21 Sept 1811

Jug Util

§.4 +

10

B.II. Under Revelation

Ch.9. Mischief 7 Antipathy for unbelief

1

§.4. Hate Cacotheism not others

(5) (1)

But that, in either case antipathy would be rational, useful, laudable

But against Cacotheism it would be most excusable /desirable/

§.4. Proper object of antipathy, not atheism but cacotheism.

On the ground of religion if antipathy had the good of mankind for its object /end in view/, and at the same time reason for its guide, not against atheism but against cacotheism would the force of it be directed. Considered a means to an end human felicity being that end it is not in the quantity /of the force in question/ of good and evil expected /supposed. to be employed, but to the direction supposed to be given to it, that the nature and character of it in respect of beneficentness /utility/ or mischievousness depends.

So far as the effects in the production of which the power of the being in question is supposed /represented as being/ to be employed are of a pernicious /mischievous/ nature destruction of pleasure is productive of pain, so far it is more conducive to human felicity that he /any such being/ should be considered as non-existing than as existing: it is only in the supposition that /on/ the effects in the production of which his power is represented as being employed there is more of good than of evil, of good as above explained than of evil as above explained, that /a general persuasion/ the belief of his existence is, with reference to human felicity a /result/ /state of things/ in any degree desirable.

[marginal summaries]

1.

Had antipathy for its object the good of mankind and for its guide reason, not against atheism but cacotheism would its force be directed. Not in the quantity of force but in its direction does its beneficentness or mischievousness depend.

2.

Effects supposed to be produced by God pernicious—destruction of pleasure is production of pain: better for human happiness he should be considered as non-existing than as existing: or the opposite supposition only is it good for man that he exist.