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LEONARDO DA VINCI: ATHEIST OR BELIEVER IN GOD? It should not come as a surprise that some atheists desperately try to turn this great genius into an atheist. After all, in their self-deceived thinking, how could such a titan be otherwise. The following are direct quotations from Leonardo about his theological views. “I obey Thee, Lord, first for the love I, in all reason, owe Thee; secondly, because Thou can shorten or prolong the lives of men.” (Richter, 1970, 237) "Thou, O God, sell us all good things at the price of labour." (Richter, 237) “O admirable Justice, Thou First Mover; Thou hast not wished that any force should fail the order or quality of its necessary effects.” (Richter, 237) “The body is subject to heaven and heaven to the Spirit.” (Richter, 238) “You think that the body is a wonderful work. In reality this is nothing compared to the soul that inhabits in that structure...It is the work of God.” (Richter, 238) “A lie is a terrible thing. Even if it spoke great things about God it would take away from God’s grace.” (Richter, 242) “The works of God are appreciated best by other creators.” (Richter, 387) _______________________ Richter, J., The Literary Works of Leonardo Da Vinci, Vol. II, Phaidon Press, 1970.
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