The Christians say, that among the ancient Jews, if you committed a crime you had to kill a sheep. Now they say 'charge it.' 'Put it on the slate.' The Savior will pay it. In this way, rascality is sold on credit, and the credit system in morals, as in business, breeds extravagance.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The idea of paying for sins through a savior encourages moral recklessness.
- In plain terms
- Believing someone will pay for your sins makes people sin more.
- What can you take from it?
- Blaming sins on others encourages bad behavior.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does grace encourage sin?
- How do we teach morality?
Another view
Forgiveness can also promote rehabilitation rather than extravagance.
More from Robert G. Ingersoll
That which must be, has the right to be.
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