HKB
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Often appears with: religious persecution and toleration · justice as a virtue · fate, destiny, and necessity · conversion and faith · worship of one god · war as corruption · types of religious people · truth and dispute · true religion vs idolatry · translation and the transmission of texts · the problem of evil and theodicy · sea and fishing
Usually: censure (5) · argument (4) · skepticism (3) · narrative (2) · reflection (2) · crisis of belief (2) · injustice endured (1) · the stranger's arrival (1) · the test or trial (1) · curiosity (1)
“It is a fact that Octavius Avitus, deputy governor of the province, actuated by an absurd piece of superstition, poured some ointment over him as he lay on the shore: the novelty and smell of which made him retire into the ocean.” Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus), Letters of Pliny · observation
“Custom is the source of our strongest and most believed proofs. It bends the automaton, which persuades the mind without its thinking about the matter.” Blaise Pascal, Pascal's Pensées · insight
“Superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an absolute monarchy, in the minds of men.” Francis Bacon, The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral · observation
“Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?” John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners · observation
“One asks why the ancients thought that the eye of the envious man bewitched those who looked at it. It is the envious, rather, who are bewitched.” Voltaire, Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary · insight
She links the “purple” of court and the rise of luxury and superstition to the corrupting effects of civilization, argues against Rousseau’s backward turn, and calls for a truer understanding of human perfection in just society.
of ambition. The indolent puppet of a court first becomes a luxurious monster, or fastidious sensualist, and then makes the contagion which his unnatural state spreads, the instrument of tyranny. (*Footnote. Men of abilities scatter seeds that grow up, and have a great influence on the forming opinion; and when once the public opinion preponderates, through the exertion of reason, the overthrow of arbitrary power i…
Bunyan explains how his wife’s religious books and stories created desires for churchgoing and superstition, including veneration of priests, mistaken confidence in being among God’s people, and later conscience-guilt from a Sabbath sermon.
such a One, or no. *Thus man*, *while blind*, *doth wander*, *but wearieth himself with vanity*, _for he knoweth not the way to the city of God_. Eccles. x. 15. 20. But one day (amongst all the sermons our parson made) his subject was, to treat of the Sabbath day, and of the evil of breaking that, either with labour, sports or otherwise. (Now, I was, notwithstanding my religion, one that took much delight in all m…
Calvin contrasts true religion with idolatry: worship must belong to God alone, since Scripture’s claim of one God excludes transferring divine honors, and “superstition” corrupts worship by disorder and false gods.
Supremely Worshipped. We said, at the beginning, that the knowledge of God consists not in frigid speculation, but is accompanied by the worship of him. We also cursorily touched on the right method of worshipping him, which will be more fully explained in other places. I now only repeat, in few words, that whenever the Scripture asserts that there is but one God, it contends not for the bare name, but also teaches,…
Pascal distinguishes faith from proof, criticizes superstition and pride, explains how custom shapes belief and converts the mind’s reasons into stable conviction, and classifies people into three spiritual types.
248 *A letter which indicates the use of proofs by the machine.*--Faith is different from proof; the one is human, the other is a gift of God. *Justus ex fide vivit.*[97] It is this faith that God Himself puts into the heart, of which the proof is often the instrument, _fides ex auditu_;[98] but this faith is in the heart, and makes us not say *scio*, but *credo*. 249 It is superstition to put one's hope in formal…
Pliny tells Caninius about a dolphin in Africa near Hippo that repeatedly saved and carried boys swimming until superstition led authorities to kill it, then asks how it might be vividly narrated.
when we may meet to discuss these matters in person: you will then either teach me to be less daring or I shall teach you to be more bold. Farewell. CVII -- To CANINIUS
Voltaire argues that “envious” people—not the envious man’s eye—are the ones who are bewitched, using examples and proverbs to criticize superstition and envy.
One asks why the ancients thought that the eye of the envious man bewitched those who looked at it. It is the envious, rather, who are bewitched. Descartes says: "That envy impels the yellow bile which comes from the lower part of the liver, and the black bile which comes from the spleen, which is diffused from the heart through the arteries, etc." But as no kind of bile is formed in the spleen, Descartes, by speaki…
Voltaire ridicules the purported Indian text “Ezourveidam,” describing it as an ancient Brahmin commentary in the French king’s library, and turns to skepticism about whether Jews copied Indians or vice versa.
know if literature does good to a nation; compare the two extremes, Cicero and an uncouth ignoramus. See if it is Pliny or Attila who caused the fall of Rome. One asks if one should encourage superstition in the people; see above all what is most extreme in this disastrous matter, St. Bartholomew, the massacres in Ireland, the crusades; the question is soon answered. Is there any truth in metaphysics? Seize first o…
He contrasts atheism and superstition: he prefers disbelief to a contemptuous god-concept, says atheism leaves room for laws and morals, and claims superstition drives states into confusion, guided by the people and prelates.
gentis et terrae domestico nativoque sensu Italos ipsos et Latinos; sed pietate, ac religione, atque hac una sapientia, quod deorum immortalium numine omnia regi gubernarique perspeximus, omnes gentes nationesque superavimus. Of Superstition IT WERE better to have no opinion of God at all, than such an opinion, as is unworthy of him. For the one is unbelief, the other is contumely; and certainly superstition is the…