Abstract
SUPERSTITION, ( Metaphys. & Philos .) every kind of excess of religion in general, following the ancient word, paganism; one must be pious in order to guard against falling into superstition […] Indeed, superstition is a cult of false, badly directed religion, full of sham dreads, contrary to reason and to the sound ideas one ought to have of the supreme being. Or, if you prefer, superstition is that sort of enchantment or magical power which fear exercises over our soul; the wretched daughter of the imagination, who attacks it with ghosts, dreams, and visions […] It crushes the mind, mainly with illness or adversity; it transforms good discipline & venerable customs into mummery & superficial ceremonies. Once it has put down deep roots in whatever religion it might be, good or bad, it is capable of extinguishing natural enlightenment ( les lumières naturelles ), & of troubling the soundest minds. In short, this is humanity's most terrible scourge. Even atheism destroys no natural sentiments, casts no slur on the laws, or on popular morals; but superstition is a despotic tyrant who makes everything surrender to its flights of fancy. Its prejudices are superior to all other prejudices. An atheist has an interest in the public tranquillity through a love of his own peace of mind; but fanatical superstition , born of a troubled imagination, overthrows empires […] Ignorance and barbarity usher in superstition , hypocrisy maintains it with useless ceremonies, false zeal propagates it, & self-interest perpetuates it. The hand of the monarch is unsure how to put the monster of superstition in chains, & it is from this monster, still more than from irreligion (inexcusable as it is) that the throne should fear for its authority […] Superstition , put into action, properly constitutes fanaticism, see FANATICISM; this is one of the finest and best articles in the Encyclopédie . ( D[e].J[aucourt] .) ( Encyclopédie , vol. 15, Sen-Tch, 669–70.)
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