Religion
‹ 2 · Outline · 4 ›
3.Faith, reason and revelation
3a.Faith as gift and trust beyond reason
See also: Reasoning 7c
Paul, The First Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 492–493Faith rests on the power of God, not on persuasive human words; Christ crucified is preached to Jews and Greeks.read · scan
- p. 508Faith, hope and love abide; spiritual gifts are valued by how they edify the church.read · scan
- p. 514–515Exhortation to stand fast in the faith, greetings between churches, anathema on those who love not the Lord, grace benediction.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 520–521Walk by faith, not sight; fear of the Lord; the believer a new creature.read · scan
- p. 531–532Test yourselves whether you are in the faith; Christ crucified in weakness lives by God's power; closing blessing.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 371The centurion's humble faith in Jesus' word is praised as greater than any in Israel.read · scan
- p. 373Faith is said to save the woman; her devotion contrasts with the Pharisee's formal religion.read · scan
- p. 374–375Faith and hearing God's word; the disciples rebuked for lacking faith when Jesus calms the storm.read · scan
- p. 376–377Faith heals: 'thy faith hath made thee whole'; 'Fear not: only believe.'read · scan
- p. 398–399Faith like a mustard seed works wonders; the healed leper's faith makes him whole and he returns to give thanks.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 428Peter attributes the cure to faith in Jesus's name, not to their own power or godliness, and calls hearers to repent.read · scan
- p. 476–477Paul serves God according to the Way and the prophets.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 84Catholic faith, which asks belief in undemonstrated things, seems more honest than the Manichees' false promise of certain knowledge; Scripture's authority persuades him.read · scan
- p. 105–106Faith in Christ, Scripture and the Church's authority holds him steady toward salvation.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 9Aeneas and Paul journeyed there, Paul to bring assurance of the faith that is the entrance to salvation.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 170Virgil is excluded from Heaven only for lack of faith, not sin; the three holy virtues unknown to him.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 289Union of God and human nature will be seen; what is now held by faith will be plain.read · scan
- p. 370Ripheus and Trajan were Christians by firm faith; lively hope and prayer redeemed Trajan.read · scan
- p. 370–374Ripheus's faith in the coming redemption; Faith, Hope and Charity his sponsors.read · scan
- p. 387Peter is asked to examine Dante on faith; faith peoples heaven with citizens and Dante must profess it as a good Christian.read · scan
- p. 387Dante defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and proof of things unseen, grounded in Scripture and miracles.read · scan
- p. 387His creed is confessed to St. Peter and approved by the apostolic radiance.read · scan
- p. 391Dante defines hope as sure expectance of joy to come from grace and merit, drawing on David and James, with Scripture promising the saints' garments.read · scan
- p. 419Saints of Old and New Testament are arranged by faith in Christ; infants saved by parents' faith.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 217–218Reason and experience must be subject to Christ and exalted by love of God.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 181–182The ship inscribed 'I am Faith' admits only those steadfast in belief in Christ; Galahad blesses himself and enters.read · scan
- p. 187–189The ship declares 'I am but Faith and Belief'; Solomon is abashed and dares not enter.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 347–348Belief and faith mean trust in a person; Christian 'believing in' means acknowledgment of doctrine, which occasions disputes about the object of faith.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 383–384The anchor seal keeps faith secure amid winds and waves.read · scan
René Descartes, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the SciencesVol. 34
- p. 21He adheres to the Faith in which he was raised by God's grace.read · scan
- p. 25Truths of Faith have ever held first place in his belief and are set apart from his doubting.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 259Browne desires to exercise faith on the hardest mysteries and thanks God he lived not in the days of miracles.read · scan
- p. 260–261Faith is a buckler; believing what is contrary to reason and sense is the height of faith.read · scan
- p. 290Christian hope of a life to come makes death tolerable and fear of it inexcusable.read · scan
- p. 298–299Faith concerns things beyond possibility and reason; believing only possibilities is mere philosophy.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 68Religion must be put into mind by reason and heart by grace, never by force; it must be shown venerable, lovable, true.read · scan
- p. 82–83Envies those who live in faith carelessly, wasting the gift.read · scan
- p. 84By faith we know His existence; in glory we shall know His nature.read · scan
- p. 84Christians profess a faith they cannot give reason for, calling it foolishness; lacking proofs is not lacking sense.read · scan
- p. 86Advises unbelievers to act as believers do, taking holy water and having masses said, so that practice produces faith.read · scan
- p. 92Faith is a gift of God distinct from proof, which is often merely its instrument; outward forms avoid both superstition and pride.read · scan
- p. 96Without hunger for spiritual things we weary of them, as hunger renews appetite for food.read · scan
- p. 97Submission is the use of reason in which true Christianity consists.read · scan
- p. 98–99Faith is defined as God felt by the heart.read · scan
- p. 99Faith is a gift of God, not of reasoning; knowledge of God is far from love of Him.read · scan
- p. 100Those given religion by intuition are fortunate; others need reasoning until God gives insight, without which faith is only human and useless.read · scan
- p. 100–101Simple people believe without reasoning because God inclines their heart; religion suits all kinds of minds.read · scan
- p. 101Those holy in disposition believe without reading scripture, feeling God made them and that Christianity fits their heart.read · scan
- p. 101–102Christians without proofs judge their religion by the heart as others by intellect; God Himself inclines them.read · scan
- p. 136Faith needed to reach the happiness all seek.read · scan
- p. 145Two truths of faith rest on the authority of religion.read · scan
- p. 183–184Darkness and divine appearances together teach human unworthiness.read · scan
- p. 185Grace, not reason, makes believers follow; lust, not reason, makes others shun faith.read · scan
- p. 191–192Christianity alone affirms the hidden God; partial revelation is advantageous to man.read · scan
- p. 192Christianity, rich in miracles and wisdom, declares only the foolishness of the cross can lead to knowing and loving God.read · scan
- p. 192Our religion is wise, being founded on miracles and prophecies, yet foolish since the cross, not proofs, makes believers.read · scan
- p. 234Faith sees history of Herod and Caesar gloriously; Jewish zeal for law and temple.read · scan
- p. 235Seeing with the eyes of faith; Jewish zeal for the law after prophets ceased.read · scan
- p. 275It is absurd to take offence at Christ's lowliness, since His greatness lies in a different order.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 397The Gospel supplies celestial wisdom uniting opposites; the union of two natures in the Man-God.read · scan
- p. 399–400Peace lies only in giving oneself to God; justice apart from faith is corrupt; mysteries like the Eucharist exceed reason.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 131–132Great-grace versus Little-faith: some have great faith, some little, and the King aids his subjectsread · scan
- p. 133–134Take the shield of faith, quoting Job on Leviathan and Paul on the fiery dartsread · scan
- p. 134–135Desire God's convoy; with him none need fear ten thousands; more faith brings victoryread · scan
- p. 203–204Faith is learned from the spider; God has made nothing in vain.read · scan
- p. 290–291Shepherds welcome the feeble and weak in their Prince's name; grace shines; Mount Marvel teaches faith to tumble away difficulties.read · scan
- p. 300–301Faith carries Valiant past all discouraging tales of failed pilgrims; belief in Tell-true's words is his victory.read · scan
- p. 301–302Walking by words and not by sight echoes faith; guide's encouragement sustains the weary pilgrims.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 362–363Faith lights us through the grave as evidence of things unseen.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 104–106Faith supplies what reason cannot; religion asks only that the soul be virtuous.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 391Christian religion rests on Faith, not reason; testing it by reason exposes it, and Pentateuch miracles are judged as human history.read · scan
- p. 392Christianity needs a miracle to be believed; faith is a continued miracle subverting the understanding against custom and experience.read · scan
- p. 419–420Faith and divine revelation are the most solid foundation of divinity.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 190–191Exhortation to hold fast the profession of faith and depend on the Spirit, not earthly might.read · scan
- p. 305–306Friends urged to dig deep to the rock foundation, hearken to the divine voice, and trust only the Lord.read · scan
- p. 306–307Faith in the Son of God, joy over a repentant sinner, tender conscience toward Friends.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 147–150Margaret presses Faust about his faith, church and sacraments, insisting we must ourselves believe.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 342–343Pastor urges firm faith, which steadies in fortune and gives consolation and hope in evil.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 496–499Blessing Jesus Christ for the doctrine of bodily resurrection.read · scan
William Wordsworth, Essay Supplementary to PrefaceVol. 39
- p. 314Faith turns affections from time to eternity; the religious man sees things as shadows of the unseen, resting on words and symbols.read · scan
William Ellery Channing, On the Elevation of the Laboring ClassesVol. 28
- p. 341Religion is open to all minds; faith received on mere authority is of little worth, true faith approves itself to intelligence and conscience.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 805Faith alone forbids a selfish death, and he cries out to God.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Man the ReformerVol. 5
- p. 54Americans lack Faith and Hope; believers see heaven begin to exist through men transfigured by principles.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 274Faith is a principle that tyrannizes at nature's centre; skepticism may safely be given line, since the spirit returns.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, On LibertyVol. 25
- p. 233Creeds are vital during the struggle but decline into inherited acquiescence, losing power over conduct.read · scan
- p. 235–236Christian doctrines have become dead formulas to ordinary believers, unlike the living creed of early Christians; sects keep vitality only where doctrines are contested.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1330–1333The priest counsels faith and patience; faith is the compass-flower planted by God to guide the soul.read · scan
Emily Brontë, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1110–1111Dismisses the thousand creeds as vain against personal faith and prayer.read · scan
Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of GrassVol. 39
- p. 391–393Faith is the antiseptic of the soul, preserving common people who never give up believing and trusting.read · scan
Thomas Edward Brown, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1148Faith rests on finding God in a cool garden at evening.read · scan
3b.The controversy over reason, natural religion and revelation
See also: God 1c · Reasoning 7c · Education 2a · Nature 4d
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 66–67Ignorance of natural facts harms a Christian only if he ties it to doctrine and affirms it stiffly; charity bears the infancy of faith.read · scan
- p. 78–79He refuses to entrust his sick soul to philosophers lacking the name of Christ and remains a catechumen of the Catholic Church.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 206–207A lowly peasant serving God is better than a proud philosopher; a pure conscience gives confidence towards God.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, Preface to the History of the WorldVol. 39
- p. 110Wisdom precedes religion: to know God first, then worship him; faith is persuaded by reason, not forceread · scan
René Descartes, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the SciencesVol. 34
- p. 12The true religion, ordained by God, is far superior to any other.read · scan
- p. 49Considers whether a condemned physical doctrine could harm religion or the state.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 256In divinity he keeps the road and follows the Church humbly, while in philosophy he is paradoxical.read · scan
John Milton, AreopagiticaVol. 3
- p. 227–229Faith needs charitable instruction and conscience, not canonized human authority or numbers of voices.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 75Pascal introduces proofs of the Christian religion.read · scan
- p. 81Defends the Virgin birth, resurrection and Eucharist if the Gospel is true.read · scan
- p. 87Religion is uncertain, but no more so than tomorrow; refusing it for lack of certainty would forbid all action.read · scan
- p. 90Weak apologetic arguments damage the credibility of religion among unbelievers.read · scan
- p. 91Christianity does not disown reason and custom but requires inspiration for true saving belief.read · scan
- p. 97–98If everything is submitted to reason religion loses mystery; if reason is offended it becomes absurd.read · scan
- p. 102Lists proofs of the Christian religion: its establishment, miracles, Christ, apostles, perpetuity, sanctity of its doctrine.read · scan
- p. 102–103We should follow the inclination toward religion if it enters the heart; proofs of religion listed: morality, doctrine, miracles, prophecies, types.read · scan
- p. 182Salvation depends on Jesus Christ, not on abstract natural knowledge of God.read · scan
- p. 183Seeking God without Christ as mediator leads to atheism or deism, both abhorred by Christianity.read · scan
- p. 184Two ways to prove religion's truths: reason or authority; proofs drawn from the ungodly and from the Jews.read · scan
- p. 187The Jews' zeal for law and prophets makes their testimony beyond suspicion.read · scan
- p. 187Had the Jews loved the spiritual promises, their testimony would be worthless as friends of the Messiah.read · scan
- p. 260Pascal rejects other religions and finds Christianity justified by its divine morality and its revelation to purified hearts.read · scan
- p. 260Pascal finds the religion divine in authority, duration, perpetuity, morality, doctrine and effects.read · scan
- p. 277–278The resurrection and the apostles' witness as proof of Christ.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, LettersVol. 48
- p. 321–322Pascal recounts his interview with M. Rebours on faith and reason, taken for pride, and trusts God alone to calm his trouble.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 393De Saci faults Montaigne for setting faith aside, lacking humility and piety; Augustine's rule for reading.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 98–99Faithful defends his faith at trial: worship requires divine faith grounded in revelation, and human inventions in worship do not profit unto eternal life.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 364–365Religion taken from education and authority rather than conviction is another's; men trust no synod about half a crown but trust it with souls.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 99Scholastic jargon had been made sacred by being blended with religion.read · scan
- p. 107–108Philosophical opinions never harm a country's religion; faith and reason have different objects; discord comes from divines.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 42–43Franklin's reasoning against Wollaston's 'Religion of Nature' offends Palmer, who finds the principles abominable.read · scan
- p. 55Franklin's pious upbringing gives way to doubt of Revelation and to Deism.read · scan
- p. 56Revelation had no weight with him as such, yet he avoided gross immorality.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 375Tillotson's argument against the real presence: evidence for Christianity rests on apostles' testimony, less than evidence of senses.read · scan
- p. 395Religious philosophers seeking to base religion on reason excite doubts beyond ancestral tradition and priests' doctrine.read · scan
- p. 398–399Hume treats the religious hypothesis as merely an explanation of visible phenomena, from which no further facts may be inferred; criticizes theodicy for the world's evil.read · scan
- p. 399Hume argues that belief in divine providence cannot justify expecting rewards and punishments beyond the ordinary course of experience; conduct remains the same.read · scan
- p. 400Hume criticizes philosophers who make this life a porch to another and ascribe unseen attributes and justice to the gods beyond what experience shows.read · scan
- p. 403–404Religion, a species of philosophy, gives no new facts or rules of conduct beyond experience; religious hypothesis foresees nothing new.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 280Vicar's creed resembles natural religion, which Christians confound with atheism; the listener turns to revelation and scriptures.read · scan
- p. 281–282Natural religion suffices; positive revealed religions add nothing and breed pride, persecution, cruelty and war.read · scan
- p. 285–286Revelation reaches us only through human testimony and books; miracles and messengers demand examination.read · scan
- p. 288–289The best religion is the clearest; natural religion is completed by revelation, and mysteries and contradictions justify distrust.read · scan
- p. 289–291Dogmatist claims divine mission and supernatural proofs; the rationalist demands credentials.read · scan
- p. 291Grace and supernatural proofs reduce to believing on others' credit, submitting God's authority to man's.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, The Education of the Human RaceVol. 32
- p. 187–189God gave a religion and law obeyed for temporal happiness, suited to a people whose regards went no further than earth.read · scan
- p. 191–192Shows how the Israelites' belief in reward for piety, and the problem of unequal fortune, drove development of belief in immortality and future recompense.read · scan
- p. 192–193Describes obedience to God's laws for their own sake, the Jewish conception of Jehovah being enlarged, and the mutual influence of reason and revelation.read · scan
- p. 202–203Revealed truths were given to be developed into truths of reason; religion guides humanity toward better conceptions of the Divine.read · scan
- p. 203–205New Covenant will be outdated like the old; medieval enthusiasts' Three Ages partly right but premature.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 175–177Learned Sire and Son give their lore to Nature's God and law: one to draw its source, the other to adore.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 337Religion has become self-conscious, mechanical and uncreative; evidences replace living faith and martyr conduct, and Christianity dissipates into metaphysics.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 29Mill was raised without religious belief; father rejected Revelation and Natural Religion after Butler's Analogy.read · scan
- p. 47Book examines usefulness rather than truth of religious belief; belief is feeble yet deemed necessary for morals, and deism is as contradictory as Christianity.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Origin of SpeciesVol. 11
- p. 498Darwin argues his views need not shock religious feeling, comparing objections to Leibnitz's charge against gravitation as subversive of religion.read · scan
3c.Miracles as proof or as deception
See also: Judgment 5c · Miracles 5d · Prophecy 8e · Reasoning 6b
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 366–367Scribes charge blasphemy; crowd glorifies God in fear.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 453Apostles preach boldly amid division and persecution, with signs and wonders confirming the word.read · scan
Tacitus, GermanyVol. 33
- p. 111–112It seems more pious to believe the marvellous feats of the gods than to prove them.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 189–190Demanding signs and wonders of God merely to try Him is a tempting of God within religion.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 1005–1006The apostles believe and ask for a table from heaven as a festival and sign to settle their hearts.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 313–314The sheykh resists the enchantment by reciting God's name and the Verses of Safety.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 163–164Turpin's feats are attested by the saint Giles, for whom God wrought miracles.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 82–84Bells ring and books read of themselves at the burial, a miracle; anti-Jewish blood-libel framing.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 109–110The Sangreal appears and feeds the fellowship of the Round Table; a hermit sends word.read · scan
- p. 112The Holy Grail appears at Pentecost amid thunder and a sunbeam by the grace of the Holy Ghost; the king thanks God.read · scan
- p. 118–119The touched Cross heals a severed hand; Evelake and his people are baptised and Britain turns to the Christian faith.read · scan
- p. 202The Sangreal miraculously feeds the table, and doors close against those not of the quest.read · scan
- p. 209–211The Sangreal's power heals a cripple and the knights witness God's power before a pagan king.read · scan
Niccolò Machiavelli, The PrinceVol. 36
- p. 20–21Savonarola's institutions failed when the people's faith wavered and he lacked means to hold believers.read · scan
John Calvin, Dedication of the Institutes of the Christian ReligionVol. 39
- p. 33Calvin denies the Church's continuing miracles, calling them false wonders that support idolatry and superstition.read · scan
- p. 33–34Calvin denies that miracles claimed for saints prove true worship, since idolatry and Antichrist also work lying wonders.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 479Plays about saints devise false miracles and confuse apocryphal matters, prejudicing truth.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 152–153Travelers ask how the island was converted to Christianity; a miraculous pillar of light with a cross appears, and a wise man prays.read · scan
- p. 153–154Prayer and the miraculous ark bearing the Old and New Testaments bring the faith to the island.read · scan
- p. 154–155St Bartholomew's letter and the miraculous gift of tongues bring salvation; the ark saves the land from infidelity as it once saved from water.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of MacbethVol. 46
- p. 377–378The king's cures come with holy prayers and heaven's grace, a miraculous gift.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 385Faith depends on miracles and just leaders; Israelites lapse into idolatry when Moses is absent and miracles fail.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 271–272Browne resists the Devil's attempts to make him doubt miracles by natural explanations; guards faith against infidelity.read · scan
- p. 279Doubts Jesuit miracles in the Indies, though transubstantiation is a greater miracle; miracles survived Christ and the Apostles.read · scan
- p. 281Scripture's miracles, such as Joshua's sun, and the eclipse at Christ's death, are affirmed against Jewish denial.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 141Religion offers divine signs and wonders as proofs, not tyranny, for belief.read · scan
- p. 235–236Fulfilment is a miracle enduring since the Church's birth.read · scan
- p. 279Miracles and doctrine judge each other; true miracles are the foundation of proof.read · scan
- p. 279–280Grace and miracles are the two supernatural fundamentals; Christ proved He was Messiah by miracles.read · scan
- p. 280All belief rests on miracles; Nicodemus and the Jews judged teaching by miracles.read · scan
- p. 280–281Augustine would not be a Christian but for miracles; Pascal hates those who make men doubt them.read · scan
- p. 281–282Unbelievers are most credulous, believing Vespasian's miracles to avoid those of Moses.read · scan
- p. 282–283False miracles and false religions exist only because true ones exist; savages have heard of the true.read · scan
- p. 283So many false miracles, revelations and religions could not exist unless some were true.read · scan
- p. 283False religions exist because there is one true; savages' religions derive from knowledge of the true.read · scan
- p. 283–284Christ against the devil: God would not favour doctrine destroying the Church, or He would be divided against Himself.read · scan
- p. 284–285Pascal prefers Christ for miracle, prophecy, doctrine and perpetuity.read · scan
- p. 285Miracles serve to condemn rather than convert; unbelief comes from want of love.read · scan
- p. 285–286Miracles are the foundation of religion; Christ foretold Antichrist's miracles, so faith in Christ is safe.read · scan
- p. 286More reasons exist for believing Christ than Antichrist; in disputes on true religion no miracle has favoured error.read · scan
- p. 286Miracles suffice as proof without doctrine or prophecy; those who resisted them in Christ's life were sinners.read · scan
- p. 287Doubters of Christ's miracles over supposed contradictions with prophecy are inexcusable; convincing miracles should outweigh apparent contradictions.read · scan
- p. 287–288Miracles are no longer necessary generally but arise when tradition fails, as in Arius's time.read · scan
- p. 288Some follow Christ for miracles, others for worldly comfort and discredit miracles when inconvenient; miracles at Port-Royal favour its cause.read · scan
- p. 288–289Only those not denying Christ can do clear miracles; miracles are clearer against open opponents.read · scan
- p. 289Miracles were needed until Christ converted the nations; the works are the strongest proof.read · scan
- p. 290Pharisees tried to deny miracles as false or devilish; today's sacred relic works miracles by Christ's blood.read · scan
- p. 290God Himself works miracles through the Passion relic; Church's three enemies all evade miracles by judging them by doctrine.read · scan
- p. 291Miracles are the test between Jews, Christians, Catholics and heretics; the Church's first miracles exclude heretics' claims.read · scan
- p. 291–292Miracles as the ground of belief in Christ; faith and unbelief of those who demand to be spectators.read · scan
- p. 292Gospel doctrine and miracles as mutual supports against unbelievers' demands for signs.read · scan
- p. 292–293In disputes between rival Christian parties, miracles have always attended the true side, never the false Christians.read · scan
- p. 293–294Arians and Catholics in dispute; miracles would decide which side is true.read · scan
- p. 294–295Three marks of true religion: perpetuity, a good life, miracles; heretics and casuists undermine them.read · scan
- p. 296–297Church's recognition and the authority of miracles, including against Antichrist who would seduce even the elect.read · scan
- p. 297Miracles are a support and test of religion for Jews and Christians; Church never approved a miracle among heretics.read · scan
- p. 297–298Where no schism exists, a miracle decides error; miracles rouse a Church cooling in love.read · scan
- p. 298–299Miracles founded and will continue the Church; the synagogue as a type; this religion alone does not perish.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 380–381Miracles claimed for religion lack adequately attested witnesses of good sense, integrity and public reputation.read · scan
- p. 381–382Religious zeal joined to love of wonder destroys common sense; the religionist may be enthusiast or pious deceiver.read · scan
- p. 382Religious miracle reports are spread with vehemence by the same passions that spread gossip.read · scan
- p. 384Impostors enlist votaries and deceive men of rank through delusive claims.read · scan
- p. 385Rival religions each claim miracles; since different religions are contrary, their miracles cancel one another's evidence.read · scan
- p. 385The miracle belongs to an exploded idolatrous superstition, Serapis's vision.read · scan
- p. 386Zealous devotion of canons and townspeople in Saragossa vouched for a supposed miraculous restoration of a leg.read · scan
- p. 387–388Miracles at the tomb of Abbe Paris, the Jansenist, show a people deluded by sanctity.read · scan
- p. 388–389Religious miracle-reports spread through vanity, pious fraud and popular superstition; new religions escape scrutiny of the learned until evidence has perished.read · scan
- p. 389No human testimony can prove a miracle sufficiently to found a system of religion.read · scan
- p. 390–391Miracles ascribed to new religions are proof of a cheat, since religious testimony is most often false.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 286–287Miracles cannot fairly ground faith; every sect claims prodigies, so belief in them is fanaticism and credulity.read · scan
- p. 287–288Miracles need proof themselves and cannot certify doctrine; doctrine and miracle prove each other in a circle.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, The Education of the Human RaceVol. 32
- p. 198–199Christ's teaching, confirmed by prophecy, miracle and resurrection, and spread by disciples, gave a second better primer.read · scan
George Long, M. Aurelius AntoninusVol. 2
- p. 307–308Pagans credited the miracle to their gods, Christians to their legion's prayers.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 30Emerson says churches built on Christ's tropes rather than his principles distorted his teaching into myth and false miracle.read · scan
- p. 31–32True conversion comes by beautiful sentiments, not miracles; preaching's vulgar tone profanes Jesus.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 287–288St. Philip Neri tests a nun's claimed inspiration by her humility, finding no miracle without humility.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 279The crowd sees a sign from Heaven and bows before her as before a saint.read · scan
Ernest Renan, The Poetry of the Celtic RacesVol. 32
- p. 159Christian marvels are miracles produced by God; Celtic beings lie outside the Church and must be baptised by the conquering knight.read · scan
3d.Doubt, unbelief and atheism
See also: God 1d
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 93Job is accused of doing away with fear and hindering devotion before God.read · scan
- p. 102–103The godless question the profit of prayer and service to God.read · scan
Sophocles, Oedipus the KingVol. 8
- p. 228Jocasta says to disregard oracles; whatever the god wants he will himself declare.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 6Speculators are rumored not to believe in the gods; Socrates submits the outcome to God's will.read · scan
- p. 12–13Charge of not believing in the State's gods and having new divinities.read · scan
- p. 14–15Meletus charges Socrates with not acknowledging the city's gods but new divinities, then with atheism.read · scan
- p. 15–16Charge of atheism against Socrates is shown inconsistent with charge of new divinities.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 379Jesus laments the faithless generation and the disciples' failure to cast out the spirit.read · scan
- p. 397Rich man's brothers have Moses and prophets; even one risen from the dead would not persuade unbelievers.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 890–891Denounces the one who did not believe or pray and scorned revelation, preferring the transient life.read · scan
- p. 891–892Unbelief in God and neglect of feeding the poor condemn the sinner.read · scan
- p. 902–903Disbelievers turn from the Reminder and mock; earth's growth is a sign for believers.read · scan
- p. 907Belief in the revelation is demanded; sinners resist until they see the woe.read · scan
- p. 916–917Unbelievers turn in aversion from the Qur'an and mention of the one Lord; hearts covered against understanding.read · scan
- p. 920–921Moses' signs rejected by Pharaoh as enchantment, illustrating stubborn disbelief.read · scan
- p. 935–936False associates fail the misbelievers; late professions of faith come only when they see God's violence.read · scan
- p. 936Faith at sight of God's violence is of no avail; most people will not believe the Book.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 156–157A voice rebukes the knights for evil faith and poor belief; they seek the holy hermit Nacien.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 223Italianates scorn religion, calling anyone a fool who suffers loss for faith.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 42Atheists proselytize and suffer for their view, showing unbelief is not firmly held; dissenters from received religion get called atheists.read · scan
- p. 42–43Causes of atheism: religious divisions, scandal of priests, profane scoffing, and learned peaceful times; adversity bows minds to religion.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 611–613Face warns Mammon to avoid divinity and controversy lest the lady rage.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 898–901Margaret reproaches her father for casting aside religion, hopes of Heaven and fear of hell.read · scan
- p. 911Overreach declares all beliefs equal to him; Lovell calls him blasphemous and atheistical.read · scan
- p. 941Lovell says men who abandon religion and turn atheists lose their own abilities.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 349–350He laments an age busy with church ceremonies yet unscrupulous about sacrilege, a presage of declining religion.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 406–407Neglected catechising and clerical example as cures for the atheism of the age.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 269–271Misreading second causes leads many from devotion to atheism; faith must be kept against doubt and the Devil.read · scan
- p. 272–273Unbelief tempts weak heads, but Browne finds nothing to startle a discreet belief; Scripture's stories are possible by divine influence.read · scan
- p. 281Doubters of spirits and witches are called atheists; the Devil possesses some and good angels are falsely pretended by others.read · scan
John Milton, AreopagiticaVol. 3
- p. 192–193Athens burned Protagoras's book for professed doubt of the gods; atheistical writings were punished.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 371The disciples' faith is tested by doubt at Jesus' absence, and they pray to the God of Israel.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 24–25Faults Montaigne for indifference about salvation and pagan, cowardly views on death; one should die like a Christian.read · scan
- p. 69Unbelievers should be pitied, not reviled; atheists who seek are unhappy enough, though boasters deserve rebuke.read · scan
- p. 69Critics should learn what the religion claims; its doctrine of divine hiddenness is confirmed, not refuted, by unbelievers' darkness.read · scan
- p. 70Unbelievers claim to have sought God after reading a little Scripture and questioning a priest; Pascal calls this negligence insufferable.read · scan
- p. 71Compassion for sincere doubters who make inquiry their chief occupation; disapproval of those who neglect to seek.read · scan
- p. 71He argues from self-interest, not pious devotion, that we should care about our eternal end.read · scan
- p. 72–73Unreasonable unbelievers are the glory of religion, confirming Christian truths.read · scan
- p. 73Rejecting God and accountability earns no trust or consolation from others.read · scan
- p. 73–74Unbelievers' reasons for doubting religion are feeble and petty, tending to persuade one of the contrary.read · scan
- p. 74Godless impiety and bravado before God are cowardly; be honest if not Christian.read · scan
- p. 74–75Two reasonable kinds: those who serve God knowing Him, those who seek Him; charity toward the indifferent.read · scan
- p. 77–78Objections of infidels go against themselves, not against religion.read · scan
- p. 81–82Infidels say religions all have ceremonies, prophets and saints; religion itself may explain obscurity.read · scan
- p. 88–89Pascal would fear more to find Christianity true after disbelieving it than to be mistaken in believing.read · scan
- p. 94–95Three kinds of persons: those who serve God having found Him, those seeking, those neither; false religions preserved by not thinking.read · scan
- p. 128Scepticism helps religion by taking down vanity.read · scan
- p. 185The damned will be condemned by the very reason with which they condemned Christianity.read · scan
- p. 185–186The truth of religion is recognised in its very obscurity; God blinds some and enlightens others.read · scan
- p. 187Some passages are so clear that only flesh-imposed blindness misses them.read · scan
- p. 189Religion is so great that those unwilling to seek it deserve to lose it; it can be found by seeking.read · scan
- p. 190If God permitted only one religion it would be too easily known; truth is discerned amid confusion.read · scan
- p. 191Making an idol of darkness apart from God's order is a fault.read · scan
- p. 268–269Christ came to blind those who saw clearly and give sight to the blind.read · scan
- p. 276–277Christ's coming both to sanctify and to scandalize leaves unbelievers and believers unable to convince each other by proof.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 393–395Montaigne should have brought humbled men toward the Church, not new crimes.read · scan
- p. 398De Saci counsels protecting wavering faith from dangerous reading.read · scan
- p. 401We resist Christian truths that oppose our pleasures, as the Jews asked Moses for pleasant things.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 137–138Pilgrims travel toward Mount Sion in faith while Atheist laughs at their hope of a heavenly city.read · scan
- p. 138–139Christian and Hopeful hold to faith against Atheist's mockery, walking by faith toward Mount Sion.read · scan
- p. 216–217They slandered God as a task-master and called his bread husks and pilgrim labour purposeless.read · scan
Jonathan Swift, A Letter of Advice to a Young PoetVol. 27
- p. 105Satirizes modern poets who hold religion a hindrance to wit; a drop of religion muddies poetic genius.read · scan
- p. 106Ironically claims wits need others to believe religion seriously so they can mock it; freethinking as poets' pose.read · scan
George Berkeley, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and PhilonousVol. 37
- p. 232The argument is said to baffle atheism, calling opponents abettors of impiety.read · scan
- p. 233–234Hylas notes Philonous's doctrine is highly serviceable to religion.read · scan
- p. 279Immaterialism benefits the great articles of religion.read · scan
- p. 282–283The confused term Matter is said to strengthen the mind's bent towards Atheism.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 104Divines wrongly charge Locke with destroying religion over a purely philosophical question independent of faith.read · scan
- p. 110–111Descartes was falsely accused of atheism; Galileo held by the Inquisition for demonstrating earth's motion.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 17Reading Shaftesbury and Collins made him a doubter of religious doctrine.read · scan
- p. 21–22His disputations about religion get him labeled infidel or atheist by good people.read · scan
- p. 37Watson is pious; Ralph and Collins were unsettled in religious principle by Franklin.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 319Passion for religion, like philosophy, can strengthen existing inclinations; sceptics are stigmatized as profane and irreligious.read · scan
- p. 407–408The sceptic is seen as an enemy of religion provoking the indignation of divines.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 233–234Incredulity and misfortune made the youth almost an atheist.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 222The English fear God and reject atheist preachers and unbelief.read · scan
- p. 225Atheists and infidels lack influence in England; the constitution was made under sanctions of religion and piety.read · scan
- p. 227Man is a religious animal; atheism is against reason and instinct, and abandoning Christianity would let a degrading superstition replace it.read · scan
- p. 241Clergy must receive maintenance of religion as alms from avowed atheism, which holds religion in contempt.read · scan
- p. 245–246Literary cabal planned to destroy Christianity with fanatical proselytizing zeal, and atheists have a bigotry of their own.read · scan
- p. 286Atheistical fanaticism, spread by writings and sermons, displaces morality and religion in the Paris populace.read · scan
- p. 323–324Mocks the idea that disbelief in God teaches better cultivation; church confiscations enrich usurers.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 66–68Faust curses hope, faith and patience along with all worldly things.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 37–38Church gives no consolation; scripture maxim mocked in favor of the bottle.read · scan
- p. 386–388Comic queries whether Grose is in Abraham's bosom or the devil's hands; Lord be near him.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 343Faith has vanished; Mother Church is a disregarded step-mother, and man lacks a theory of the universe and his duties.read · scan
- p. 345–346They must realise a Worship for themselves or live unworshipping; Schlegel flees back to Catholicism.read · scan
- p. 353Faith in religion has again become possible for the scientific mind; free-thinker now means believer.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter ScottVol. 25
- p. 404–405Scott seemed to believe in nothing, acquiescing in conventionalities; woe to those at ease in Zion.read · scan
- p. 417–418The age is diagnosed as destitute of faith yet terrified of scepticism, needing a comforter.read · scan
- p. 423–424Describes the age as spiritually languid, destitute of belief yet terrified of scepticism.read · scan
Thomas Hood, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 911Now feels farther from Heaven than as a boy, when treetops seemed to touch the sky.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, An Address Delivered before the Senior Class in Divinity CollegeVol. 5
- p. 29Loss of faith degrades church, state, art and life; the Christian church's history illustrates errors in its administration.read · scan
- p. 32–33Tradition treats revelation as done long ago, as if God were dead, so faith is injured and preaching made inarticulate.read · scan
- p. 33Emerson laments the death of faith and the failure of churches and preachers, whose Sabbath has lost nature's splendor.read · scan
- p. 37Public worship has lost its hold on men; decaying church and wasting unbelief are national calamities.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoliticsVol. 5
- p. 250Even the most religious men lack reliance on the moral sentiment and belief in the unity of things.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, New England ReformersVol. 5
- p. 253Religious energy is leaving the church for reform societies and conventions questioning the Sabbath, priesthood and church.read · scan
- p. 261Want of faith is the disease of the age; church attendance is reduced to public amusement.read · scan
- p. 262–263Unbelief and lack of faith among the literary class dishearten and sensualize society.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 276–277Emerson laments decayed faith in his transition age: superstition, freak creeds and revivals, and religion divorced from morality.read · scan
- p. 278Churches have decayed into a speck of whitewash, no longer guiding right and wrong.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, English TraitsVol. 5
- p. 454–456Stones suggest succession of religions; medieval men believed in God and immortality, now even puritanism gone and London pagan.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 8The father abandoned the ministry, unable to believe the doctrines of any Church, and held unpopular religious opinions.read · scan
- p. 29James Mill condemns religion as a great moral evil, enemy of morality, substituting creeds and ceremonies for genuine virtues.read · scan
- p. 29–31Belief in a demonic God keeps the ideal of excellence low and makes morality blind tradition.read · scan
- p. 32Mill grew up never having had religious belief, regarding modern religion like the ancient as unconcerning.read · scan
- p. 32Those who find current religious opinions false and hurtful have a duty to avow dissent; many wise sceptics stay silent.read · scan
- p. 127His convictions on religion did not waver as death approached.read · scan
- p. 147–149When philosophic minds lose belief in religion, a transitional period of weak convictions follows until a credible faith arises.read · scan
- p. 173He declines to be questioned about his religious opinions.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, On LibertyVol. 25
- p. 244–246Noble moral teaching came also from those who rejected the Christian faith; Christians should be just to infidels.read · scan
- p. 264Atheists once burned would now be put in madhouses, persecution disguised as humane, Christian treatment.read · scan
Giuseppe Mazzini, Byron and GoetheVol. 32
- p. 381–382Belief is extinct, prayer a mere movement of the lips, in the age Byron confronts.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 161–162Mockery of all religion is noted among the educated town classes.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 155Children ignorant of Christ and God despite Christian England.read · scan
Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of GrassVol. 39
- p. 391His steady faith holds the time back from infidelity.read · scan
Matthew Arnold, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1138–1139The Sea of Faith has withdrawn, leaving a world without certitude, peace or help for pain.read · scan
Walter Bagehot, John MiltonVol. 28
- p. 198Seventeenth-century reverence for religious language kept readers from scrutinizing celestial pictures; skepticism now does.read · scan
3e.Scripture as the word of God
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 293–295Devotion and meditation on God's precepts, seeking him with the whole heart.read · scan
- p. 296–297Devotion, meditation and faithfulness to God's word.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 374Parable of the sower: receiving the word of God with faith, patience and fruit versus falling away under temptation.read · scan
- p. 384–385Blessedness lies in hearing the word of God and keeping it, rather than in kinship to Jesus.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 460–461Bereans receive the word readily and examine scriptures daily; Paul preaches and provokes opposition.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 34–35Christ's name imbibed with his mother's milk; Scripture seems lowly and veiled to his pride.read · scan
- p. 75Augustine weighs the Manichees' criticism of Scripture, their claim that the New Testament was corrupted, and Helpidius's strong scriptural arguments.read · scan
- p. 83He rejoices that the Catholic Church confines God to no human form and that Ambrose interprets the Old Testament spiritually.read · scan
- p. 85Augustine reveres Scripture's authority, humble in style yet deep in mystery, drawing all and lifting a few toward God.read · scan
- p. 115Piety and confession versus presumption; Scripture should be studied first.read · scan
- p. 116–117Scripture gives what Platonist books lack: confession, contrite heart, sacrifice and salvation.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 975–976Obeying the prophet is obeying God; the Qur'an, free of discrepancy, proves its divine source.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 154The barber invokes God's Book on restraining anger and forgiving men, and praises the changeless God.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 230Christ's appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and the greeting of peace frame the encounter with Statius.read · scan
- p. 275–277Scriptural episodes of Tabor and the sleep of death frame the vision of heavenly feast.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 391St. John is identified as the disciple entrusted from the cross; he explains that only Christ and Mary have ascended bodily.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 213–214The Sangreal story is called one of the truest and holiest in the world.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 325–326Schools and convents have degenerated into mere praying and singing, while every Christian should know the Gospel early.read · scan
- p. 326–327Where God's word is not studied everything perishes; the high schools should train bishops and priests against heretics.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 234–235He reads the Bible devoutly, finding deep treasures of delight in it.read · scan
William Harrison, A Description of Elizabethan EnglandVol. 35
- p. 348Cites Leviticus and John the Baptist on locusts as clean food.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 318Scripture is cited for the indissoluble ordinance of matrimony.read · scan
- p. 373–375Quixote cites the angels' song and Christ's blessing of peace as scriptural testimony.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, The Defense of PoesyVol. 27
- p. 18–19Christ taught by parables such as Dives and Lazarus and the prodigal son rather than moral commonplaces.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 100–101Invectives against usury cite God's tithe, Sabbath-breaking and the curse to eat bread by one's own sweat.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 322–323Scripture reports God as first author of speech and the Tower of Babel as a punishment of rebellion.read · scan
- p. 348–349Belief that Scripture is God's word rests on the Church's authority, not immediate revelation; faith in prophets and historians is faith in men.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 335–336Scriptural precedents of apparitions and spirits (Samuel, Job, Peter) used to support belief in the vision.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 275–276Holds Scripture as God's word, superior to the Koran, which spread by arms and banished learning.read · scan
John Milton, AreopagiticaVol. 3
- p. 198–199Primitive doctors held reading pagan authors lawful and profitable; Jerome's dream is doubted.read · scan
- p. 202Argues that if infection from controversial books were feared, the Bible and the Church Fathers would have to be banned too.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 359Scripture used: man lives not by bread only but by God's word; Moses and Elijah fasted.read · scan
- p. 405Scripture quoted by both; Christ answers 'Tempt not the Lord thy God' at the Temple.read · scan
Sir Henry Vane, A Healing QuestionVol. 43
- p. 128Scripture and conscience taught by the Word and Spirit show the conformity of such actions with Israel's sin.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 149Jewish scriptural tradition is cited for man's inherent malignity.read · scan
- p. 171Scripture gives consolation and warning for all conditions; more knowledge and grace bring greater reckoning.read · scan
- p. 189–190Order of the world: law and miracles of Moses follow forgotten Creation and Deluge.read · scan
- p. 261–262Both Testaments, and Moses and Job, Jew and Gentile, have Christ as common centre.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 391He combats heretics claiming sole true sense of Scripture.read · scan
- p. 438Pascal holds that in theology authority, Scripture and the Fathers is inseparable from truth, since its principles surpass nature and reason and require superhuman power.read · scan
- p. 439Pascal contrasts reasoning in science with theology, condemning reasoning alone and novelty in theology against the authority of Scripture and the Fathers.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 22–23Worldly Wiseman scorns serious Bible reading; Christian says the Book gave him his burden and he seeks deliverance.read · scan
- p. 67–68Christian applies psalm and scripture to his experience of the darkness.read · scan
- p. 72–73Pilgrim guarded by remembered scripture and thanks to God for escape.read · scan
- p. 111–112Pilgrims read scripture example and respond with gratitude for grace and shame at their hearts.read · scan
- p. 135–136Scripture guides the way; David kept from the paths of the destroyer by God's wordread · scan
- p. 147–148Good thoughts and life are measured by the Word of God and God's commandments.read · scan
- p. 220–222Pilgrimage is opposed by Grim the giant; Scripture is quoted against the false tongue.read · scan
- p. 246Scripture is recalled as guidance on the pilgrim's road: resist the Devil and he will fly.read · scan
- p. 295–297He cries to his King for invisible help; the Jerusalem Blade is the Word of God.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 132–133Reading the whole Bible indiscriminately confuses children and prevents clear thoughts on religion; proposed principles must suit a child's capacity.read · scan
- p. 133Children should receive fundamental Christian beliefs and practice in scripture's own words via catechism, Creed and Commandments.read · scan
- p. 164Early scripture study is a guard against superstition and against the opposite extreme of denying spirits.read · scan
Jonathan Swift, A Letter of Advice to a Young PoetVol. 27
- p. 106–107Scriptures are read by modern wits every way except religiously, as furniture for wit rather than faith.read · scan
George Berkeley, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and PhilonousVol. 37
- p. 271–272Hylas objects that the Scripture account of creation conflicts with Philonous's principles.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 23Dr. Brown, an unbeliever, travesties the Bible in verse, which might hurt weak minds.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, A Discourse upon the Origin and the Foundation of the Inequality among MankindVol. 34
- p. 166Appeals to Sacred History and Moses: the first man, instructed by God, never lived in a pure state of nature.read · scan
- p. 166–167Religion says God drew men from a state of nature and made them unequal, yet permits conjecture.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 294Church authority rests on itself; sacred books unread by believers make religious authority doubtful.read · scan
- p. 300Admires the Gospel's majesty and purity and Jesus's character, far above philosophers' works.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 339–340The pastor is steeped in Scripture, which reveals man's destiny and disposition.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Inaugural Address at EdinburghVol. 25
- p. 366–367Knox and the Puritans sought to conform the nation to the Hebrew Bible as the Will of God.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 285–286Bible histories of Adam and Eve frame the Garden of Paradise.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 369Seamen's societies, Bethels and Bibles aim at the sailor's religious instruction, held the great object above all else.read · scan
- p. 369–371Bethels, Sailors' Homes, Bibles and tracts should bring religious influence to sailors, who revere the Bible as sacred.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 103Bible-reverence is shallow; the Word of God cannot be presented in morocco binding but is daily offered and refused.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Samuel PepysVol. 28
- p. 296–297A shepherd boy reads the Bible, and the father blesses God for him, like an old patriarch.read · scan
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