Assimilated by the deceit of its divine origin, its tenets…
““Assimilated by the deceit of its divine origin, its tenets are reward for obedience, punishment for transgression, both holding good for all time (this world and another). This moral code is a dramatised burlesque of the conceptive faculty, but is never so perfect or simple in that it allows latitude for change in any sense, so becomes dissociated from evolution, etc; and this divorce loses any utility and of necessity for its own preservation and the sympathy desired, evolves contradictions or a complication to give relationship. Transgressing its commandments, dishonesty shows us its iniquity, for our justification; or simultaneously we create an excuse or reason for the sin by a distortion of the moral code, that allows some incongruity. (Usually retaing a few unforgiveable sins- and an unwritten law.)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques a rigid moral system that claims divine authority, arguing it becomes outdated and contradictory when it cannot adapt to change, leading to hypocrisy and moral distortion.
In simple terms: Rigid moral codes become hypocritical when they cannot evolve.
Key Takeaway
Question rigid moral codes that hinder growth.
Themes
morality
religion
authority
hypocrisy
change
Mood
critical
reflective
skeptical
Type
philosophical
critical
analytical
When to use this quote
- Legal systems
- religious institutions
- personal ethics
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
Divine authority
Moral relativism
Social control
Questions to Reflect On
- How can moral frameworks stay relevant?
- What happens when authority is questioned?
A Different Perspective
Such codes often ignore context, causing injustice and resistance.