In order to make Christians prejudge Shelley it has been the wont of theologians, as usual in fighting their antagonists, to cry up a false issue, and to make their followers believe that he was rather more than a mere hater of Jesus Christ, and of the teachings of that religious and social reformer, in fact, that he was an infidel of infidels.  To have no misconceptions—­for it has been stated that Shelley changed his views on Christ, which after ten years’ careful study of his writings, I utterly deny, it should be thoroughly understood that he regarded this pious Israelite in a duismal aspect—­as Christ the Man, and as Christ the God.  I must not, while here, forget that many advanced metaphysicians agree that they cannot satisfactorily prove the historical existence of Christ, and that they have to winnow through a vast amount of chaff to get at his presumed philosophy, and the facts in his life, which like that of Buddha is wrapped up in traditional fable.

For the Man Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter’s carnate son, the mystical Essene and occultist, Shelley exceeded in love and reverence many of the most earnest Christians, and in no theological writings can there be discovered such beautiful sentiments concerning the “The Regenerator of the World,” and the “Meek Reformer,” of whom he speaks as contemplating that mysterious principle called God, the fundamental of all good, and the source of all happiness, as every true poet and philosopher must have done.  It is impossible to turn to any page of his works, where, in speaking of Christ, he fails in this—­he expatiates with as great fervor as Renan, Seeley, or Strauss, on Christ’s exposing with earnest eloquence, like all true members of the brotherhood of Illuminati, to which he belonged, the panic fears and hateful superstitions which have enslaved mankind for ages, and extols

“His extraordinary genius, the wide and rapid effects of his unexampled doctrines, his invincible gentleness and benignity, (and) the devoted love borne to him by his adherents.”

For the God Christ, as depicted by the Sacerdotal order, he had the greatest contempt.  It was impossible for a mind constituted like his to tamely rest contented with the incredible story forced on mankind’s intelligence, that the Supreme Power could or would for any wise purpose be transformed into a dove, and re-enact the mythical part of Jupiter with a Christian Leda, the Jew carpenter’s wife, Mary, under the disguise of a bird.  Such a story and the theory on which it rests Shelley summarised as follows: 

“According to this book, God created Satan, who, instigated by the impulses of his nature, contended with the Omnipotent for the throne of Heaven.  After a contest for the empire, in which God was victorious, Satan was thrust into a pit of burning sulphur.  On man’s creation, God placed within his reach a tree whose fruit he forbade him to taste, on pain of death; permitting Satan, at the same time,