The Most Flagrant Departures from Purity

The wrathful and unrelenting character of the Christian

divinity, is not less hostile to the immaculate principles of a sound

and excellent morality [than the Jewish version is]; imbittered in anger, and infuriate in his

vengeance, he lays his hand upon his innocent Son, and offers him up

a living sacrifice for the purposes which reason abhors, and justice

utterly disclaims. Under the modification, name, and character of the

Holy Ghost, this being introduces himself to a woman, and violates

those correct and delicate sentiments which ought to guide an

intelligent being in cases of this kind. Under the name and character

of Jesus Christ, he exhibits the most flagrant departures from the

purity of moral sentiment and moral practice.

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