The Moral Character of Jesus

The New Testament, so far as proof of this kind goes, furnishes
us with facts and circumstances which make strongly against the moral
character of Jesus. Beside the general duplicity which characterizes
his answers to the multitude, he is guilty also of sending his
disciples secretly to take and carry away a colt which did not belong
either to him or his disciples. The doing of such an act in modern
times would be denominated theft, even by pious Christians
themselves. He is guilty of sowing the seeds of domestic and national
warfare, and declaring that no man could be his disciple without
hating his father and his mother; and also that he came not to send
peace but a sword. If any man at the present day were to enter
society with actions and avowed intentions of this kind, he would be
considered as an enemy to moral virtue, and deserving of that
punishment which domestic justice and public tranquillity required.
It is in vain to applaud the conduct and opinions of Jesus, when the
same conduct and opinions applied to another being would be
considered as criminal, and hostile to the best interests of human
existence.

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

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