The New Gospel

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">If they imitate a goat, or grind their teeth, or if their right side be convulsed, they say that the mother of the gods is the cause.&nbsp; But if they speak in a sharper and more intense tone, they resemble this state to a horse, and say that Poseidon is the cause.&nbsp; Or if any excrement be passed … the appellation of Enodia is adhibited; or if it be passed in smaller and denser means, like bird’s, it is said to be from Apollo Nominus.&nbsp; But if foam be emitted by the mouth, and the patient kick with his feet, Ares then gets the blame.&nbsp; But terrors which happen during the night, and fevers and delirium, and jumpings out of bed, and frightful apparitions, and fleeing away—all these they hold to be plots of Hecate.”</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">It is thus with regard to the disease called Sacred [epilepsy]: it appears to me to be nowise more divine nor more sacred than other diseases, but has a natural cause from which it originates like other affections.&nbsp; Men regard its nature and cause as divine from ignorance and wonder … But the brain is the cause of this affection, as it is of other very great diseases …”</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">They tell us they can free themselves of diseases.&nbsp; If they meant, by temperate living and appropriate régime, they would be right and in accordance with all sound knowledge.&nbsp; But they assert diseases to be Spirit-Beings [demons] and boast of being able to expel them by formula: this pretension may enhance their importance with the crowd, gaping upon the powers of magicians; but they can never persuade the intelligent that disease arises otherwise than from such causes as overstrain, excess, deficiency, putrid decay, in a word some variation whether from within or from without.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">[I will explain] all else that men see happening in earth and sky, when they are often held in suspense with affrighted wits—happenings which abuse their spirits through fear of the gods, keeping them crushed to the earth, because their ignorance of causes compels them to refer events to the dominion of the gods, and to yield them to the place of kings.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Therefore, explore the cause, if you can, of every strange thing that excites your astonishment.&nbsp; If you do not find the cause be assured, nonetheless, that nothing could have happened without a cause, and employ the principles of natural philosophy to banish the fear which the novelty of the apparition may have occasioned.&nbsp; Then no earthquake or opening of the heavens, no showers of stones or blood, or shooting stars, or comets, will fill you with alarm.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Now since, through the procession and retrogression of the stars, the great variety and change of the seasons and of temperature take place, and since the power of the sun produces such results as are before our eyes, they believe that it is not merely probable, but certain, that just as the temperature of air is regulated by this celestial force, so also children at their birth are influenced in soul and body and by this force their minds, manners, physical condition, career in life and destinies are determined … What inconceivable madness!&nbsp; For it is not enough to call an opinion ‘foolishness,’ when it is utterly devoid of reason.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Speaking frankly, superstition, which is widespread among the nations, has taken advantage of human weakness to cast its spell over the mind of almost every man … For I thought that I should be rendering a great service both to myself and to my countrymen if I could tear this superstition up by the roots … For superstition is ever at your heels to urge you on; it follows you at every turn.&nbsp; It is with you when you listen to a prophet, or an omen; when you offer sacrifices or watch the flight of birds; when you consult an astrologer or a soothsayer; when it thunders or lightens or there is a bolt from on high; or when some so-called prodigy is born or is made.&nbsp; And since necessarily some of these signs are nearly always being given, no one who believes in them can ever remain in a tranquil state of mind.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Those who are truly his [Jesus’] disciples actually do drive out demons. … Others foresee things that will happen; then see visions and speak prophecies … others, still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are completely healthy … Yes, and furthermore, as I have said, even the dead have been raised up, and they have remained alive among us for many years.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">Miracles happen to those who believe in them.&nbsp; Otherwise why does not the Virgin Mary appear to Lamaists, Mohammedans, or Hindus who have never heard of her? &nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">For in so far as it [a miracle] is conceived to destroy or interrupt the order of nature or conflict with its laws, to that extent … not only would it give us no knowledge of God, it would actually take away the knowledge we naturally have and make us doubt about God and all things.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">But we may surely be allowed to observe that a miracle, in that age of superstition and credulity, lost its name and merit, since it could scarcely be considered as a deviation from the ordinary and established laws of nature.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">[Recourse to miracles] implies a lameness or weakness in the doctrine that is preached.&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous.</em></p>

<p><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible [miraculous explanations], whatever remains, </em><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;">however improbable</em><em style="line-height: 1.5; background-color: initial;"> [natural explanations], must be the truth?&nbsp;</em></p>