of the human race. Nearly all have pointed out the obligation that man is under to his creator for having placed him upon the earth, and allowed him to live and suffer, and have taught that nothing short of the most abject worship could possibly compensate God for his trouble and labor suffered and done for the good of man. They have nearly all insisted that we should thank God for all that is good in life but they have not all informed us as to whom we should hold responsible for the evils we endure.

Online versions are available in PDF format, HTML format, Online Book, Kindle, etc.