Theological Essays

audiobook

Theological Essays

by Charles Bradlaugh

EN·~10 hours·22 chapters

Chapters

22 total

Chapter I. Introductory

20:01

Chapter II. The Sixteenth Century

27:41

Chapter III. The Seventeenth Century

47:58

Chapter IV. The Eighteenth Century

57:25

HUMANITY’S GAIN FROM UNBELIEF

32:08

SUPERNATURAL AND RATIONAL MORALITY

16:41

HAS MAN A SOUL?

30:07

IS THERE A GOD

18:45

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE DEVIL

18:38

WERE ADAM AND EVE OUR FIRST PARENTS?

22:00

Description

A bold and thought‑provoking essay opens the collection by questioning why society harshly castigates those who dare to think differently about faith. The author traces the label “heretic” through history, showing how figures once condemned—such as Bacon, Newton, and Voltaire—later became celebrated thinkers, and argues that dissent is a catalyst for intellectual and political progress. By distinguishing genuine, reasoned inquiry from mere disbelief, the piece invites listeners to reconsider the moral weight of religious conformity.

The subsequent essays expand this theme, portraying heresy as an essential engine of human advancement rather than a threat to order. Drawing on examples from the Enlightenment to the modern age, the writer suggests that education and open debate are the true antidotes to superstition and ignorance. Listeners are encouraged to see the pursuit of independent thought as a courageous, even noble, endeavor that brightens the path of civilization.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~10 hours (585K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2012-03-25

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Charles Bradlaugh

Charles Bradlaugh

1833–1891

A fierce Victorian reformer, this English politician and freethinker became famous for challenging religious orthodoxy and fighting for the right to affirm rather than swear a religious oath in Parliament. His life sits at the crossroads of politics, free speech, and the long campaign for civil liberties.

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