Views on Religion and Art: Tolstoy vs. Hume

In his work, Tolstoy seemed fond of the idea that art would unite a universal brotherhood.  He also explains that the only way this artistic progress can be made is by creating art within the religion based flow of ideas.  Now, Tolstoy defines religion as more of living a humanitarian lifestyle, but all the same, dictates that art without religious perception is counterproductive.  

Hume has much different views on the subject, although, like most of his words, focuses more on the legitimate merit of art in general.  His ideas of religious influence on art is much different than Tolstoy.

"Religious principles are also a blemish in any polite composition, when they rise up to superstition, and intrude themselves into every sentiment, however remote from any connection with religion" (Hume, 112).  

When Hume is explaining what makes a good critic, he includes a well learned person, especially one no biased or jaded by a lifetime of influence by one culture in particular.  He says that a person too predisposed to one culture in particular cannot judge art from another, and would tend to favor art with nuances from his or her heritage.  I think Hume is classifying religion as such, an element of culture, and with that being said, sees the religious metaphors in art as bias towards one culture over another, and therefore, makes the artist or critic unable to fairly judge the art with art from around the world.