Inner Life, Talks and Thoughts "Enemies of the Human Race" William Blake on the disaster of atheism
May 17, 2025
Dive into William Blake's provocative critique of natural morality, as he declares that those who preach it are enemies of humanity. Explore the tension between scientific reductionism and a divine presence within us, which Blake champions. Discover why naturalism might lead to a mechanically hollow society and the rise of nihilism. With modern applications like AI and daily moments of awakening, Blake's insights on love, forgiveness, and divine intimacy remain deeply relevant, inviting us to reclaim our imaginative vision.
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Blake's Radical Rejection Of Naturalism
- William Blake rejects natural morality and natural religion as anti-humanist because they reduce meaning to mechanistic causes.
- He calls advocates of such views "enemies of the human race" for undermining life's deepest sources of meaning.
Deism Reduces God To A Political Tool
- Blake locates deism in 18th-century figures like Paine and Newton and links it to a mechanistic god.
- He argues this distant, law-like deity flattered human reason and enabled political uses of religion.
Deism's Drift Toward Nihilism
- Deism paves the way for atheism by making God unnecessary once natural explanations suffice.
- Blake saw this slide producing nihilism and worship of a godless "life world."
