“The Christian God the Father, the God of Tertullian, Augustine and Aquinas, is the wickedest thing yet invented by the black heart of man”.
William Empson
Agreed! When contemplating the 'nature of god,' I frequently turn to the 'Great Agnostic' of the 1800's, Robert Green Ingersoll: "Would God give a bird wings and make it a crime to fly? Would he give me brains and make it a crime to think? Any God that would damn one of his children for the expression of his honest thought wouldn't make a decent thief. When I read a book and don't believe it, I ought to say so. I will do so and take the consequences like a man."
He was certainly one of the great thinkers of the C19th. For those who don't already know his complete 12 volume work is available through Project Gutenberg:
What did he really think?
He clearly didn't like the concept of God, finding it morally repugnant on several levels.
@rcandlish Often my sarcasim does not work well in print. Thank you for the post and expounding on my stupid question!
Wow. Didn't hold back, did he?
How could he? Being one of the sanest and well educated men of his generation. He was a very good poet too.