Others again, holding the same notion, but not considering that
"corruptio optimi pessima," have been in all ages somewhat inclined
to be merciful to superstition, as a child of reverence; as a mere
accidental misdirection of one of the noblest and most wholesome
faculties of man.
This is not the place wherein to argue with either of these parties:
and I shall simply say that superstition seems to me altogether a
physical affection, as thoroughly material and corporeal as those of
eating or sleeping, remembering or dreaming.
After this, it will be necessary to define superstition, in order to
have some tolerably clear understanding of what we are talking
about. I beg leave to define it as--Fear of the unknown.
Johnson, who was no dialectician, and, moreover, superstitious
enough himself, gives eight different definitions of the word; which
is equivalent to confessing his inability to define it at all:
"1. Unnecessary fear or scruples in religion; observance of
unnecessary and uncommanded rites or practices; religion without
morality.
"2. False religion; reverence of beings not proper objects of
reverence; false worship.
" 3. Over nicety; exactness too scrupulous."
Eight meanings; which, on the principle that eight eighths, or
indeed eight hundred, do not make one whole, may be considered as no
definition.
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