Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired: for in the course of things, men always grow vicious before they become unbelievers; but if you would once convince the town or country profligate, by topics drawn from the view of their own quiet, reputation, health, and advantage, their infidelity would soon drop off: This I confess is no easy task, because it is almost in a literal sense, to fight with beasts.
It’s stupefying that Swift was arguing against evidence-based rationality rather than for it. By “become unbeliever”, he means to correct someone from their incorrect belief (of not being a Christian). Oh, and, that’s a hot take, Jon: categorizing atheists as “beasts.”
Reminds me of the Christians who say “Our religion is a science. Their science is a religion.” So, religion is bad? Except when its as rigorous as a science. But… science is bad? (I’m so confused.)
