Henry Edward Manning (1808–1892)

A debate in written form between a prominent Catholic bishop and a prominent freethinker. The debate is more than a hundred years old, but if written today, the bishop's arguments would sound old and tired and the freethinker's would sound familiar. The main difference is the quality of the language used, with the prose much more elevated than the lesser rhetoric of today. It is astonishing that many believer's continue to make these same arguments, which were already lame in the day of this debate. Ingersoll manages to dispense with them in short order with style and panache, but the debate continues today, with the same arguments and the same answers. A bonus piece considers the question of divorce, with the arguments of the churchmen (different than the first debate) valid only for those who believe their religious beliefs, but put out as though to convince everyone. There is a lot in there to pick apart, but once again, Ingersoll is up to it. I recommend this for anyone who loves to watch or read this sort of debate, even if not interested in this topic, because the use of language and argument is quite distinguished.… (altro)