hows mistrust, and a Christian's
talking shows confidence? What real weakness is there in the Atheist's
seeking for sympathy and concurrence? It is hard for any man to stand
alone; certainly it was not in Lord Bacon's line to do so; and why
should not the Atheist be "glad to be strengthened by the opinion of
others"! Novalis said that his opinion gained infinitely when it was
shared by another. The participation does not prove the truth of the
opinion, but redeems it from the suspicion of being a mere maggot of an
individual brain.

Lord Bacon then turns to the barbaric races, who worship particular
gods, though they have not the general name; a fact which he did not
understand. More than two hundred years later it was explained by David
Hume. It is simply a proof that monotheism grows out of polytheism; or,
if you like, that Theism is a development of Idolatry. This is a truth
that takes all the sting out of Lord Bacon's observation that "against
Atheists the very savages take part with the very subtilest
philosophers." We may just remark that the philosophers must be very
hard pressed when they call up their savage allies.

Contemplative Atheists are rare, says Lord Bacon--"a Diagoras, a Bion, a
Lucian perhaps, and some others." They seem more than they are, for all
sorts of heretics are branded as Atheists; which leads his lordship to
the declaration that "the great Atheists indeed are hypocrites, which
are ever handling holy things, but without feeling; so as they must
needs be cauterised in the end." This is a pungent observation, and it
springs from the better side of his lordship's nature. We also have no
respect for hypocrites, and for that very reason we object to them as a
present to Atheism. Religion must consume in its own smoke, and dispose
of its own refuse.

The causes of Atheism next occupy Lord Bacon's attention. He finds
they are four; divisions in religion, the scandal of priests, profane
scoffing in holy matters, and "learned times, especially with peace and
prosperity." "Troubles and adversities," his lordship says, "do more
bow men's minds to religion." Which is true enough, though it only
illustrates the line of the Roman poet that religion always has its root
in fear.

It will be observed that, up to the present, Lord Bacon has not
considered one of the reasons _for_ Atheism. What he calls "causes" are
only _occasions_. He does not discuss, or even refer to, the objections
to Theism that are