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IS THERE A CREATOR
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The idea of propitiation of a God is to be condemned whole-heartedly.
"But the true gods, and those who are worthy to have and wear the dignity of this name, neither conceive anger nor indulge in a grudge, nor do they contrive by insidious devices what may be hurtful to another party. For verily it is profane, and surpasses all acts of sacrilege, to believe that that wise and most blessed nature is uplifted in mind if one prostrate himself before it in humble adoration; and if this adoration be not paid, that it deems itself despis. ed, and regards itself as fallen from the pinnacle of its glory. It 18 childish, weak, and petty, and scarcely becoming for those whom the experience of learned men 'has for a long time called demi-gods and heroes, not to be versed in heavenly things, and, divesting them. selves of their own proper state, to be busied with the coarser matter of earth."-(Arnobius) A.N.C.L. vol. xix. p. 17.
“For ... we think that they [if only they are true gods ...] should have all the virtues in perfection, should be wise, upright, venerable, if only our heaping buman honours upon them is not a crime), strong in excellencies within themselves, and should not give themselves up to external props, because the completeness of their unbroken bliss is made perfect ; [should be] free from all agitating and disturbing passions; should not born with anger, should not be excited by any desires; should send misfortune to none, should not find & cruel pleasure in the ills of men ... should not show prodigies to cause fear; should not hold [men] responsible and liable to be punished for the vows which they owe, nor demand expiatory sacrifices by threatening omens ..."-Ibid. p. 272.
"... And if we remember the definition which we should always bear steadily in mind, that all agitating feelings are unknown to the gods, the consequence is a belief that the gods are never angry; nay, rather, that no passion is further from them than that which, approaching most nearly to the spirit of wild beasts and savage creatures, agitates those who suffer it with tempestuous feelings, and bringe them into danger of destruction. For - whatever is harassed by any kind of disturbance, is, it is clear, capable of suffering, and frail; that which has been subjected to suffering and frailty must be mortal; but anger harasses and destroys those who are
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