MORALITY AS A RELIGION AN EXPOSITION OF SOME FIRST PRINCIPLES

W. R. WASHINGTON SULLIVAN

Morality as a Religion by W. R. Washington Sullivan is a thought-provoking work that examines morality as an essential element of human spirituality. Sullivan argues that morality is not merely a set of rules for social conduct but is deeply connected to religious principles, transcending individual ethical choices and encompassing a universal spiritual framework. The book discusses the origins and development of moral values across different cultures, and how these values are rooted in a shared sense of the divine. Sullivan explores the relationship between moral behavior and religious belief, emphasizing that a moral life is a spiritual life, in which actions, thoughts, and decisions are aligned with a higher purpose. He provides an exploration of how morality can lead to greater spiritual awareness and personal growth, highlighting how living a morally upright life contributes to the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. Sullivan's work challenges readers to reconsider the relationship between ethics and religion, encouraging a deeper commitment to living a moral and spiritually enriched life.

Table of contents

• PREFACE.
• I. ETHICS AND RELIGION.
• II ETHICS AND SCIENCE.
• III. ETHICS AND THEISM.
• IV. IMMANUEL KANT, THE ETHICAL PHILOSOPHER.
• V. THE ETHICAL DOCTRINE OF COMPENSATION.
• VI. CONSCIENCE THE VOICE OF GOD AND THE VOICE OF MAN.
• VII. PRIESTS AND PROPHETS.
• VIII. PRAYER IN THE ETHICAL CHURCH.
• IX. THE ETHICAL ASPECT OF DEATH.
• X. THE ETHICAL ASPECT OF WAR.
• XI. THE ETHICS OF MARRIAGE.
• XII. THE ETHICAL CHURCH AND POSITIVISM.
• XIII. THE OLD FAITH AND THE NEW
• XIV. THE RELIGION OF TENNYSON.
• XV. “THE UNKNOWN GOD.”
• XVI. “A CHAPEL IN THE INFINITE.”
• XVII. “THE OVER-SOUL.”