Gods as Guardians of Morality ( concluded )

Chapter LII

Explanation of the malevolence of savage gods, p. sq.—Of the growing tendency to attribute more amiable qualities to the gods, pp. –731.—Men selecting their gods, p. sq.—The good qualities of gods magnified by their worshippers, p. sq.—How various departments of social morality have come to be placed under the supervision of gods, p. sq.—How the guardianship of gods has been extended to the whole sphere of justice, p. .—How gods have become guardians of morality at large, p. sq.—The influence of the religious sanction of morality, p. sq.—Religious devotion frequently accompanied by great laxity of morals, pp. –737.—Greater importance attached to ceremonies or the niceties of belief than to good behaviour towards fellow men, p. sq.—The religious sanction of moral rules often leads to an external observance of these rules from purely selfish motives, p. .—The moral influence of Christianity, ibid.