To the Atheist all gods are fancies, mere delusions (not _illusions_), like the philosopher's stone, witchcraft, astrology, holy water and miracles.

I am as much entitled to ridicule the gods of Christianity as any other Freethinker is entitled to ridicule the miracles at Lourdes; and when 'taste' is dragged into the question, I simply reply that there is as much ill taste in the one case as in the other.
All that this 'taste' can mean is that no devout delusion should be ridiculed, which is itself one of the greatest pieces of absurdity ever perpetrated.

It would shield every form of 'spiritual' lunacy in the world.
"These squeamish Freethinkers don't object to ridicule in politics, literature or social life.

They rather approve _Punch_ and the other comic journals, even when these satirise living persons who feel the sting.

Why, then, do they object to ridicule in religion?
Simply because they still _feel_ that there is something sacred about it.