Immanuel Kant's concept of an ethical commonwealth (ein ethisches gemeines Wesen) in Die Religion innerhalb der Grenzen der bloßen Vernunft consists of three elements: (A) an idea of a community of human beings oriented toward the good; (B) an idea of the church; and (C) a means of resisting evil. Previous studies have focused on each element singularly, but not on their interconnection. The reason is that each of them is located in a considerably different context. A is derived directly from pure practical reason and thus has practical necessity and universality; B is developed in the context of religious theory or theology; C has an anthropological background. I shall argue that despite their different contexts, they have the following interconnections.
First, A is an idea of pure practical reason that should regulate every activity of B. Second, the convergence of B toward A functions as C in a way that promotes human moral progress and simultaneously reduces the temptations which could lead human beings to commit bad actions. In this way, A, B, and C are internally connected.

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