Free Thoughts on God, the Universe, Man, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, and the Philosopher's Stone

could provide. He is told, indeed, that in the Holy Scripture Original: "Heiligen Schrift" God has revealed great things to the human race; however, due to various prejudices, he considered this book suspicious and a mere invention of the priests. He infinitely preferred the purity and universality of his natural religion A 18th-century philosophical concept where God is understood through reason and nature rather than divine revelation or miracles. to the impurity and contradictions of the Christian religion, which nurtures so many various sects and absurd opinions that revolt against nature. He took pleasure in the great respect with which the world treated him, and he was not entirely indifferent to the judgment of influential trendsetters who considered him a strong spirit Original: "starken Geist" — a term for a "freethinker" or "esprit fort," someone who claimed to be free from religious dogma..

He stretched his power of thought Original: "Denkkraft" ever higher; but once he had climbed as far as the predetermined measure of his specific abilities allowed, he became dissatisfied with his system. It contradicted the attributes of the Supreme Being, separated the Creator Original: "Schöpfer" entirely from the creature Original: "Geschöpfe" — meaning the created being or humanity., and failed to provide him with that peace of heart which was so vital to him. A sense of curiosity now came over him to obtain more detailed insights into the Supreme Being, into himself, and into the entire connection between all things, both known and unknown.