No Ideas Should Be Immune to Criticism

There is no system either of education, politics, or religion,
which ought to be excepted from the severest scrutiny of the human
mind, or the closest examination which the human faculties can bestow
upon it; yet habit and custom of long duration have so strongly
attached man to his errors, that he reluctantly relinquishes those
tenets which serve only to disturb his peace, and destroy his
happiness; while the privileged impostors of the world, or those who
feast upon the continuation or error and prejudice, unite their
strongest exertions to persuade man that his most important interests
in time and eternity depend upon the preservation of ancient and
unnatural establishments; which, in fact, are as destructive to human
felicity, as they are derogatory to the divine purity of supreme
intelligence. The influence of authority, the fear of incurring
clerical displeasure, and the dread of eternal torments, have
partially annihilated the energy of intellectual powers, and taught
man tremblingly to submit to the grossest imposition.

 --Elihu Palmer (1764-1806), Principles of Nature; or, A Development of the Moral Causes of Happiness and Misery Among the Human Species  

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