The Sequel to the Count of Gabalis

[...] many The French text starts mid-word with "coup," likely "beaucoup" (many). found it unchristian; and all good people found that this invention This "invention" refers to the use of satire and mockery to expose religious corruption, mentioned at the end of the previous page. harmed morals more than it could benefit them, since at the very least it made known to the common people just how far the Doctors The "Doctors" are the authoritative theologians of the Church. The author argues that satire backfired by revealing the "loopholes" or lax standards these theologians permitted., who were held in greater veneration than this Author, allowed them to relax their standards. If all these gentlemen had been willing to believe me, we would have done better than all that; but everyone is full of their own opinions, and that is how God’s business is very often delayed. It was necessary to begin by discrediting Aristotle Aristotle's logic and philosophy were the foundation of "Scholastic" theology in the Catholic Church; to challenge Aristotle was to challenge the very structure of religious education., without making it appear that one had the intention of establishing an opposing Philosophy; thus, without anyone noticing, Theology and Morality would have necessarily changed their face. This would have been easy in those days; I do not know if it will be so now. Some disciples of those great men I was telling you about have taken it upon themselves to undertake it, and they are promoting, as best they can, a new—