Peirce, America's most accomplished philosopher, felt that if contemplation and study of the physico-psychical universe "can imbue a man with principles of conduct analogous to the influence of a great man's works or conversation," then that is to understand something of what is meant by "God."

In addition, ER's laudable contempt for a spineless thirsting after acceptance and rewards is rather like Spinoza: "Human lack of power in moderating and checking the emotions I call servitude, for a man who is submissive to his emotions has not power over himself but is in the hands of fortune to such an extent that he is often constrained, although he may see what is better for him, to follow what is worse." Moreover, Spinoza taught that the intellectual love of God, an infinitely perfect Being, is fundamentally asymmetrical: we ought to love God wholeheartedly, but it would be foolish to expect reciprocity.