At the suggestion of a noble friend, /waves @ Mak, I started a journey into Robert Ingersoll’s world. Starting at that point where we all tend to, the mighty Wiki I found a link to what is called “The Open Library” Therin a compilation of Ingersolls works of which I hastily gobbled up 40 pages before I realized this resource must be shared. With no further ado:
https://openlibrary.org/ Edit: This next link takes you directly to the series I have been reading and commenting on.
https://archive.org/details/worksofrobertgin01ingeiala
This one is worthy of a bookmark high on the bookmark list! So far there have been no attempts to pry any $ from my pockets, no credit card requirements, I do hope that remains to be the case. Although I already feel a little guilty for taking advantage of the resource. Not so much yet to want to open the wallet, but hey you never know.
Edit: After my initial enthusiasm for this site, in freely reading Ingersolls works, I thought I’d try a search for something more modern, and quickly found its limitations. It appears that only really old stuff is made easily accessible. Or that which has been perhaps released by the author or publisher to hit the free market. Still trying to figure out what’s what here, but it is still promising, at least for a while 🙂
There are indicators such as “Daisy”, which looks like audio recordings for the deaf. “Borrow”, for books that you can actually borrow for a couple of weeks, and precious few “Read”, which are instantly available.
EDIT : This post and its comment content are kind of a carry over from the Quote of the Month, so it might be more contextual to take that into consideration. I must apologize for such a post that required so many edits. But when you venture into a new area of study, in a new and strange land, it takes you places you did not see coming.
Evidence Based Reality 
It feels weird commenting on my own post, but what the hell. I just finished Ingersolls “The Gods” at the Open Library, and I am blown away by his clarity and damning of superstition. It was oddly difficult realizing these words were published so long ago, yet still ring so truly today. Almost every paragraph was worthy of a fantastic quote. Truly one of the best takedowns on the nonsense of religion I have read.
I think I’d have enjoyed sharing a beer with Ingersoll.
Mak, thanks man. No greater gift than an enlightening read. And I am not done yet. 🙂
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Am glad you found it a good resource. I have read mist of his works and he is such a great guy.
Once you finish with him you should look for Joseph Lewis. He wrote in the early years of the 20th century. They dont get any militant than that.
Anyone who says we are harsh has not looked far enough.
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I just finished Ingersolls tribute to Thomas Paine. This is hard for an old crusty manly man to admit, but the last ten or eleven pages brought tears to my eyes. Not the sobbing sissified crying thing, but that occaisional unconcious need to wipe an eye dry. Due to the realization that what I was reading rung true in every sentence. The connection to everything I was reading immense, the sense of duty, of being aligned with such patriots of the mind, that knowing each and every word still rings true, and that the battle for intellectual freedom is far from over in this world.
Makes me feel proud to be on the same page, but nowhere near the same pedestal, as such gentlemen as Ingersoll and Paine. No greater tribute have I read, and no greater truth than these men’s observations.
It has been a good morning, thanks for the brain food Mak.
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He waves back. I knew you would like him.
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