The Sequel to the Count of Gabalis, or New Discourses on the Secret Sciences

On the Secret Sciences.

...in Religion that one might not undertake to prove through it. Is it not upon this dangerous way of reasoning, and through this unfortunate principle, that the fanatic Raymond LulleRamon Llull (c. 1232–1315) was a Majorcan philosopher and mystic who developed a complex system of logical combinations, known as the Ars Magna, intended to prove the truths of the Christian faith to non-believers through reason alone. believed he could demonstrate the Trinity and the Incarnation; and does not the most ignorant of the disciples of this madman have the audacity to say that he sees more clearly than daylight into these mysteries? Such is the fruit of the Philosophy of AristotleThe speaker views Aristotelian logic—the foundation of medieval Scholasticism—as a "cursed tree" that replaces simple spiritual faith with cold, intellectual proofs.. Let us, in God's name, uproot this cursed tree, and work with all our might to exterminate this enemy of the Faith: I would wish to die for this cause, and I would believe myself a martyr.

"Your zeal is admirable and singular," I said to him, "but is it not the case that through your Philosophy one could not prove that there is a God, that the soul is immortal, and other things of this nature? And is it not, in this respect, just as pernicious to the Faith as the Philosophy of Aristotle?"

"No, my child," he replied, "here is where DescartesRené Descartes (1596–1650), the famous French philosopher who, in works like his Meditations, attempted to provide rigorous logical proofs for the existence of God and the distinction between soul and body. went astray. Through the Philosophy that he took from us, one could not, in truth, evidently prove that there is no God, nor that the soul is mortal; but it follows clearly from our system that it is not necessary..."