And here’s some more thoughts from Diderot
VIII
Lost in an immense forest during the night I only have a small light to guide me. An unknown man appears and says to me: “My friend, blow out your candle so you can better find your way.” This unknown man is a theologian.
LXXII
Formerly, on the island of Ternate no one, not even priests, was allowed to speak of religion. There was only one temple, and a law expressly forbade that there be a second one. There could be found there neither altars nor statues, nor images. A hundred priests, who enjoyed considerable revenue, worked in the temple. They neither sang nor spoke, but in an enormous silence pointed at a pyramid upon which was written these words: “Mortals, adore God, love your brothers and make yourselves useful to the nation.”
-Thoughts on Religion, Diderot (1770)
http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/diderot/1770/religion.htm
