William Edward Hartpole Lecky Quotes about Atheism

Fierce invectives against women form a conspicuous and grotesque portion of the writings of the Church fathers.

Fierce invectives against women form a conspicuous and grotesque portion of the writings of the Church fathers.

Father, Writing, Atheism

When the Church obtained the direction of the civil power, she soon modified or abandoned the tolerant maxims she had formerly inculcated; and, in the course of a few years, restrictive laws were enacted, both against the Jews and against the heretics.

William Edward Hartpole Lecky

Years, Law, Atheism

William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1865). “History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe”, p.29

Making every allowance for the errors of the most extreme fallibility, the history of Catholicism would on this hypothesis represent an amount of imposture probably unequaled in the annals of the human race.

William Edward Hartpole Lecky

Errors, Race, Atheism

William Edward Hartpole Lecky (2001). “History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe”, p.178, The Minerva Group, Inc.

All history shows that, in exact proportion as nations advance in civilisation, the accounts of miracles taking place among them become rarer and rarer, until at last they entirely cease.

William Edward Hartpole Lecky

Miracle, Atheism, Lasts

William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1865). “History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe”, p.158

Whenever the clergy were at the elbow of the civil arm, no matter whether they were Catholic or Protestant, persecution was the result.

William Edward Hartpole Lecky

Catholic, Atheism, Elbows

Terror is everywhere the beginning of religion.

William Edward Hartpole Lecky

Atheism, Terror, Positive Atheism

William Edward Hartpole Lecky (1865). “History of the rise and influence of the spirit of rationalism in Europe”, p.444

Almost all Europe, for many centuries, was inundated with blood, which was shed at the direct instigation or with the full approval of the ecclesiastical authorities.

William Edward Hartpole Lecky

Blood, Europe, Atheism

William Edward Hartpole Lecky (2001). “History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe”, p.40, The Minerva Group, Inc.