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Old 02-05-2009, 03:11 PM   #525
Sonist
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The observations of the generally lower social and educational status of religious folk, are nothing new. The Greeks took note, as did the Romans.

For instance, Seneca the Younger allegedly quipped that "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful."

Also, at the end of the Second Century, Celsus made the following comments about the nascent Christian sects in Rome:

"We see, indeed, in private houses workers in wool and leather, and fullers, and persons of the most uninstructed and rustic character, not venturing to utter a word in the presence of their elders and wiser masters; but when they get hold of the children privately, and certain women as ignorant as themselves, they pour forth wonderful statements, to the effect that they ought not to give heed to their father and to their teachers, but should obey them; that the former are foolish and stupid, and neither know nor can perform anything that is really good, being preoccupied with empty trifles; that they alone know how men ought to live, and that, if the children obey them, they will both be happy themselves, and will make their home happy also. And while thus speaking, if they see one of the instructors of youth approaching, or one of the more intelligent class, or even the father himself, the more timid among them become afraid, while the more forward incite the children to throw off the yoke, whispering that in the presence of father and teachers they neither will nor can explain to them any good thing, seeing they turn away with aversion from the silliness and stupidity of such persons as being altogether corrupt, and far advanced in wickedness, and such as would inflict punishment upon them; but that if they wish (to avail themselves of their aid,) they must leave their father and their instructors, and go with the women and their playfellows to the women's apartments, or to the leather shop, or to the fuller's shop, that they may attain to perfection;--and by words like these they gain them over."

Of course, we only know of Celsus from the Christian apologist Origen's Contra Celsus, since the good Christians made sure to destroy every copy of Celsus' work. Not so unlike the original poster's aim of removing the Dawkins excerpt from the Sony ereader.
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