“In short, to do unto others as you would they should do unto you?”
“I suppose so.”
“Christianity.”
“No, it isn’t,” said Philip indignantly. “It has nothing to do with Christianity. It’s just abstract morality.”
“But there’s no such thing as abstract morality.”
“In that case, supposing under the influence of liquor you left your purse behind when you leave here and I picked it up, why do you imagine that I should return it to you? It’s not the fear of the police.”
“It’s the dread of hell if you sin and the hope of Heaven if you are virtuous.”
“But I believe in neither.”
“That may be. Neither did Kant when he devised the Categorical Imperative. You have thrown aside a creed, but you have preserved the ethic which was based upon it. To all intents you are a Christian still, and if there is a God in Heaven you will undoubtedly receive your reward. The Almighty can hardly be such a fool as the churches make out. If you keep His laws I don’t think He can care a packet of pins whether you believe in Him or not.”
“But if I left my purse behind you would certainly return it to me,” said Philip.