Natural History of Religion

Author: (English) David Hume
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: The Natural History of Religion, published nearly two centuries ago in 1757, holds a respectable position, yet its historical significance is often overlooked. It can be said that Hume's two complementary works—The Natural History of Religion and Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion—mark the beginning of what is generally referred to today as the philosophy of religion. The Natural History of Religion, published nearly two centuries ago in 1757, holds a respectable position, yet its historical significance is often overlooked. This book provides a detailed introduction to the following themes: polytheism as the earliest religion of humanity, the origins of polytheism, continuation of the same theme, the gods not being regarded as the creators or formers of the world, various forms of polytheism: fable, hero worship, the origins of monotheism emerging from polytheism, evidence supporting this theory, the cyclical transformation between polytheism and monotheism, and comparative analysis of these religions, including persecution and tolerance, courage or humility, reason or absurdity.