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Sol Invictus

Posted by James Vinson Wingo on December 25, 1997 at 03:48:19:

Sol Invictus

Again we celebrate the victory of Light over Darkness,
of the God of day over the hosts of night. Again Samson
is victorious over Delilah, and Hercules triumphs once
more over Omphale. In the embrace of Isis, Osiris rises
from the dead, and the scowling Typhon is defeated once
more. Again Apollo, with unerring aim, with his arrow
from the quiver of light, destroys the serpent of
shadow. This is the festival of Thor, of Baldur and of
Prometheus. Again Buddha by a miracle escapes from the
tyrant of Madura, Zoroaster foils the King, Bacchus
laughs at the rage of Cadmus, and Chrishna eludes the
tyrant.

This is the festival of the sun-god, and as such let
its observance be universal.

This is the great day of the first religion, the mother
of all religions—the worship of the sun.

Sun worship is not only the first, but the most natural
and most reasonable of all. And not only the most
natural and the most reasonable, but by far the most
poetic, the most beautiful.

The sun is the god of benefits, of growth, of life, of
warmth, of happiness, of joy. The sun is the all-seeing,
the all-pitying, the all-loving.

This bright God knew no hatred, no malice, never sought
for revenge.

All evil qualities were in the breast of the God of
darkness, of shadow, of night. And so I say again, this
is the festival of light. This is the anniversary of
the triumph of the Sun over the hosts of Darkness.

Let us all hope for the triumph of Light—of Right and
Reason— for the victory of Fact over Falsehood, of
Science over Superstition.

And so hoping, let us celebrate the venerable festival
of the Sun.

Robert G. Ingersoll, originally published as
“The Agnostic Christmas,” in The Journal, New York,
December 25, 1892: p. 477 of The Works of Robert G.
Ingersoll, Vol. 11, NY, 1900, pp. 375-376:

What I Want for Christmas

If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for
next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors
resign and allow the people to govern themselves.

I would have all the nobility drop their titles and
give their lands back to the people. I would have the
Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred
vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God—is
not infallible—but is just an ordinary Italian. I would
have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests
and clergymen admit that they know nothing about
theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about
the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or
ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all
their “flocks” to think for themselves, to be manly men
and womanly women, and to do all in their power to
increase the sum of human happiness.

I would have all the professors in colleges, all the
teachers in schools of every kind, including those in
Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what
they know, that they would not palm off guesses as
demonstrated truths.

I would like to see all the politicians changed to
statesmen,—to men who long to make their country great
and free,—to men who care more for public good than
private gain—men who long to be of use.

I would like to see all the editors of papers and
magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the
truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentations, and
to let the private affairs of the people alone.

I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both
abolished.

I would like to see corporal punishment done away with
in every home, in every school, in every asylum,
reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades,
kindness reforms and ennobles.

I would like to see the millionaires unite and form a
trust for the public good.

I would like to see a fair division of profits between
capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough
to mingle a little June with the December of his life.

I would like to see an international court established
in which to settle disputes between nations, so that
armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed
to rust and rot in perfect peace.

I would like to see the whole world free—free from
injustice—free from superstition.

This will do for next Christmas. The following
Christmas, I may want more.

Robert G. Ingersoll, The Arena, Boston, December, 1897.

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: Sol Invictus : Again we celebrate the victory of Light over Darkness, : of the God of day over the hosts of night. Again Samson : is victorious over Delilah, and Hercules triumphs once : more over Omphale. In the embrace of Isis, Osiris rises : from the dead, and the scowling Typhon is defeated once : more. Again Apollo, with unerring aim, with his arrow : from the quiver of light, destroys the serpent of : shadow. This is the festival of Thor, of Baldur and of : Prometheus. Again Buddha by a miracle escapes from the : tyrant of Madura, Zoroaster foils the King, Bacchus : laughs at the rage of Cadmus, and Chrishna eludes the : tyrant. : This is the festival of the sun-god, and as such let : its observance be universal. : This is the great day of the first religion, the mother : of all religions—the worship of the sun. : Sun worship is not only the first, but the most natural : and most reasonable of all. And not only the most : natural and the most reasonable, but by far the most : poetic, the most beautiful. : The sun is the god of benefits, of growth, of life, of : warmth, of happiness, of joy. The sun is the all-seeing, : the all-pitying, the all-loving. : This bright God knew no hatred, no malice, never sought : for revenge. : All evil qualities were in the breast of the God of : darkness, of shadow, of night. And so I say again, this : is the festival of light. This is the anniversary of : the triumph of the Sun over the hosts of Darkness. : Let us all hope for the triumph of Light—of Right and : Reason— for the victory of Fact over Falsehood, of : Science over Superstition. : And so hoping, let us celebrate the venerable festival : of the Sun. : : Robert G. Ingersoll, originally published as : “The Agnostic Christmas,” in The Journal, New York, : December 25, 1892: p. 477 of The Works of Robert G. : Ingersoll, Vol. 11, NY, 1900, pp. 375-376: : : What I Want for Christmas : If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for : next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors : resign and allow the people to govern themselves. : I would have all the nobility drop their titles and : give their lands back to the people. I would have the : Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred : vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God—is : not infallible—but is just an ordinary Italian. I would : have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests : and clergymen admit that they know nothing about : theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about : the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or : ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all : their “flocks” to think for themselves, to be manly men : and womanly women, and to do all in their power to : increase the sum of human happiness. : I would have all the professors in colleges, all the : teachers in schools of every kind, including those in : Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what : they know, that they would not palm off guesses as : demonstrated truths. : I would like to see all the politicians changed to : statesmen,—to men who long to make their country great : and free,—to men who care more for public good than : private gain—men who long to be of use. : I would like to see all the editors of papers and : magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the : truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentations, and : to let the private affairs of the people alone. : I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both : abolished. : I would like to see corporal punishment done away with : in every home, in every school, in every asylum, : reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades, : kindness reforms and ennobles. : I would like to see the millionaires unite and form a : trust for the public good. : I would like to see a fair division of profits between : capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough : to mingle a little June with the December of his life. : I would like to see an international court established : in which to settle disputes between nations, so that : armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed : to rust and rot in perfect peace. : I would like to see the whole world free—free from : injustice—free from superstition. : This will do for next Christmas. The following : Christmas, I may want more. : Robert G. Ingersoll, The Arena, Boston, December, 1897.