The Philosophical Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint)

The Philosophical Principles of Natural and Revealed Religion, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint)

This book is an extensive study of historical religious texts, organized into chapters that discuss the existence of God, the nature of the divine, and the attributes of God as presented by early religious figures and in sacred texts. The author presents the religious beliefs of ancient cultures such as the Chinese, Indians, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Hebrews, focusing on the commonalities between these disparate traditions. He suggests that the existence of these common threads points to the existence of an underlying primitive tradition that was passed down from generation to generation. The author examines the ancient idea of a great Man or Legislator, who was the first author of these sacred symbols and hieroglyphics, of letters and sciences, and who taught their original laws, sacred mysteries, and religious rites. The bulk of this book is dedicated to examining the sacred symbols and principles of religion which the author argues existed before the universal deluge, and which he calls the Enochian or Noevian symbols. The author shows how these symbols were degraded, obscured, and misinterpreted over time as humans fell into superstition and idolatry. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of religion and the evolution of religious ideas. The author's insights on the commonalities between disparate religious traditions are particularly thought-provoking.