DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6914#0036
4
INTRODUCTION.
Thus, whether the sanguinary demon Superstition immolates his victims at the
altars of Moloch, of Diana, or of Woden,—of the idols of the South Seas, or the
monsters of Indian mythology,—whether he condemns the wretched oriental
ascetic to brutalizing penances, or debars the Roman Catholic votary from the
enjoyment of natural affections, and the endearing relations of humanity,—the
eye of philosophy detects in all these various disguises the same irrational and
absurd principles; and the benevolent heart cannot but lament their influence over
the great mass of mankind.
Such are the sentiments with which the author undertakes a cursory view of
the establishment, progress, and influence of religion in this country. He will
therefore evince little veneration for institutions founded in the name, and not
in the spirit of Christianity; little respect for the ignorant credulity, miscalled
faith, of savages ; and still less for the assumed sanctity of those ancient devotees
whose useless and disgusting penances, absurd mortifications and impudent
impostures, occupy so considerable a part of our old legends. But while, in
endeavouring to elicit truth, we are obliged to censure systems and establishments,
let us remember that the conscientious adherents to faulty institutions are not
always to be included in the censure due to their authors. It is necessary to
distinguish between the profession and its votaries. Monachism is not calculated
to increase genuine piety, yet many monks have been pious. Every ordinance of
superstition is baneful to the human mind, as calculated to cramp its energies, and
pervert its powers ; yet superstitious persons often perform benevolent and
honourable actions. Our Roman Catholic brethren, it is generally believed, enter-
tain erroneous opinions of the head of their church, and of his attributes; and
these errors produce a multitude of others : yet they agree with the Protestants
in many essential practical points of religion, and it is probable, that if eccle-
siastical interests, of a temporal nature, were not involved in such errors, their
doctrines would not long continue to differ from those of the Church of England.
It is not proposed in the present inquiry to investigate the Druidical superstition
of our British ancestors, or the fabulous mythology of their Roman conquerors ;
both gradually yielded to the mild influence of Christianity in the course of
the century succeeding the termination of our Saviour's mission. Whether the
Britons originally received the gospel from St. Peter, St. Paul, Joseph of
Arimathea, or from the family of Caractacus, we shall not attempt to ascertain ;
since the best evidence is unsatisfactory, and the decision, unimportant. It is
INTRODUCTION.
Thus, whether the sanguinary demon Superstition immolates his victims at the
altars of Moloch, of Diana, or of Woden,—of the idols of the South Seas, or the
monsters of Indian mythology,—whether he condemns the wretched oriental
ascetic to brutalizing penances, or debars the Roman Catholic votary from the
enjoyment of natural affections, and the endearing relations of humanity,—the
eye of philosophy detects in all these various disguises the same irrational and
absurd principles; and the benevolent heart cannot but lament their influence over
the great mass of mankind.
Such are the sentiments with which the author undertakes a cursory view of
the establishment, progress, and influence of religion in this country. He will
therefore evince little veneration for institutions founded in the name, and not
in the spirit of Christianity; little respect for the ignorant credulity, miscalled
faith, of savages ; and still less for the assumed sanctity of those ancient devotees
whose useless and disgusting penances, absurd mortifications and impudent
impostures, occupy so considerable a part of our old legends. But while, in
endeavouring to elicit truth, we are obliged to censure systems and establishments,
let us remember that the conscientious adherents to faulty institutions are not
always to be included in the censure due to their authors. It is necessary to
distinguish between the profession and its votaries. Monachism is not calculated
to increase genuine piety, yet many monks have been pious. Every ordinance of
superstition is baneful to the human mind, as calculated to cramp its energies, and
pervert its powers ; yet superstitious persons often perform benevolent and
honourable actions. Our Roman Catholic brethren, it is generally believed, enter-
tain erroneous opinions of the head of their church, and of his attributes; and
these errors produce a multitude of others : yet they agree with the Protestants
in many essential practical points of religion, and it is probable, that if eccle-
siastical interests, of a temporal nature, were not involved in such errors, their
doctrines would not long continue to differ from those of the Church of England.
It is not proposed in the present inquiry to investigate the Druidical superstition
of our British ancestors, or the fabulous mythology of their Roman conquerors ;
both gradually yielded to the mild influence of Christianity in the course of
the century succeeding the termination of our Saviour's mission. Whether the
Britons originally received the gospel from St. Peter, St. Paul, Joseph of
Arimathea, or from the family of Caractacus, we shall not attempt to ascertain ;
since the best evidence is unsatisfactory, and the decision, unimportant. It is