Although men are continually repeating that their God is infinitely
good; yet it is evident, that in reality, they can believe nothing
of the kind. How can we love what we do not know? How can we love
a being, whose character is only fit to throw us into inquietude
and trouble? How can we love a being, of whom all that is said
tends to render him an object of utter detestation?


63. Many people make a subtle distinction between true religion and
superstition. They say, that the latter is only a base and inordinate
fear of the Deity; but that the truly religious man has confidence
in his God, and loves him sincerely; whereas, the superstitious man
sees in him only an enemy, has no confidence in him, and represents
him to himself as a distrustful, cruel tyrant, sparing of his benefits,
lavish of his chastisements. But, in reality, does not all religion
give us the same ideas of God? At the same time that we are told,
that God is infinitely good, are we not also told, that he is very
easily provoked, that he grants his favours to a few people only,
and that he furiously chastises those, to whom he has not been pleased
to grant favours?


64. If we take our ideas of God from the nature of things, where we
find a mixture of good and evil, this God, just like the good and evil
of which we experience, must naturally appear capricious, inconstant,
sometimes good, and sometimes malevolent; and therefore, instead of
exciting our love, must generate distrust, fear, and uncertainty.
There is then no real difference between natural religion, and the
most gloomy and servile superstition. If the theist sees God only