We all have personal beliefs, the man who wrote these lines, as much as the man or the woman who will read them. That is why I would like to clarify, so there is no misunderstanding, that the object of my commitment is not the believers but the beliefs.

As far as believers are concerned, they are discussed in this book and in almost everything that I have written on this subject; I know that their gullibility is not the result of stupidity or insincerity. I also think, essentially, that their firm belief is not the result of irrational forces, but simply of the fact they have reasons to believe. It does not mean that they are right for believing, but only that we have a better understanding of their illusions once we have attempted to rebuild the mental universe which is theirs.

As far as beliefs are concerned, some are amusing, but many can have terrible consequences. This is evident with regard to political or religious radicalisms; I will not offend the readers by giving examples of the like. This is also true of all the illusions which lead to ideological scenarios and that inspire, in certain individuals, mistrust or even a general loathing of the world in which we live in. I am not so sure that the western world deserves all this spitefulness, but that depends on your own point of view. At any rate, we certainly think that all these beliefs and the political demands that come along with them often put our country, and Europe especially, in situations of very disadvantageous competition with regard to other states where democracy is not a political path. If there is a fear, undoubtedly excessive, that pervades this book, it is to see our democracies brought down to their knees by their own demons … to see the democracy of the gullible turn our world into a suburb forsaken by history.