f occupying limited minds with
that which is impossible for them to comprehend.

VII.--EVERY RELIGION IS AN ABSURDITY.

Religion unites man with God or puts them in communication; but do you
say that God is infinite? If God is infinite, no finite being can have
communication or any relation with Him. Where there are no relations,
there can be no union, no correspondence, no duties. If there are no
duties between man and his God, there exists no religion for man. Thus
by saying that God is infinite, you annihilate, from that moment, all
religion for man, who is a finite being. The idea of infinity is for us
in idea without model, without prototype, without object.

VIII.--THE NOTION OF GOD IS IMPOSSIBLE.

If God is an infinite being, there can be neither in the actual world or
in another any proportion between man and his God; thus the idea of God
will never enter the human mind. In the supposition of a life where men
will be more enlightened than in this one, the infinity of God will
always place such a distance between his idea and the limited mind of
man, that he will not be able to conceive of God any more in a future
life than in the present. Hence, it evidently follows that the idea of
God will not be better suited to man in the other life than in the
present. God is not made for man; it follows also that intelligences
superior to man--such as angels, archangels, seraphims, and saints--can
have no more complete notions of God than has man, who does not
understand anything about Him here below.

IX.--ORIGIN OF SUPERSTITION.

How is it that we have succeeded in persuading reasonable beings that
the thing most impossible to understand was the most essential for them.
It is because they were greatly frightened; it is because when men are
kept in fear they cease to reason; it is because they have been
expressly enjoined to distrust their reason. When the brain is troubled,
we believe everything and examine nothing.

X.--ORIGIN OF ALL RELIGION.

Ignorance and fear are the two pivots of all religion. The uncertainty
attending man's relation to his God is precisely the motive which
attaches him to his religion. Man is afraid when in darkness--physical or
moral. His fear is habitual to him and becomes a necessity; he would
believe that he lacked something if he had nothing to fear.

XI.--IN THE NAME OF RELIGION CHARLATANS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEAKNESS
OF MEN.

He who from his child