Chapter 13.—Concerning Those Who
Assert that Only Rational Animals are Parts of the One
God.
But if they contend that only
rational animals, such as men, are parts of God, I do not really
see how, if the whole world is God, they can separate beasts from
being parts of Him. But what need is there of striving about
that? Concerning the rational animal himself,—that is,
man,—what more unhappy belief can be entertained than that a part
of God is whipped when a boy is whipped? And who, unless he is
quite mad, could bear the thought that parts of God can become
lascivi
ous, iniquitous, impious, and altogether damnable? In
brief, why is God angry at those who do not worship Him, since
these offenders are parts of Himself? It remains, therefore, that
they must say that all the gods have their own lives; that each one
lives for himself, and none of them is a part of any one; but that
all are to be worshipped,—at least as many as can be known and
worshipped; for they are so many it is impossible that all can be
so. And of all these, I believe that Jupiter, because he presides
as king, is thought by them to have both established and extended
the Roman empire. For if he has not done it, what other god do
they believe could have attempted so great a work, when they must
all be occupied with their own offices and works, nor can one
intrude on that of another? Could the kingdom of men then be
propagated and increased by the king of the gods?