THAT the corruption of the best things produces the worst, is grown into a maxim, and is commonly proved, among other instances, by the pernicious effects of superstition and enthusiasm, the corruptions of true religion.
I.X.2
These two species of false religion, though both pernicious,° are yet of a very different, and even of a contrary nature. The mind of man is subject to certain unaccountable terrors and apprehensions, proceeding either from the unhappy situation of private or public affairs, from ill health, from a gloomy and melancholy disposition, or from the concurrence of all these circumstances. In such a state of mind, infinite unknown evils are dreaded from unknown agents; and where real objects of terror are wanting, the soul, active to its own prejudice, and fostering its predominant inclination, finds imaginary ones, to whose power and malevolence it sets no limits. As these enemies are entirely invisible and unknown, the methods taken to appease them are equally unaccountable,° and consist in ceremonies, observances, mortifications, sacrifices, presents, or in any practice, however absurd or frivolous, which either folly or knavery recommends to a blind and terrified credulity.° Weakness, fear, melancholy, together with ignorance, are, therefore, the true sources of SUPERSTITION.
I.X.3
But the mind of man is also subject to an unaccountable elevation and presumption, arising from prosperous success, from luxuriant health, from strong spirits, or from a bold and confident disposition. In such a state of mind, the imagination swells with great, but confused conceptions, to which no sublunary° beauties or enjoyments can correspond. Every thing mortal and perishable vanishes as unworthy of attention. And a full range is given to the fancy in the invisible regions or world of spirits, where the soul is at liberty to indulge itself in every imagination, which may best suit its present taste and disposition. Hence arise raptures,° transports,° and surprising flights of fancy; and confidence and presumption still encreasing, these raptures, being altogether unaccountable, and seeming quite beyond the reach of our ordinary faculties, are attributed to the immediate inspiration of that Divine Being, who is the object of devotion. In a little time, the inspired person comes to regard himself as a distinguished favourite of the Divinity; and when this frenzy once takes place, which is the summit of enthusiasm, every whimsy is consecrated: Human reason, and even morality are rejected as fallacious guides: And the fanatic madman delivers himself over, blindly, and without reserve, to the supposed illapses° of the spirit, and to inspiration from above. Hope, pride, presumption, a warm imagination, together with ignorance, are, therefore, the true sources of ENTHUSIASM.
I.X.4
These two species of false religion might afford occasion to many speculations; but I shall confine myself, at present, to a few reflections concerning their different influence on government and society.
I.X.5
aMy first reflection is, That superstition is favourable to priestly power, and enthusiasm not less or rather more contrary to it, than sound reason and philosophy. As superstition is founded on fear, sorrow, and a depression of spirits, it represents the man to himself in such despicable colours, that he appears unworthy, in his own eyes, of approaching the divine presence, and naturally has recourse to any other person, whose sanctity of life, or, perhaps, impudence and cunning, have made him be supposed more favoured by the Divinity. To him the superstitious entrust their devotions: To his care they recommend their prayers, petitions, and sacrifices: And by his means, they hope to render their addresses° acceptable to their incensed° Deity. Hence the origin of PRIESTS,b who may justly be regardedc as an invention of a timorous and abject superstition, which, ever diffident° of itself, dares not offer up its own devotions, but ignorantly thinks to recommend itself to the Divinity, by the mediation of his supposed friends and servants. As superstition is a considerable ingredient in almost all religions, even the most fanatical; there being nothing but philosophy able entirely to conquer these unaccountable terrors; hence it proceeds, that in almost every sect of religion there are priests to be found: But the stronger mixture there is of superstition, the higher is the authority of the priesthood.d
ว่า ความเสียหายของสิ่งดีสร้างร้าย โตเป็นแม็ก และเป็นทั่วไป พิสูจน์ ระหว่างอินสแตนซ์อื่น ๆ ผลโทษของความเชื่อโชคลางและความกระตือรือร้น ความเสียหายของศาสนาที่แท้จริงI.X.2พันธุ์เหล่านี้สองศาสนาเท็จ ว่า°พิบัติ ทั้งยังแตกต่างกันมาก และแม้กระทั่งธรรมชาติตรงกันข้าม จิตใจของมนุษย์บาง unaccountable terrors และ apprehensions ดำเนินการต่อ จากสถานการณ์ไม่มีความสุขส่วนตัวหรือกิจการสาธารณะ จากป่วย จากการครอบครองที่มืดมน และทันที หรือ จาก concurrence สถานการณ์เหล่านี้ได้ ในดังกล่าวเป็นสภาวะของจิตใจ ความชั่วร้ายไม่รู้จักอนันต์มีหวั่นจากตัวแทนไม่ทราบ และที่จริงวัตถุของความหวาดกลัวต้อง จิตวิญญาณ การอคติของตนเอง และทำนุบำรุงความเอียงของกัน ค้นหาคนจินตภาพ การพลังงาน malevolence กำหนดก็ไม่มีข้อจำกัด ศัตรูเหล่านี้ มีทั้งหมดมองไม่เห็น และไม่รู้จัก วิธีการถ่ายทำพวกเขาให้เป็น° unaccountable เท่า ๆ กัน และประกอบพิธี observances, mortifications บูชา แสดง หรือ ในทาง ปฏิบัติใด ๆ ไม่ สำคัญ หรือไร้สาระแต่ว่าความเขลาหรือ knavery แนะนำให้ credulity ตาบอด และคนกลัว°อ่อนแอ ความกลัว ความเศร้าโศก พร้อม ด้วยความไม่รู้ ดัง แหล่งมาที่แท้จริงของความเชื่อโชคลางI.X.3But the mind of man is also subject to an unaccountable elevation and presumption, arising from prosperous success, from luxuriant health, from strong spirits, or from a bold and confident disposition. In such a state of mind, the imagination swells with great, but confused conceptions, to which no sublunary° beauties or enjoyments can correspond. Every thing mortal and perishable vanishes as unworthy of attention. And a full range is given to the fancy in the invisible regions or world of spirits, where the soul is at liberty to indulge itself in every imagination, which may best suit its present taste and disposition. Hence arise raptures,° transports,° and surprising flights of fancy; and confidence and presumption still encreasing, these raptures, being altogether unaccountable, and seeming quite beyond the reach of our ordinary faculties, are attributed to the immediate inspiration of that Divine Being, who is the object of devotion. In a little time, the inspired person comes to regard himself as a distinguished favourite of the Divinity; and when this frenzy once takes place, which is the summit of enthusiasm, every whimsy is consecrated: Human reason, and even morality are rejected as fallacious guides: And the fanatic madman delivers himself over, blindly, and without reserve, to the supposed illapses° of the spirit, and to inspiration from above. Hope, pride, presumption, a warm imagination, together with ignorance, are, therefore, the true sources of ENTHUSIASM.I.X.4These two species of false religion might afford occasion to many speculations; but I shall confine myself, at present, to a few reflections concerning their different influence on government and society.I.X.5aMy first reflection is, That superstition is favourable to priestly power, and enthusiasm not less or rather more contrary to it, than sound reason and philosophy. As superstition is founded on fear, sorrow, and a depression of spirits, it represents the man to himself in such despicable colours, that he appears unworthy, in his own eyes, of approaching the divine presence, and naturally has recourse to any other person, whose sanctity of life, or, perhaps, impudence and cunning, have made him be supposed more favoured by the Divinity. To him the superstitious entrust their devotions: To his care they recommend their prayers, petitions, and sacrifices: And by his means, they hope to render their addresses° acceptable to their incensed° Deity. Hence the origin of PRIESTS,b who may justly be regardedc as an invention of a timorous and abject superstition, which, ever diffident° of itself, dares not offer up its own devotions, but ignorantly thinks to recommend itself to the Divinity, by the mediation of his supposed friends and servants. As superstition is a considerable ingredient in almost all religions, even the most fanatical; there being nothing but philosophy able entirely to conquer these unaccountable terrors; hence it proceeds, that in almost every sect of religion there are priests to be found: But the stronger mixture there is of superstition, the higher is the authority of the priesthood.d
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