
audiobook
by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach
LETTERS TO EUGENIA; - or, A PRESERVATIVE AGAINST RELIGIOUS PREJUDICES.
By Baron D'holbach - (Paul Henri Thiry Holbach (baron d') Nicolas Fréret)
NAIGEON'S PREFACE. - 1768.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
LETTERS TO EUGENIA
LETTER I. Of the Sources of Credulity, and of the Motives which should lead to an examination of religion.
LETTER II. Of the Ideas which Religion gives us of the Divinity
LETTER III. An Examination of the Holy Scriptures, of the Nature of the Christian Religion, and of the Proofs upon which Christianity is founded
LETTER IV. Of the fundamental dogmas of the Christian Religion
LETTER V. Of the Immortality of the Soul, and of the Dogma of another Life
In this spirited collection of letters, an anonymous Enlightenment thinker writes to a young woman named Eugenia, using a conversational tone to probe the roots of religious prejudice. He questions the authority of the clergy, highlights the dangers of dogma, and argues that virtue and reason can flourish when superstition is set aside. The correspondence feels intimate, inviting listeners to join a private dialogue that once circulated only among a handful of scholars.
The prose is clear and urbane, reflecting the author’s cultivated background while remaining accessible to modern ears. The preface tells a fascinating story of how the manuscript survived suppression and scarce copying, underscoring its historical significance. As the letters unfold, they champion universal benevolence, respect for law, and moral duty, offering a thoughtful antidote to the dogmatic fervor of the era without sacrificing wit or warmth.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (436K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
Nov 22, 2011
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1723–1789
A bold voice of the Enlightenment, this Franco-German thinker used philosophy to challenge religion, defend materialism, and ask what human happiness might look like in a world ruled by nature alone. His books were controversial in their own time and still feel strikingly direct today.
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by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach

by baron d' Paul Henri Thiry Holbach