At the root of all religions is the passionate desire for the widest possible life, for the most unlimited exercise of all the powers.

The basis of all morality is self-sacrifice, the willingness to give up our wishes to the will of another.

The criterion of the power of a religion is its ability to command this sacrifice; the criterion of the excellence of a religion is the extent to which its commands coincide with the good of the race, with the lofty standard of the "categorical imperative." With these axioms well in mind, we can advance with confidence to examine the claims of a religion.

It will rise in the scale just in proportion as its behests, were they universally adopted, would permanently increase the happiness of the human race.
In their origin, as I have said, morality and religion are opposites; but they are opposites which inevitably attract and unite.

The first lesson of all religions is that we gain by giving, that to secure any end we must sacrifice something.