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Full Idea
The concept of God depends on the concepts of justice, kindness and wisdom - a God who is not kind, not just, and not wise is no God. But these concepts do not depend on the concept of God. That a quality is possessed by God does not make it divine.
Gist of Idea
A God needs justice, kindness and wisdom, but those concepts don't depend on the concept of God
Source
Ludwig Feuerbach (Introduction of 'Essence of Christianity' [1841], II)
Book Ref
Feuerbach,Ludwig: 'The Fiery Brook: Selected Writings', ed/tr. Hanfi,Zawar [Anchor 1972], p.119
A Reaction
This is part of Feuerbach's argument for atheism, but if you ask for the source of our human concepts of justice, kindness and wisdom, no one, I would have thought, could cite God for the role.
| 19451 | When absorbed in deep reflection, is your reason in control, or is it you? [Feuerbach] |
| 19450 | Reason, love and will are the highest perfections and essence of man - the purpose of his life [Feuerbach] |
| 19448 | Consciousness is said to distinguish man from animals - consciousness of his own species [Feuerbach] |
| 19449 | Religion is the consciousness of the infinite [Feuerbach] |
| 19455 | Today's atheism will tomorrow become a religion [Feuerbach] |
| 19454 | A God needs justice, kindness and wisdom, but those concepts don't depend on the concept of God [Feuerbach] |
| 19452 | The nature of God is an expression of human nature [Feuerbach] |
| 19453 | If love, goodness and personality are human, the God who is their source is anthropomorphic [Feuerbach] |