Verses Across™
  • Atheist, agnostic, deist and skeptic writers. Verses Across shows each tradition in its own words. This section holds the classic public-domain writing of those who questioned or rejected religion.

      • 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102

Themes · What’s new · About, terms & privacy · ·
Also from us: Verses Across ↗ (the world's scriptures)

Freethought · Atheism

Superstition in All Ages 20XXIII.—What Is the Metaphysical God of Modern Theology?

18

Freethought · Atheism

Superstition in All Ages 20

XXIII.—What Is the Metaphysical God of Modern Theology?

KnoopEnglish
The material Jupiter of the ancients could move, build up, destroy, and propagate beings similar to himself; but the God of modern theology is a sterile being. According to his supposed nature he can neither occupy any place, nor move matter, nor produce a visible world, nor propagate either men or Gods. The metaphysical God is a workman without hands; he is able but to produce clouds, suspicions, reveries, follies, and quarrels.
XXIV.--IT WOULD BE MORE RATIONAL TO WORSHIP THE SUN THAN A SPIRITUAL GOD.
Since it was necessary for men to have a God, why did they not have the sun, the visible God, adored by so many nations? What being had more right to the homage of mortals than the star of the day, which gives light and heat; which invigorates all beings; whose presence reanimates and rejuvenates nature; whose absence seems to plunge her into sadness and languor? If some being bestowed upon men power, activity, benevolence, strength, it was no doubt the sun, which should be recognized as the father of nature, as the soul of the world, as Divinity. At least one could not without folly dispute his existence, or refuse to recognize his influence and his benefits.

Spotted a mistake or have an idea?

Superstition in All Ages 19Superstition in All Ages 21
Sources & credits: Knoop

Knoop — Superstition in All Ages (Jean Meslier, translated by Anna Knoop) (1729). Public Domain. Jean Meslier, translated by Anna Knoop, Superstition in All Ages; public domain in the US; text from Project Gutenberg #17607. Source

Freethought · Atheism

Superstition in All Ages 21

KnoopEnglish