{"product_id":"2940149179756","title":"The Examined Life","description":"I frequently consult a friend, whom I call the Critic on the Hearth, for stimulation when I feel dull. He does not live far off: as near, perhaps, as my alter ego. Today I found him bursting with a new idea. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I’m going to invent a religion without conscience,” he announced to me with enthusiasm. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“If you think that’s a new invention, you’re mistaken,” I told him, trying to provoke him to argument. “Your religion would be turning back the clock to a time before the Hebrews’ ethical monotheism.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Good,” he retorted. “I’m mad at the Hebrews, or rather, all moralists.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What brought this on?” I asked. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Mingling with moralists, I think, and seeing what they have done to religion. I’m willing to agree with Christianity that love — the agape kind of love — is the supreme value. But corruption enters in as soon as we call it a ‘morality.’ We then feel we must love, so we disguise our lack of love, since we can’t manufacture the real thing at command.”","brand":"Pendle Hill Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47109115052272,"sku":"2940149179756","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940149179756_p0.jpg?v=1763713091","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940149179756","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}