The Enemy of Man

Since it has already been shown that the Christian

religion has been destructive to science and to morals, it seems

almost unnecessary to make any observations on its relation to

general happiness; for since the happiness of man depends essentially

on the possession of knowledge and the practice of virtue, whatever

injures these must be detrimental to his true felicity. The

descriptions given in this religion of the character and conduct of

the Almighty, are shocking to the reflections of the benevolent mind;

they represent the Creator of the world, not as the friend, but as

the enemy of man; as a being agitated by passions, and acting

capriciously for the gratification of his own resentment; sometimes

he is said to be merciful, at other times cruel and vindictive;

sometimes just, at other times malevolent and revengeful; sometimes

permanent and immutable in his actions and designs, at other times

changeable, and to have repented of what he had previously determined

to perform; at one time unbounded in his love, at another time

unlimited in his fury and vengeance; sometimes the God of peace, at

other times the God of wars and battles; now mild and peaceable, the

next moment angry and resentful.... Can any one then be happy who trusts to a being of this description?

 --Elihu Palmer (1764-1806), Principles of Nature; or, A Development of the Moral Causes of Happiness and Misery Among the Human Species