JB/014/127/001

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16 Sept. 1814

Logic or Ethics Ch. Causes of Immorality

2

§.3 Religion Misapplied

This apply belongs not to the purpose.

What is conducive to happiness is more certain than that
conduciveness to happiness is informall to any mans expression-marks, unenforceable

Take any religion — in other words any meaning by any religion the notion
or notions of any human person or persons on the subject
of religion — if it in any of its precepts it be repugnant
irreconcilable to the principle of utility, what is the consequence?
— that the religion is false. Thus of the falsity of any religion there can
not be a plainer nor more conclusive nor or a plainer
proof evidence than the fact supposing it proved that in any
point it is repugnant to that principle which for the
net of propriety in every act takes its conduciveness
or repugnancy to the greatest known happiness of the greatest
number of mankind.

To understand religion is to understand the will of
God. God is a being, {having of in the number of his attributes,}
not among whose one of whose attributes is benevolence: and that not
ordinary such as human but infinite benevolence. But, be he God or man
how can any person be benevolent but in proportion to
the quantity of happiness which it is his wish to see
enjoyed by those who are subject to his power? And if it
be any other than an empty name of what is it that
happiness can be composed, but of pleasures? Be the
pleasure what it may, to speak of any person being as
desiring that it should be given up in for any other account cause
than that of its not being receivable without being accompanied
or followed by a more than equivalent pain — thus to speak
and at the same time to speak of such person being in the character
of a benevolent one is a contradiction in terms.
By a mere change of terms in terms the use made of the and character
of which discourse is made composed, can actions or can persons agents
be made to change their nature? By calling it a kiss, can that which
used to be termed a stab be rendered an act of kindness?

Identifier: | JB/014/127/001"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 14.
Date_1	1814-09-16	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	014	Main Headings	deontology
Folio number	127	Info in main headings field	logic or ethics
Image	001	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	e2
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[prince of wales feathers] mj&l 1811]]
Marginals		Paper Producer	colonel aaron burr
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1811
Notes public		ID Number	4890
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