Chapter LII: GODS AS GUARDIANS OF MORALITY (concluded)

Explanation of the malevolence of savage gods, p. 728 _sq._--Of the growing tendency to attribute more amiable qualities to the gods, pp. 729-731.--Men selecting their gods, p. 729 _sq._--The good qualities of gods magnified by their worshippers, p. 730 _sq._--How various departments of social morality have come to be placed under the supervision of gods, p. 731 _sq._--How the guardianship of gods has been extended to the whole sphere of justice, p. 732.--How gods have become guardians of morality at large, p. 733 _sq._--The influence of the religious sanction of morality, p. 734 _sq._--Religious devotion frequently accompanied by great laxity of morals, pp. 735-737.--Greater importance attached to ceremonies or the niceties of belief than to good behaviour towards fellow men, p. 736 _sq._--The religious sanction of moral rules often leads to an external observance of these rules from purely selfish motives, p. 737.--The moral influence of Christianity, _ibid._

{xix} CHAPTER LIII