Full Idea
Men are mortal and renew their species by generation. Why must this circumstance, so universal, so essential, be excluded from those numerous and limited deities?
Gist of Idea
Humans renew their species sexually. If there are many gods, would they not do the same?
Source
David Hume (Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion [1751], Part 5)
Book Reference
'The Existence of God', ed/tr. Hick,John [Macmillan 1964], p.107
A Reaction
Hume observes that this would be like the Greek gods. Hume makes mincemeat of attempts to prove the existence of God merely by analogy with human affairs.
Related Idea
Idea 21282 Design cannot prove a unified Deity. Many men make a city, so why not many gods for a world? [Hume]