Hume's
Natural History of Religion
may, with his
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
be held to mark the beginning of the Philosophy of Religion. Not so clearly a text illustrating modern technology—indeed in its own day it was regarded as skeptical and subversive—the
Natural History
is remarkably illustrative of the development of religious thought and is a brilliant philosophical contribution to the interpretation of religion. The editor of this reprint discusses Hume's purpose in writing the
and assesses its influence at the present day.