An Examination of Religion : and "On the Conduct A Good Man Should Observe During His Life"

This is the first English translation of the important, widely known Enlightenment-era book "An Examination of Religion", and the shorter, related "On the Conduct a Good Man Should Observe During His Life".

These are important expressions of deistic ideas, and of early ideas of secular morality, dating from the early to mid-1700s.

The "Examination" is a two-pronged work. It begins by tearing down all ideas of revelation, religious authority, and dogma: from the Bible's contradictions to the unlikely incarnation, the intellectual basis of Christianity is systematically analyzed by an author who wanted explicitly to "destroy religion".

Then it offers a positive, naturalistic view of the universe.

God exists, but He is far above His creation, beyond our comprehension, and He does not want or need to be worshiped by His creatures.

As for humanity, we are natural phenomena: all our wishes and deeds are ultimately predetermined, our lives and deaths are simply part of a larger order.

But if we apply our reason, we can find all the happiness and practice all the virtue we need in this one life.

Nor does society have any need of religion; it can do very well without it.