William Blake
Art is life, science is death
1757 – 1827William Blake’s spirituality was profoundly alternative for his time. In this series of aphorisms, he argues for the essential unity of all religions as expressions of the “Poetic Genius” within all human beings.
As the true method of knowledge is experiment the true faculty of knowing must be the faculty which experiences, This faculty I treat of.
That the Poetic Genius is the true Man and that the body or outward form of Man is derived from the Poetic Genius. Likewise that the forms of all things are derived from their Genius which by the Ancients was call'd an Angel & Spirit & Demon
As all men are alike in outward form, So (and with the same infinite variety) all are alike in the Poetic Genius
No man can think write or speak from his heart but he must intend truth. Thus all sects of Philosophy are from the Poetic Genius adapted to the weaknesses of every individual
As none by traveling over known lands can find out the unknown. So from already acquired knowledge Man could not acquire more. therefore an universal Poetic Genius exists
The Religions of all Nations are derived from each Nations different reception of the Poetic Genius which is everywhere call'd the Spirit of Prophecy
The Jewish & Christian Testaments are an original derivation from the Poetic Genius. This is necessary from the confined nature of bodily sensation
As all men are alike (tho’ infinitely various) So all Religions & as all similars have one source. The true Man is the source he being the Poetic Genius