Hume's Reflection on Religion (International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées)

This book presents a comprehensive interpretation of Hume's `serious reflection' on religion from the perspective afforded by his philosophical project and its Enlightened ends. I relate his account of the origin, development, and significant effects of religious beliefs to his own historical works, and conversely take the former as the leading thread into the disclosure of a Humean philosophy of history. I also critically analyze his views about the eminently irrational and feigned character of most religious faith and its inevitable negative effect on morality. Finally, I examine Hume's attack on the validity of the conclusions of rational theology. Reasonable support is provided for the claim that the belief in God, as an intelligent author of the universe, is a natural and reasonable belief.
This work may interest both scholars and general readers who are intrigued or troubled by religion and the issues `of the utmost importance' which it raises.