"A Few Days In Athens" Zoom Book Club Meeting. This week - Chapter Sixteen!
This is the last chapter and contains the full-frontal attack on religion. Topics include:
Chapter 16 – Epicurus Addresses an Assembly on the Evils of Religion
- Epicurus tells the crowd he will address the place of man in the universe.
- In this inquiry we must dismiss presumption and fear.
- The elements of the universe are evidently eternal and unchangeable, and that these elements make up all things and give them their qualities.
- Epicurus asks why we doubt the power of science and says that man alone doubts the power of his senses and perverts himself to poison the sources of his happiness.
- The source of this error is in the overdevelopment of our imagination – and the first link in the erroneous chain of thought is RELIGION.
- Religion is the true dethroner of human virtue and the root of all evil and misery in the world.
- The world is full of religion and also full of misery and crime.
- Gods cannot be observed, and are of such nature that they can have no relevance to men.
- Religion is not merely useless, it is mischievous by its idle terrors, its false morality, its hypocrisy, its dogmatism, and its false threats, hopes, and promises.
- The common concepts of the gods are offensive to both men and the gods.
- Whether it is a god or a philosopher who speaks, the evidence of nature is that the message of both is “Enjoy, and be happy!”
- The good is all that brings you pleasure; the evil is that which must bring you pain, and in this there is no paradox, no hidden tables.
- Just as religion is unsound, so is the common understanding of morality and “virtue.” Folly invented it, and knavery supports it. Let us arise, examine, judge, and be free!
Note: The use of video is strictly optional. We welcome any of our friends who choose to use audio only.
Important Links:
Link to PDF of the original book at Archive.org.
AFDIA Website with the entire book: http://www.afewdaysinathens.com
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Topic: A Few Days In Athens - Zoom Book Review 2022
Time: This is a recurring meeting
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