The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now living.

The theologians dead, knew no more than the theologians now living. More than this cannot be said. About this world little is known,—about another world, nothing.

Our fathers were intellectual serfs, and their fathers were slaves. The makers of our creeds were ignorant and brutal. Every dogma that we have, has upon it the mark of whip, the rust of chain, and the ashes of fagot.

Our fathers reasoned with instruments of torture. They believed in the logic of fire and sword. They hated reason. They despised thought. They abhorred liberty.

I admit that reason is a small and feeble flame, a flickering torch by stumblers carried in the star-less night, -- blown and flared by passion's storm, -- and yet, it is the only light. Extinguish that, and nought remains.

The task of the theologian is to explain everything through God, and to explain God as unexplainable.

Let us put theology out of religion. Theology has always sent the worst to heaven, the best to hell.

Let us put theology out of religion. Theology has always sent the worst to heaven, the best to hell.