In existographies, Nicolas Boulanger (1722-1759) (RMS:25) was French mathematician, civil engineer, philosopher, and ancient and oriental languages scholar noted for []
Overview
Boulanger's collected works amount to 10-volumes. Many of his works seem to have been published posthumously. Also, of note, Baron d’Holbach, supposedly, used Boulanger's name as a pseudonym for some of his own work in religio-mythology.
In c.1758, Boulanger, in his “The Christian Mythology”, the fourth chapter of his Christianity Unveiled, explicitly defined Christianity as a “mythology” (see: Christian mythology); the opening section of which is as follows: [3]
“God, by an inconceivable act of his omnipotence, created the universe out of nothing [Ex nihilo nihil fit, was considered as an axiom by ancient philosophers. The creation, as admitted by Christians of the present day, i.e. the education [induction] of all thing from nothing, is a theological invention not indeed of very remote date. The word Barah, which is used in Genesis, signifies to tempest, arrange, to dispose matter already existing]. He made the earth for the residence of man, whom he created in his own image. Scarcely had this man, the prime object of the labours of the almighty, seen the light, when his creator set a snare for him, into which god undoubtedly knew that he must fall. A serpent which speaks, seduces a woman, who is no way surprised at this phenomenon. Being persuaded by the serpent, she solicits her husband to eat of a fruit forbidden by god himself. Adam, the father of the human race, by this light fault draws upon himself and his innocent posterity innumerable evils, which are followed but not terminated by death. By the offense of only one man the whole human race incurs the wrath of god; and they are at length punished for involuntary faults with an universal deluge. God repents haying peopled the earth, and he finds it easier to drown and destroy the human race, than to change their hearts.”
This was later reprinted in Baron d’Holbach's Critical History of Jesus Christ, as an appendix. [4]
In c.1758, Boulanger, together with Baron d’Holbach, penned Research on the Origin of Despotism and Superstitions, Posthumous work of Mr. Bidpec. [1]
In c.1758, Boulanger penned Christianity Unveiled: Review of the Principles and Effects of the Christian Religion. [1]
Quotes | By
The following are quotes by Boulanger:
“Let us not despair that truth will one day force its way even to thrones.”
— Nicolas Boulanger (c.1758), Publication; cited by Baron d’Holbach in Ecce Homo! (title page) [2]
“All cults, hydraulic in origin, were commemorative rehearsals of the one catastrophe which weighed heavily upon man.”
— Nicolas Boulanger (c.1758) (Ѻ)
References
1. Nicolas-Antoine Boulanger (French → English) – Wikipedia.
2. Holbach, Baron. (c.1770). Ecce Homo! A Critical Enquiry into the History of Jesus Christ: being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels. D.I. Eaton, 1813.
3. (a) Boulanger, Nicholas. (1761). Christianity Unveiled: Being an Examination of the Principles and Effects of the Christian Religion (Le christianisme devoile, ou examination of principes et des effets de la religion chrétienne) (§:The Christian Mythology). Publisher.
(b) Christianity Unveiled – Wikipedia.
4. d’Holbach, Baron. (1770). Ecce Homo [Behold the Man]: a Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth, Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels [Critical History of Jesus Christ: a Rational Analysis of the Gospels] (Histoire critique de Jésus-Christ, ou Analyse raisonnée des Évangiles) (Appendix I: The Christian Mythology, pgs. 325-28) (Gut)(txt). Gordon Press, 1977.
External links
● Nicolas Antoine Boulanger – Wikipedia.
