(Much more to come)
"The Protestant religion, in all its different creeds, is a mild mixture compared to what it was seventy years ago. And perhaps for the reason that its hideousness is so nicely covered, there is more need that Liberals be on the alert. Christianity is the more dangerous when it gives its attention to this life. Christianity demands entire subordination to its edicts, no matter that it keeps out of sight the damnation of infants in another world, if it subjugates all children to its decrees by teaching them, not only in Sunday-schools but in public schools supported by the public at large, the doctrines taught in the Bible. Until the majority of the people are emancipated from authority over their minds, we are not safe. (Reminiscences, P. 7)
"A religion that has a personal God, outside of humanity, to worship and to please, is quite apt to get appointed an official to regulate the people, and particularly to execute punishment adequate to the offense committed against an Infinite Ruler of the universe. Humanity so likes authority, it seems sometimes as if it gloated upon the sufferings of its fellows." (Reminiscences, p. 54)
"Once engage in the dirty work of injuring one who does not believe in your creed, and the work grows apace; and worse than all else, such persons come to think they are really doing God a service for which they shall merit and obtain a high seat in heaven." Reminiscences, p. 22
"If your Bible is a bundle of rods, or a license for adultery, the loss of it will be a blessing.
-- Lucy Colman, to a minister who had said, "What will you do with the words of the wisest man, Solomon, 'spare the rod and spoil the child'?" Reminiscences, p. 18
"I do not know which is the more dangerous to liberty -- Romanism or Protestantism. Either is fatal if it predominates. Parochial schools are a menace, and the Bible in schools is an insult. Our Sunday-schools are very mischievous. Which is most to be feared I cannot tell. We need to use great diligence as Freethinkers lest we find ourselves imprisoned or even executed for expression of opinion." ..The Truth Seeker Annual and Freethinkers' Almanac, New York, Truth Seeker Office, 1889
"I wish to be just to all, but the Christian church, with its religion, seems to me a blot upon civilization."
-- Lucy Colman, her reply to the question, "What is your opinion of the Christian religion and the Christian church?" from The Truth Seeker Annual and Freethinkers' Almanac, New York, Truth Seeker Office, 1889