“If we believe that he [Jesus Christ]really countenanced the follies, the falsehoods, and the charlatanisms, which his biographers [writers of the New Testament]father upon him, and admit the misconstructions, interpolations, and theorizations of the fathers of the early and the fanatics of the latter ages, the conclusion would be irresistible by every sound mind that he was an impostor.” IfsMindBelieveWould BeAgeFatherJesusSoundChristJesus ChristConclusionFollyLatterFalsehoodTestamentNew TestamentFanaticsIrresistibleBiographersSound Mind Author:Thomas Jefferson
“The ignorant frighten children with ghosts, and the better educated assure them there is no such thing. Our understanding may believe the latter, but our instincts believe the former; so that, out of this education, we retain the terror, and just believe enough to make it very troublesome whenever we are placed in circumstances that awaken it.” BelieveMayChildrenEnoughUnderstandingCircumstancesInstinctTerrorGhostIgnorantEducatedFormerLatterTroublesomeJust Believe Book:The night-side of nature; or, Ghosts and ghost-seers Source: The night-side of nature; or, Ghosts and ghost-seers
“There is a virtuous fear, which is the effect of faith; and there is a vicious fear, which is the product of doubt. The former leads to hope, as relying on God, in whom we believe; the latter inclines to despair, as not relying on God, in whom we do not believe. Persons of the one character fear to lose God; persons of the other character fear to find Him.” BelievePersonsCharacterFearLosesDoubtEffectsProductsDespairFormerLatterVirtuousViciousInclineRelying On God Author:Blaise Pascal