'"I am quite convinced that all religions, at bottom, are pretty much alike. On the surface they may seem to differ greatly, but what appears on the surface is not always religion. Go beneath it, and one finds invariably the same sense of helplessness before the cosmic mysteries, and the same pathetic attempt to resolve it by appealing to higher powers."--from Treatise on the Gods' H. L. Mencken is perhaps best known for his scathing political satire. But politicians, as far as Mencken was concerned, had no monopoly on self ...
Read More
'"I am quite convinced that all religions, at bottom, are pretty much alike. On the surface they may seem to differ greatly, but what appears on the surface is not always religion. Go beneath it, and one finds invariably the same sense of helplessness before the cosmic mysteries, and the same pathetic attempt to resolve it by appealing to higher powers."--from Treatise on the Gods' H. L. Mencken is perhaps best known for his scathing political satire. But politicians, as far as Mencken was concerned, had no monopoly on self-righteous chest-thumping, deceit, and thievery. He also found religion to be an adversary worthy of his attention and, in 'Treatise on the Gods', he offers some of his best shots, a choreographed cannonade. Mencken examines religion everywhere, from India to Peru, from the myths of Egypt to the traditional beliefs of America's Bible Belt. He compares Incas and Greeks, examines doctrines, dogmas, sacred texts, heresies, and ceremonies. He ranges far and wide, but returns at last to the subject that most provokes him: Christianity. He reviews the history of the Church and its founders. "It is Tertullian who is credited with the motto, Credo, quia absurdum est: I believe because it is incredible. Needless to say, he began life as a lawyer." Mencken is no less interested in the dissidents: "The Reformers were men of courage, but not many of them were intelligent." Against the old-time religion of fellow countrymen, Mencken posed as a figure of old-time skepticism, and he reaped the whirlwind. Controversial even before it was published in 1930, 'Treatise on the Gods' remains what its author wished it to be: the plain, clear challenge of honest doubt.
Read Less
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods to cart. $9.24, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods to cart. $9.24, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods to cart. $9.24, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods to cart. $9.24, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods to cart. $14.99, very good condition, Sold by Montana Book Company rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fond du Lac, WI, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. pp. 319. 319 pp. Tightly bound. Spine not compromised. Text is free of markings. Owner's name and blind stamp on front end paper. NOTE: There is a light ding to the top page edges that shows from page 1-34. It is a minor cosmetic detraction.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods (Maryland Paperback Bookshelf) to cart. $23.01, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods to cart. $9.24, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods (Maryland Paperback Bookshelf) to cart. $13.00, very good condition, Sold by Book Alley rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pasadena, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Add this copy of Treatise on the Gods (Maryland Paperback Bookshelf) to cart. $16.75, very good condition, Sold by Kona Bay Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Kailua-Kona, HI, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Johns Hopkins University Press.
