Introduction.

[th]at was monstrous and absurd in everything said about the gods and attributed to them. On one side, one ascended to the first origin of all things through a series of insights that satisfied reason, supported by a steadfast tradition whose traces were found among all nations; on the other, there was a swarm of fables without foundation or probability, which violated all reason, or one found oneself in the midst of a labyrinth of philosophical systems original: philosophischer Lehrgebäude — literally "philosophical teaching-buildings," referring to the complex, structured schools of thought in ancient philosophy. that sounded even more absurd than the fables themselves. On one side, one discovered the infinite majesty, wisdom, and holiness of the Creator in the manner in which He governs His creatures, in the laws He gives them, and in the purpose for which He destines them. On the other, one saw nothing but humans who seemed to have been cast into the world at random, without knowledge of their origin, without social principles, without duties, without uniformity of customs and laws, and without certain concepts of what they were and what they were one day to become. On one side appeared the moving spectacle of the purest, most heroic virtue, which brings man as close to the Deity as possible; on the other, every eye was offended by the sight of the crudest vices and most shameful passions, which outraged all reason and degraded humanity to the level of beasts.

Among the pagans, there were people of every kind, just as there have always been and as there still are in the world today. Among them were found upright, honor-loving, enlightened [people]...