Religious bigotry

Various causes have operated to impid mankind in their
the march of civilization, and to chain the mind into that state
of degradation and ignorance, which long held the nations
of Europe, [and from which many of them are not yet freed.]
In serveying these causes, the mind is arrested with the predom
inent influence of religious begotry. We speak not of
that independent religious opinion, which influences a man
to cherish his own sentiment, and honestly to differ
from that of others; but of that blind and furious zeal attach
ment to any particular tenet, creating ill will towards
their its antagonist. That furious zeal, which has laid
the distructive foundation for persecution, and
has at times subverted all that is prosperous in national
existance, all that is enabling in truth, all that is tender
and ameable to benevolence. That any man or set
of men bound to a system with a religious name,
should yet act counter to the first principle of
natural and revealed religion, could hardly
be credited, did not the most authentic history give
too painful evedence of its truth. An instance
of the effect of religious begotry in subverting national pros
perity, we have in the expulsion from Spain, of
nearly one million of Jews and Moors, by Philip 3^rd.
These Moors, the descendants of the conquerers of spain,
had long since been in subjection to the Spanish Crown,
and their number so much reduced, as to be incapable,
had they had a disposition, of overthrowing Spanish author
ity. They together with the Jews had embraced the
Catholice faith, [the religion of the Empire] and were known by the name of the new christians.
Their occupation in life was far from indicating
any war-like design. So skilled were they in the
art, so and enterprizing in commerce, so deligent in trade and
in agriculture, that the Empire was at once increasing in
wealth, and growing in strength. They desired no other
privelege than the enjoyment of their private
opinion, and the persuit of their business. Such
subjects, [we should think] a wise and magnanimous
Prince would have encouraged in their calling, and
protected in the enjoyment of their religious
sentiment, even thought they had professed a
belief different from the popular faith. But prudence,
wisdom and magnanimity must yield, when
frantic begotry is on the throne. Urged on
by an by a priesthood of begots, charging these
new christians with hipocracy, Philip expels
from his dominion, his most industrious subjects.
The effects of which, in weakening and impoverishing
the Spanish monarchy, are felt to the present times.
It was this same religious mania, which possessed
the mind of Charles V. to gratify the Papal court,
by h issuing his famous proclaimation against the protes
tants of the Netherlands, and establishing the tri
bunals of the inquisition in those provinces.
The effect of this unwise and impolitic measure
was the emigration from those provinces, of
wealthy and manufacturers and merchants, and
the consequent weakening and impoverishing of
that part of his empire.

While we see religious begotry thus rising, [to such a height, as] and
sometimes to overthrow national prosperity, if we view
its influence on truth and benevolence, we shall see it
defeating the energy of the one, and expeling the ten
derness of the other. To see it exerting its p frantick strength
and trampling on whatever is enobling in human nature, go
to these tribunal engines of popish cruelty, the tribunals
of the inquisition. Yes go to those productions of pride,
and begotry; mark well their inexorable judges; follow their
insidious spies; examine their dungeons, their
instruments of torture; witness their mock trials,
their disregard of truth and justice; lissen to the
groans and shrieks of the unhappy victims, and then
learn the tender mercy of this religious franzy
where it sways the passions of men in power.

Its bainful influence is not less to be gaurded
against, in the more private circles. Where it pre
vails in a community, however small, though it
may not banish useful cytizens, not erect an in
quisition, supported by falsthood, robery and blood;
yet it may disturb social intercourse; it may distroy the har
mony of families, and loosen the bond of friend
ship. [Happy then the bosom, exempt from
Religious begotry.]

Finis. March 26^th 1828