Where did that doctrine of eternal punishment for men & women & children come from? It came from the low & beastly skull of that wretch in the dug-out. Where did he get it? It was a souvenir from the animals. The doctrine of eternal punishment was born in the glittering eyes of snakes - snakes that hung in fearful coils watching for their prey. It was born of the howl & bark & growl of wild beasts. It was born of the grin of hyenas & of the depraved chatter of unclean baboons. I despise it with every drop of my blood. Tell me there is a God in the serene heavens that will damn his children for the expression of an honest belief! More men have died in their sins, judged by your orthodox creeds, than there are leaves on all the forests in the wide world ten thousand times over. Tell me these men are in hell; that these men are in torment; that these children are in eternal pain, & that they are to be punished forever & forever! I denounce this doctrine as the most infamous of lies.