Baron D'Holbach,
Good Sense: or, Natural Ideas Opposed to Supernatural; being a Translation from a Work Called "Le Bon Sens"
corrected and carefully revised by H. D. Robinson
(Boston: J. P. Mendum, 1856).

Hanover Historical Texts Project
Scanned and proofread by Aaron Gulyas, Febuary, 1998.



Author's Preface

Publisher's Preface

Apologue

The Science of Theology

On the Idea of God

On the Origin of Religion

The Mysteries of Religion produce Credulity

How Religion was Established

The Existence of a God cannot be proved

Spirituality of God

What is God-Adoration

The God of the Theologian composed of negations which lead to Atheism

Belief in a God established by Fear, continued and transmitted by Education

Influence of Early Impressions

The Wonders of Nature do not teach the Existence of a God,

The Motions of Matter do not imply a Secret Mover, but Self-Motion

The Human Structure does not prove the Exstence of a God

Neither Man nor the Universe are the Effects of Chance

The order of the Universe does not prove the Existence of a God

Intelligence, Adoration, and all human qualities are incompatible with God

The Universe-Providence-Immutability

Good and Evil are Natural Effects-Consolations of a Future Life Imaginary

Pretence of a Scale of Beings Imaginary

Sufferings and Threatened Future Punishments show that God is not Perfect

Religion and Superstition essentially the same

The Character of God Inspires Aversion

Theology a tissue of Palpable Contradictions

The God of Theology at variance with his Creatures-author of Man's Perversity and Suffering, Original Sin and the devil

Peccability-Mystery

Consolation-Puiushment

Man's Free Will is a Chimera

Refutation of Arguments in favor of Free Will-God himself is not Free

Faults-Prayers

Future Rewards-the Right of the Strongest

Redemption-Existence upon such Terms not Desirable

Man compared with other animals

An Eastern Tale

The Supposed Blessings of Heaven the sources of much Evil

Immortality of tbe Soul

The Doctrne of a Future Life

Religious Principles the Work of Imagination

Religion is Founded on Mysteries

Religion is neither Universal Intelligible, nor Uniform

The God of the Deist no less contradictory than that of the Theologians

Tradition-All Deities of Savage Origin, as also are Religious Practices

Scepticism in Religion is the effect of a Partial Examination

Revelation-Miracles

God has spoken differently and obscurely to all nations--Absurdity of Miracles

Every Religion necessarily false-Martyrdom no proof of the Truth of Religion

God the Enemy of Wisdom-Faith and Reason

It would appear that the True Religion is that or the Strongest

Religion Unnecessary as a Moral Restraint

"Tbe Divine Right of Kings"

Religion supports Despotism, and rivets the chains of Slavery

A Devout Prince the scourge of his Kingdom

An Enlightened Sovreign--Crimes and Quackery of Priests

Religion has Corrupted Morality, and is incompatible with it

Morality of the Gospels,and the Depravity of human Nature

Remission of Sins-Fear of God-Influence of the doctrine of a Future Life

Of the Foundation of Religious Morals-of Christian Charity

Confession Destructive of Morality-Belief in a God not necessary to Morality

Supernatural Morality and Union of Church and State are fatal to Public Welfare

Religion Paralyzes Morality-Devotion-Idea of a Future State not necessary to Happiness

Of the Motives of Atheists to act Virtuously

Philosophy produces Morality-Opinions no Guide to Judge of Actions-Reason leads to Unbelief-Fear a Motive of Religion

Of Love of God-Differences respecting his Character-his Existence not Demonstrated

Priests more actuated by Self-Interest, Pride, and Presumption, than Unbelievers

Truth, Reason, and Equity-when Priests pursue them, they will be respected

Philosophy the Substitute for Religion-Recantation of Unbelievers

The Necessity of Oaths, Religions, and other Restraints

Atheism Appropriate for the People-Futility and Danger of Theology

Evils of Faiih-all Religions Established by Impostors-Religions have borrowed from each other

Theology obscures Philosophy, explains nothing, and retards Intellect

Of Ancient and Modern Philosophers-Religion Useless, and Aggravates Misfortune


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