Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology
Section II. On Opposed Vices
By the first precept of the Decalogue there are forbidden: 1. superstition; 2. irreligiosity, insofar as it is contained in acts. Insofar as it is contained in words, for example blasphemy, it is opposed to the second precept.
"Superstition," says St. Thomas, "is a vice opposed to religion according to excess; not because it shows more in divine worship than true religion does, but because it shows divine worship either to one to whom it ought not, or in a way in which it ought not" (II-II, q. 92, a. 1). Irreligiosity is opposed to religion as by defect, and it has place when someone treats God or sacred things contemptuously or irreverently (St. Thomas, II-II, q. 97, pref.; St. Alphonsus, III, pref.).
Within this section
Chapter I. On Superstitionnn. 590–605
- Article I. On Vicious Worship of Godn. 591
Article II. On Vicious Worship of a Creaturenn. 592–605
- § I. On Idolatrynn. 592–594
§ II. On Superstitious Observancenn. 595–605
- Point I. On Superstitious Observance in Generalnn. 595–598
Point II. On Superstitious Observances in Particularnn. 599–605
- Scholion I. On Hypnotismnn. 602–603
- Scholion II. On Spiritismnn. 604–605
Chapter II. On Irreligiositynn. 606–631
- Article I. On the Temptation of Godnn. 607–609
Article II. On Sacrilegenn. 610–619
- § I. On Sacrilege in Generalnn. 610–612
§ II. On Sacrileges in Particularnn. 613–619
- Point I. On Personal Sacrilegenn. 613–614
- Point II. On Local Sacrilegenn. 615–616