Atheism vs. idolatry

Pierre Bayle, the 17th-century French Enlightenment philosopher, wrote a book called "Pensées sur la comète" which starts with comets but very quickly switches to what he really wants to talk about, which is the connection between religion and social order. The book is an attempt to stop talking about the superiority of Christians over atheists (an argument Bayle knew the atheists couldn't win) and start talking about the superiority of atheists over idolators. (Idolators here are defined as anyone who is fanatical, superstitious, or follows the wrong religious.)

Here's Bayle's brillant analogy: a husband prefers that his wife be indifferent to all men rather than succumbing to both him and to another man, while the Gallant is fine with her loving both her husband and him. Similarly, God might prefer us to be atheists rather than subscribing to the wrong religion! A clever twist on Pascal's wager.