"
But though religious truth can justify no bitterness, it is well worth any
amount of thought and study.
I hope I shall not be supposed to depreciate any honest effort to arrive
at truth, or to undervalue the devotion of those who have died for their
religion. But surely it is a mistake to regard martyrdom as a merit, when
from their own point of view it was in reality a privilege.
Let every man be persuaded in his own mind
"Truth is the highest thing that man may keep." [5]
To arrive at truth we should spare ourselves no pain, but certainly
inflict none on others.
We may be sure that quarrels will never advance religion, and that to
persecute is no way to convert. No doubt those who consider that all who
do not agree with them will suffer eternal torments, seem logically
justified in persecution even unto death. Such a course, if carried out
consistently, might stamp out a particular sect, and any sufferings which
could be inflicted here would on this hypothesis be as nothing in
comparison with the pains of Hell.
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