AC 7352 - "Frogs" - Reasoning; AC 7356 - The Chief Delights of the Evil

AC 7352 - "Frogs" - Reasoning

And the river shall make frogs to creep forth.
(Exodus 7:28)

That this means that there will be
reasonings from these falsities,
is evident from the meaning of "the river of Egypt,"
as being falsity;
and from the meaning of "frogs,"
as being reasonings.

That "frogs" denote reasonings
is because they are in waters,
where they make a chattering noise and croak,
and are also among things unclean.
What reasoning from mere falsities is,
shall be illustrated by some examples.

• That a person reasons from mere falsities
  who attributes all things to nature,
  and scarcely anything to the Divine;
  when yet all things are from the Divine,
  and nature is only the instrumental means
  by which the Divine works.
• He reasons from mere falsities
  who believes that a person is like a beast,
  only more perfect,
  because he can think;
  and thus that a person will die like a beast;
  by thus denying the conjunction
  of a person with the Divine
  through the thought which is of faith,
  and the affection which is of love,
  and consequently his resurrection and life eternal,
  such a person speaks from mere falsities.
• In like manner is one who believes that there is no hell.
• And also he who believes that all a person has
  is the delight of this world's life,
  and therefore he must enjoy this,
  because when he dies, he dies altogether.
• He reasons from mere falsities
  who believes that all things depend
  upon his own sagacity, and on fortune;
  and not on the Divine Providence,
  except such as is universal.
• And also he who believes that religion
  is good for nothing except to keep the simple in bonds.
• Especially do they reason from mere falsities
  who believe that the Word is not Divine.
  

In short, all those reason from mere falsities
who utterly deny truths Divine.

AC 7356 - The Chief Delights of the Evil

It is moreover one of the chief delights of the evil
to spread falsities,
to confirm them,
to deride truths,
and especially to seduce others.