If ignorance of nature gave birth to gods, knowledge of nature is madefor their destruction. In proportion as man taught himself, his strengthand his resources augmented with his knowledge; science, the arts,industry, furnished him assistance; experience reassured him or procuredfor him means of resistance to the efforts of many causes which ceasedto alarm as soon as they became understood. In a word, his terrorsdissipated in the same proportion as his mind became enlightened. Theeducated man ceases to be superstitious. Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Necessity of Atheism Continue reading If ignorance of nature gave birth to gods, knowledge of nature is made for their destruction