 in the latter country, there is still bitter feeling against Jews because of their traits, which are encouraged and promoted largely by their religion.
Common people, either privately or publicly, usually applaud the ability of "smart" people to deceive others by tricks. The ethics or morals of the case are lost sight of and the point which seems to please the common public is the cleverness of the deceit or trick by which some dishonesty is practiced. This trait is well illustrated by the folk tales of Reynard the Fox and by such stories of bandits and robbers as Robin Hood, Pancho Villa, and many others. Youngsters especially have made heroes out of the most criminal types of gangsters in the United States, and the acts of rebels who murder their way to control of the country, such as the so-called presidents of many South American countries, are condoned, and the United States Government recognizes these bandits and rebellious anti-Government leaders who gain control of their countries by killing the presidents in power. Coups d'état are considered clever moves and the deceit or fraud or violence is not condemned by either the people or the United States Government, a so-called just government, or by the churches. If the churches were following out certain of the practices which they represent themselves as preaching, they would object to the access of power by the use of violence and would condemn and refuse to support any such methods or the leaders thereof.
The Bible is full of practices of deceit, trickery, and dishonesty; and these examples have been held up for the Jews especially to read. They cannot be blamed if they follow the example set before them by the book which they consider holy. They and many Christians like to boast of the clever tricks they have used to put something over on someone else to defraud him or to get more for an article than it is worth. There are almost no precepts in the Old Testament of the benefits of giving the other party to the transaction a fair and square deal.
According to Christian policies, a man who refuses to believe what the priests, preacher, or rabbi tells him, is more apt to burn in hell for eternity than if he tricks his neighbors, and it has been common practice for the church to excuse criminals, if they confess their wrongdoing, do some petty penance, and make a contribution to the church. The churches are full of rascals and hypocrites and this is generally known. The worst politicians and grafters usually have a church affiliation. If the churches lived up to the highest moral and ethical principles, they would refuse to permit such persons to fill their pews.
In the Freethinkers Bulletin, Volume 7, No. 6-7, Joseph Lewis, one of the foremost Freethought leaders in the world and a stalwart defender of atheism and the separation of church and state, among other criticisms of other religions, says, "I am not fighting to perpetuate Judaism -- I think it has brought a form of insanity to mankind."
A form of insanity, indeed -- this, and all religions, many or all of which have steeped the world in blood.
Religion is Aided and
Subsidized by Selfish
One of the biggest rackets on earth is the Christmas racket, exceeded only by the religious racket itself. At Christmas time people go wild buying and sending presents and cards to their friends. They pay exorbitant prices, spend needlessly, and give useless, impractical gifts.
But this is the harvest, and the Jews, who have rejected Christ, profit amazingly by selling Christmas goods to the Gentiles during the season.
Every merchant and manufacturer spends huge sums on advertising Christmas gifts and boosting Christmas, generally because it means profits in his pocket. It is a harvest time.
At Easter, the people are led to the purchase of new clothes and presents.
The result of the celebration of these religious festivals is a substantial income to the commercial interests which profit from them, so Christianity gets a promotion and an advertisement because it benefits the merchant class in addition to the priest class, wh