Atheism and other addresses
All the material in this little book originated as talks for specific occasions. Several were broadcast over the radio. After they were delivered, requests for copies of the addresses poured in on the author, and to meet the demand they were published in pamphlet form.
Because of their current and permanent value to stu¬ dents, speakers, writers, and intelligent laymen, many readers have re-ordered individual pamphlets many times through the years as their copies wore out or were bor¬ rowed and never returned.
This undoubtedly has been responsible for the ever-increasing volume of requests that we have been receiving to have the pamphlets compiled into book form—and this little volume is the answer.
Joseph Lewis (June 11, 1889 – November 4, 1968) was an American freethinker and atheist activist, publisher, and litigator. During the mid-twentieth century, he was one of America's most conspicuous public atheists, the other being Emanuel Haldeman-Julius. Born in Montgomery, Alabama to a Jewish family, he was forced by poverty to leave school at the age of nine to find employment. He read avidly, becoming self-educated.
Lewis developed his ideas from reading, among others, Robert G. Ingersoll, whose published works made him aware of Thomas Paine. He was first impressed by the idea to become an atheist after having read a large volume of lectures of Ingersoll devoted to his idol Paine, which was brought to their house by his older brother. He later credited Paine's The Age of Reason with helping him leave theism.
Contents
Atheism.--Lincoln, the freethinker.--Lincoln, the soldier.--Jefferson, the freethinker.--Franklin, the freethinker.--Burbank, the infidel.--The Bible and the public schools.--Shall children receive religious instruction? A debate between Rev. Walter M. Howlett and Joseph Lewis.--Mexico and the Catholic church.--Gems from Ingersoll
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