Mistakes of Moses

Name: Mistakes of Moses
Author: Robert Green Ingersoll

By Robert Green Ingersoll

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Philosophy & Ethics Religion/Spirituality

About This Book

A collection of critical essays and lectures scrutinizes the Pentateuch and traditional claims of Mosaic authorship, arguing that its narratives contain contradictions, improbabilities, and morally troubling laws. The writer examines creation accounts, ceremonial and civil regulations, and episodes that raise issues of slavery, polygamy, war, and religious coercion, while considering how ritual and tradition shape belief. Interspersed shorter pieces probe weekdays, memory, and the cultural origins of religious practices, all delivered in a rhetorical, argumentative mode that challenges literal readings and doctrinal authority.

About the Author

Robert Green Ingersoll

Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899) was a prominent American orator, lawyer, and political activist known for his advocacy of free thought and secularism. Often referred to as the "Great Agnostic," Ingersoll was a leading figure in the 19th-century movement for religious skepticism and humanism. His lectures, such as "About The Holy Bible" and "An Oration on the Life and Services of Thomas Paine," challenged traditional religious beliefs and promoted rationalism. Ingersoll's eloquent speeches and writings contributed significantly to the discourse on religion, morality, and individual rights, making him a notable figure in American literary and intellectual history.