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