Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database

9561

Plutarch, On Superstition, 169d

nan Such are the characteristics of superstition in undesired and critical (as they are called) circumstances and occasions, but it is not one bit better than atheism even under pleasurable conditions. The pleasantest things that men enjoy are festal days and banquets at the temples, initiations and mystic rites, and prayer and adoration of the gods. Note that the atheist on these occasions gives way to insane and sardonic laughter at such ceremonies, and remarks aside to his cronies that people must cherish a vain and silly conceit to think that these rites are performed in honour of the gods; but with him no harm is done save this. On the other hand the superstitious man, much as he desires it, is not able to rejoice or be glad: The city is with burning incense filled;

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subject	book bibliographic info
alciphron	Naiden (2013) 119
apollonius of tyana	Naiden (2013) 119
athena	Naiden (2013) 119
euripides	Naiden (2013) 119
helios	Naiden (2013) 119
hesiod	Naiden (2013) 119
odysseus	Naiden (2013) 119
penelope	Naiden (2013) 119
plutarch'	Naiden (2013) 119