Oct 31, 2010
Robert Green Ingersoll (1833 – 1899) The Great Agnostic On
Halloweeen, nothing is as scary to a Christian as a discussion of
Robert Ingersoll... MNA members Jim Barri and Steve Petersen will
interview Tom Flynn, Executive Director of Center for Inquiry and
Editor of Free Inquiry and Manager of the Ingersoll Birthplace
Museum in Dresden, NY. We will discuss the life and legacy of
Robert Green Ingersoll, The Great Agnostic. Ingersoll is one of
America’s great freethinkers. He was born in Dresden, NY. He was
the son of a minister, had a photographic memory and was college
educated. He became a lawyer and served as Illinois first Attorney
General and during the Civil War he was given the rank of Colonel
and the command of the 11th Illinois Calvary. He was quoted as his
role in the Civil War was to “break the chains from the bodies of
men.” Later, he would redefine his role in society to free people
from the “phantoms of the soul.” Ingersoll was a successful lawyer
and the premier orator of his time and Eugene Debs gave him the
title of the “Shakespeare of Oratory.” He traveled the country
speaking to large gatherings and politicians requested his
endorsement. Ingersoll challenged the religious orthodoxy; he was a
contemporary of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, he endorsed women’s rights
for the vote, equal pay and equal opportunity to employment, and
the right for birth control. Margaret Sanger admired his
progressive philosophy. His writings on religion, ethics and other
related topics are American Classics and are relevant
today.