This perpetuall feare, alwayes accompanying mankind in the ignorance of causes, as it were in the Dark, must needs have for object something. And therefore when there is nothing to be seen, there is nothing to accuse, either of their good, or evil fortune, but some Power, or Agent Invisible: In which sense perhaps it was, that some of the old Poets said, that the Gods were at first created by humane Feare: which spoken of the Gods were at first created by humane fear: Which spoken of the Gods, is very true...But the acknowledging of one Eternall, infinite, and omnipotent, may more easily be derived, from the desire men have to know the causes of naturall bodies, and their severall vertures, and operations; than from the feare of what was to befall them in the time to come. (Part 1: Chapter 12. Page 170)
The question of the creation of religion is brought up in this passage. Was religion created out of a sense of fear, security, or inspiration? In our Catholic view, we do believe that Jesus created Christianity. But what about the basic roots of A religion in general. Not neccesarily our Christian religion, but the praise and glory of a higher being? What sparked human interest in praising something that might not even exist? Is it as Hobbes says, out of fear?
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