24.22. 22. That it is dangerous for Religion to inspire an Aversion for
Things in themselves indifferent.
A kind of honour established in the
Indies by the prejudices of religion has made the several tribes
conceive an aversion against each other. This honour is founded entirely
on religion; these family distinctions form no civil distinctions; there
are Indians who would think themselves dishonoured by eating with their
king.
These sorts of distinctions are connected with a certain aversion
for other men, very different from those sentiments which naturally
arise from difference of rank; which among us comprehends a love for
inferiors.
The laws of religion should never inspire an aversion to anything
but vice, and above all they should never estrange man from a love and
tenderness for his own species.
The Mahometan and Indian religions embrace an infinite number of
people; the Indians hate the Mahometans, because they eat cows; the
Mahometans detest the Indians because they eat hogs.
