The Daily Scroll September 2, 2022
Another insight from Baron D'Holbach and a quote from Baruch Spinoza
The Daily Text
Good Sense by Baron D’Holbach
What is theology?
There is a science that has for its object only things incomprehensible. Contrary to all other sciences, it treats only what cannot fall under our senses. Hobbes calls it the kingdom of darkness. It is a country where everything is governed by laws contrary to those that mankind is permitted to know in the world they inhabit. In this marvelous region, light is only darkness; the evidence is doubtful or false; impossibilities are credible: reason is a deceitful guide, and good sense becomes madness. This science is called theology, and this theology is a continual insult to the reason of man.
Daily Quotes
Today we have two quotes from Baruch Spinoza, a 17th Century Dutch philosopher.
Every church became a theatre, where orators, instead of church teachers, harangued, caring not to instruct the people, but striving to attract admiration, to bring opponents to public scorn, and to preach only novelties and paradoxes, such as would tickle the ears of their congregation.
I start from the natural rights of the individual, which are co-extensive with his desires and power, and from the fact that no one is bound to live as another pleases, but is the guardian of his own liberty and from the fact that no one is bound to live as another pleases but is the guardian of his own liberty that they best retain this right and secure safety to their state by allowing every man to think what he likes, and say what he thinks.
It would improve our lives if we would keep the natural rights of others in mind. People are free to think and live as they please so long as it doesn’t interfere with another’s natural rights.
I hope you got some benefit from today’s update. Have a nice weekend and I will be back on Monday.