Pious fraud: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Fraud in religion or medicine}} |
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A '''pious fraud''' is a term used by [[scientific skepticism|skeptics]] for people who perform [[fraud]] in [[religion]] (for example, a pious fraud fakes [[miracle]]s or [[psychic surgery]]) because of a sincere belief that the end justifies the means in religious matters. |
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{{About|a phrase|the Estonian musical group|Pia Fraus}} |
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'''Pious fraud''' (Latin: ''pia fraus'') is used to describe [[fraud]] in [[religion]] or medicine. A pious fraud can be counterfeiting a [[miracle]] or falsely attributing a [[Pseudepigraph|sacred text to a biblical figure]] due to the belief that the "[[Consequentialism|end justifies the means]]", in this case the end of increasing [[faith]] by whatever means available. |
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==Use of the phrase== |
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The [[Oxford English Dictionary]] reports the phrase |
The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' reports the phrase is first known to have been used in English in 1678. [[Edward Gibbon]] was particularly fond of the phrase, using it often in his monumental and controversial work ''[[The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire]]'' in which he criticized the likelihood of some of the [[martyr]]s and miracles of the early [[Christianity|Christian]] church. |
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William Howells wrote |
[[William W. Howells]] wrote that [[shaman]]s know that their tricks are impostures, but that all who studied them agree that they really believe in their power to deal with spirits. According to Howells, their main purpose is an honest one and they believe that this justifies the means of hoodwinking his followers in minor technical matters.<ref>William Howells, 1962. ''The Heathens: Primitive Man and his Religions'' [[New York City]]: [[National Museum of American History]] [http://www.amnh.org/] in Robert S. Ellwood ''Civilized Shamans: Sacred Biography and Founders of [[New Religious Movement]]s'', in ''New Religions in a Postmodern World'' edited by [[Mikael Rothstein]] and Reender Kranenborg (Studies in New Religions [[Aarhus University]] Press) 2003 {{ISBN|87-7288-748-6}}</ref> |
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== Thomas Jefferson== |
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{{See also|Religious views of Thomas Jefferson}} |
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[[Thomas Jefferson]] wrote to a friend and doctor in 1807:<ref>{{cite web |url= http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/mtj/mtj1/038/038_0687_0692.pdf|title= Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, June 21, 1807 |website=memory.loc.gov |access-date=2021-04-13}}</ref> |
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{{quote|One of the most successful physicians I have ever known, has assured me, that he used more bread pills, drops of coloured water, and powders of hickory ashes, than of all other medicines put together. It was certainly a pious fraud.|''Placebo Effects and Science Journalism at the Mind/Body Boundary''. Steve Silberman, The Journal of Mind-Body Regulation, 2011}}<!--What is the author parameter referring to?--> |
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==Isaac Newton== |
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In [[Isaac Newton]]'s dissertation, ''[[An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture]]'', he blames the "Roman Church" for many abuses in the world, accusing it of "pious frauds".<ref>{{Cite book|title=An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture|pages=2}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Faith healing]] |
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* [[Noble lie]] |
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* [[Pious fiction]] |
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* [[Religious fraud]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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*Howells, William 1962 ''The [[Heathen]]s: Primitive Man and his Religions'' [[New York]]: [[American Museum of National History]] [http://www.amnh.org/]in Robert S. Ellwood ''Civilized Shamans: Sacred Biography and Founders of [[New Religious Movement]]s'', article that appeared in the book ''New Religions in a Postmodern World'' edited by Mikael Rothstein and Reender Kranenborg RENNER Studies in New religions [[Aarhus University]] press, [[2003]] ISBN 87-7288-748-6 |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://skepdic.com/piousfraud.html Pious fraud |
* [http://skepdic.com/piousfraud.html Pious fraud entry at skeptic dictionary] |
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[[Category:Deception]] |
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[[Category:Fraud]] |
[[Category:Fraud]] |
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[[Category:Religious practices]] |
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[[Category:Spirituality]] |
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{{reli-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 00:28, 8 December 2023
Pious fraud (Latin: pia fraus) is used to describe fraud in religion or medicine. A pious fraud can be counterfeiting a miracle or falsely attributing a sacred text to a biblical figure due to the belief that the "end justifies the means", in this case the end of increasing faith by whatever means available.
Use of the phrase[edit]
The Oxford English Dictionary reports the phrase is first known to have been used in English in 1678. Edward Gibbon was particularly fond of the phrase, using it often in his monumental and controversial work The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in which he criticized the likelihood of some of the martyrs and miracles of the early Christian church.
William W. Howells wrote that shamans know that their tricks are impostures, but that all who studied them agree that they really believe in their power to deal with spirits. According to Howells, their main purpose is an honest one and they believe that this justifies the means of hoodwinking his followers in minor technical matters.[1]
Thomas Jefferson[edit]
Thomas Jefferson wrote to a friend and doctor in 1807:[2]
One of the most successful physicians I have ever known, has assured me, that he used more bread pills, drops of coloured water, and powders of hickory ashes, than of all other medicines put together. It was certainly a pious fraud.
— Placebo Effects and Science Journalism at the Mind/Body Boundary. Steve Silberman, The Journal of Mind-Body Regulation, 2011
Isaac Newton[edit]
In Isaac Newton's dissertation, An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture, he blames the "Roman Church" for many abuses in the world, accusing it of "pious frauds".[3]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ William Howells, 1962. The Heathens: Primitive Man and his Religions New York City: National Museum of American History [1] in Robert S. Ellwood Civilized Shamans: Sacred Biography and Founders of New Religious Movements, in New Religions in a Postmodern World edited by Mikael Rothstein and Reender Kranenborg (Studies in New Religions Aarhus University Press) 2003 ISBN 87-7288-748-6
- ^ "Thomas Jefferson to Caspar Wistar, June 21, 1807" (PDF). memory.loc.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
- ^ An Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scripture. p. 2.