Ideas from '14: Superstition' by Plutarch [85], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Selected Essays and Dialogues' by Plutarch (ed/tr Russell,Donald) [OUP 1993,0-19-283094-5]].

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28. God / C. Attitudes to God / 5. Atheism
Absurd superstitions make people atheist, not disharmony in nature
                        Full Idea: Men have never thought the universe godless on the ground of detecting some fault in stars or seasons; ..it is the ridiculous things that superstition does that makes people say it would be better if there were no gods at all.
                        From: Plutarch (14: Superstition [c.85], §12)
                        A reaction: Not true, I would say. Absurd superstitions do discredit belief in the supernatural, but earthquakes are a disharmony in nature, and a nasty one at that. Nowadays we have other explanations to rival those of religion.