Abstract
Towards the end of the Natural History of Religion Hume’s passionate hostility to the mischief brought about by popular religion explodes into oratory:
What a noble privilege it is of human reason to attain the knowledge of the supreme Being; and, from the visible works of nature, be enabled to infer so sublime a principle as its supreme Creator? But turn the reverse of the medal. Survey most nations and most ages. Examine the religious principles, which have, in fact, prevailed in the world. You will scarcely be persuaded, that they are any thing but sick men’s dreams…. What so pure as some of the morals, included in some theological systems? What so corrupt as some of the practices, to which these systems give rise? N.H.R., 75f
What have we sons of God to do with morality!
Nietzsche
Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.
Lucretius
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Notes
Cf. J. Kahl, The Misery of Christianity (London, 1971) ch. 1.
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© 1988 J. C. A. Gaskin
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Gaskin, J.C.A. (1988). The Corruptions Caused by Religion. In: Hume’s Philosophy of Religion. Library of Philosophy and Religion. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-18936-6_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-18936-6_11
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