The New Gospel

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Several million [Americans] have succumbed to an extraordinary delusion … Jesus will return to Earth when certain preconditions have been met.&nbsp; The first of these [is] the establishment of a state of Israel … The legions of the antichrist will then be deployed against Israel, and their war will lead to a final showdown in the valley of Armageddon.&nbsp; The Jews will either burn or convert to Christianity, and the Messiah will return to Earth … Before the big battle begins, all “true believers” will be lifted out of their clothes and wafted up to heaven during an event called the Rapture …&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">The environment does not matter because the Earth does not matter … all that does matter is the imminent return of the bloody Christ …&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">It is impossible not to be sensible that we are acting for all mankind; the circumstances denied to others but indulged to us have imposed on us a duty of proving what is the degree of freedom and self-government in which a society may venture to leave its individual members.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">I rejoice in this blessed country of free inquiry and belief, which has surrendered its creed and conscience neither to kings nor priests, the genuine doctrine of one only God [in contrast to the Trinity, or more generally that Jesus is somehow part God] is reviving, and I trust there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die an Unitarian.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Supernatural religion will fade from this world, and in its place we shall have reason.&nbsp; In place of the worship of something we know not of, will be the religion of mutual love and assistance — the great religion of reciprocity. &nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">It is the great multiplication of the productions of all the different arts, in consequence of the division of labor, which occasions, in a well-governed society, that universal opulence which extends itself to the lowest ranks of the people … Observe the accommodation of the most common artificer or day laborer in a civilized and thriving country, and you will perceive that the number of people of whose industry is a part, though but a small part, has been employed in procuring him this accommodation, exceeds all computation.&nbsp; The woolen coat, for example, which covers the day-laborer, as coarse and rough as it may seem, in the produce of the joint labor of a great multitude of workmen.&nbsp; The shepherd, the sorter of the wool, the wool-comber or carder, the dyer, the scribbler, the spinner, the weaver, the fuller, the dresser, with many others, must all join their different arts in order to complete even this homely production.&nbsp; How many merchants and carriers, besides, must have been employed … how much commerce and navigation … how many shipbuilders, sailors, sail-makers, rope makers …</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Religious and moral taboos, once dominant in America, have largely vanished.&nbsp; Writing about sex was formerly a crime; now nude lovemaking is common in R-rated movies.&nbsp; Gambling was a jail offense; now it’s operated by state governments.&nbsp; Unmarried couples who live together were arrested; now they’re casually accepted.&nbsp; Drinking alcohol was a crime; now it’s a social ritual.&nbsp; Abortion was a felony; now it’s a right guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court.&nbsp; Divorce was unthinkable; now it’s the end for more than half of marriages.&nbsp; Homosexuals were imprisoned; now they march for gay pride. &nbsp; Birth control was a crime; now it’s championed by the United Nations.&nbsp; Former Church’s “thou shalt nots” disappeared like frost in the sunshine.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Some say the world will end in fire,</em></p><p><em>Some say in ice.</em></p><p><em>From what I’ve tasted of desire</em></p><p><em>I hold with those who favor fire.</em></p><p><em>But if it had to perish twice</em></p><p><em>I think I know enough of hate</em></p><p><em>To know that for destruction ice</em></p><p><em>Is also great</em></p><p><em>And would suffice.</em></p>