H.L. Mencken on Religion

H.L. Mencken on Religion

No one ever argued more forcefully or with such acerbicwit against the foolish aspects of religion as H.L. Mencken. As ajournalist, he gained national prominence through his newspapercolumns describing the famous 1925 Scopes trial, which pittedreligious fundamentalists against a public school teacher who dared toteach evolution. But both before and after the Scopes trial, Menckenspent much of his career as a columnist and book reviewer lampooningthe ignorant piety of gullible Americans.<P>S.T. Joshi has brought together and organized many of Mencken'swritings on religion in this provocative and entertaining collection.The articles presented here include satirical accounts of a range ofthe religious phenomena of his time. On a more serious note are hisdiscussions of the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche and thescientific worldview as a rival to religious belief. Also includedare poignant autobiographical accounts of Mencken's own upbringing andhis core beliefs on religion, ethics, and politics.<P>H.L. Mencken knew that satire, wit, and clever jesting were the mosteffective ways to battle religious folly, and he used these weapons totheir fullest extent in writings spanning almost three decades.