Anthropomorphism and idolatry constituted of necessity the faith of the mind in its youth, the theology of infancy and poesy.

A harmless error, if they had not endeavored to make it a rule of conduct, and if they had been wise enough to respect the liberty of thought.

But having made God in his own image, man wished to appropriate him still farther; not satisfied with disfiguring the Almighty, he treated him as his patrimony, his goods, his possessions.
God, pictured in monstrous forms, became throughout the world the property of man and of the State.

Such was the origin of the corruption of morals by religion, and the source of pious feuds and holy wars.
Thank Heaven! we have learned to allow every one his own beliefs; we seek for moral laws outside the pale of religion.

Instead of legislating as to the nature and attributes of God, the dogmas of theology, and the destiny of our souls, we wisely wait for science to tell us what to reject and what to accept.