1792
                       THE STUDY OF GOD

                        by Thomas Paine









şiElectronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
DAK Upgraded Edition, Copyright 2000, DAK Industries 2000, Inc(R)şI

{THE_STUDY_OF_GOD
                          The Study of God

  RELIGION has two principal enemies, Fanaticism and Infidelity,
or that which is called atheism. The first requires to be combated
by reason and morality, the other by natural philosophy.

  The existence of a God is the first dogma of the
Theophilanthropists....

  The universe is the Bible of a true Theophilanthropist. It is
there that he reads of God. It is there that the proofs of his
existence are to be sought and to be found. As to written or
printed books, by whatever name they are called, they are the works
of man's hands, and carry no evidence in themselves that God is the
author of any of them. It must be in something that man could not
make that we must seek evidence for our belief, and that something
is the universe; the true Bible; the inimitable work of God.

  Contemplating the universe, the whole system of creation, in
this point of light, we shall discover that all that which is
called natural philosophy is properly a divine study. It is the
study of God through his works. It is the best study by which we
can arrive at a knowledge of his existence, and the only one by
which we can gain a glimpse of his perfection.

  Do we want to contemplate his power? We see it in the
immensity of the creation. Do we want to contemplate his wisdom? We
see it in the unchangeable order by which the incomprehensible
whole is governed. Do we want to contemplate his munificence? We
see it in the abundance with which he fills the earth. Do we want
to contemplate his mercy? We see it in his not withholding that
abundance even from the unthankful. In fine, do we want to know
what God is? Search not written or printed books, but the scripture
called the Creation.

  It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and
all the other sciences and subjects of natural philosophy, as
accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically,
or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all
the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or
invent, or contrive principles. He can only discover them; and he
ought to look through the discovery to the Author.

  When we examine an extraordinary piece of machinery, an
astonishing pile of architecture, a well executed statue, or a
highly finished painting, where life and action are imitated, and
habit only prevents our mistaking a surface of light and shade for
cubical solidity, our ideas are naturally led to think of the
extensive genius and talents of the artist. When we study the
elements of geometry, we think of Euclid. When we speak of
gravitation, we think of Newton. How then is it, that when we study
the works of God in the creation, we stop short, and do not think
of God? It is from the error of the schools in having taught those
subjects as accomplishments only, and thereby separated the study
of them from the Being who is the author of them.

  The schools have made the study of theology to consist in the
study of opinions in written or printed books; whereas theology
should be studied in the works or books of the creation. The study
of theology in books of opinions has often produced fanaticism,
rancor, and cruelty of temper; and from hence have proceeded the
numerous persecutions, the fanatical quarrels, the religious
burnings and massacres that have desolated Europe. But the study of
theology in the works of the creation produces a direct contrary
effect. The mind becomes at once enlightened and serene; a copy of
the scene it beholds: information and adoration go hand in hand;
and all the social faculties become enlarged.

  The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools in
teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been
that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of
looking through the works of the creation to the Creator himself,
they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create
doubts of his existence. They labor with studied ingenuity to
ascribe everything they behold to innate properties of matter; and
jump over all the rest, by saying that matter is eternal.


                            THE END