"Of Superstition and Enthusiasm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

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 with out
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.

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.

My 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,[2] who may justly be regarded 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.[3]

On the other hand, it may be observed, that all enthusiasts