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Single Idea 2361

[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 2. Religion in Society ]

Full Idea

Fear of power invisible, feigned by the mind or imagined from tales publicly allowed, is religion; not allowed, is superstition.

Gist of Idea

If fear of unknown powers is legal it is religion, if it is illegal it is superstition

Source

Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan [1651], 1.06)

Book Ref

Hobbes,Thomas: 'Leviathan', ed/tr. Macpherson,C.B. [Penguin 1981], p.124