Abstract

The objective of this study is to show that Hume's treatment of religion may be understood in a constructive way. This study first of all articulates and defends N. Kemp Smith's view of Hume's work as a constructive scepticism which seeks to establish that science and morality are grounded fundamentally not in reason but in human nature. With this interpretation as a background, the study moves to its central question whether there is a place for religion in this constructive scepticism. ;For Hume, there are two important questions concerning religion; that concerning its foundation in reason and that concerning its origin in human nature. Hume's inquiry concerning the first question shows that although there is no rational demonstration establishing the nature and existence of God, there is a possibility of natural belief in an intelligent Author. On the other hand, Hume's inquiry concerning the second question shows that all popular religions we have observed throughout the history of mankind have been based not on natural belief in an intelligent Author, but on a theism artificially induced by the interested mind of the priestly class, dogmatized by false philosophy and justified by revelation. For Hume, this unhappy phenomenon appears as an enigma. ;In order to dissolve the enigma of religion, Hume recommends a philosophical deism grounded in natural propensity to believe in an intelligent Author. Such a deism may serve not only to purge the common life of superstition but also to enforce secular morality and to support political order. However, the problem is that philosophical deism is always, as observed throughout the history of mankind, in danger of being perverted. If perversion is to be avoided, some way must be found to affect sense and imagination in such a way as to overcome the inveterate prejudices of the vulgar toward superstition. Hume's treatment of religion does not close the way to a constructive role for sense and imagination in the area of religion. I conclude by pointing to Confucianism or American civil religion as examples of the sort of deistically-based religion to which Hume's philosophy of religion is open