Religious Innatism Debate in Early Modern Britain: Intellectual Change Beyond Locke

This book explores the debate over the natural origins of religious belief in England and Scotland between 1650 and 1750, challenging the notion that the Enlightenment led to a decline in belief in religious innatism. It demonstrates that the belief that human nature was framed for religion continued in new forms into the eighteenth century, with various reasons for its persistence.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 132 pages
\n Publication date: 21 September 2021
\n Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG
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This captivating book delves into the enduring debate surrounding the natural origins of religious belief, challenging the notion that the Enlightenment marked the end of such thinking. By expanding beyond the narrow perspective of John Locke's empiricism, it offers a rich and multifaceted analysis of the vibrant discussions that took place in England and Scotland between the mid-17th and early-18th centuries. Through a comprehensive examination of hundreds of discussions on the relationship between human nature and religion, spanning various genres and contexts, the book sheds light on the pervasive and enduring belief in religious innatism within the Christian thought of early modern Britain. This belief was employed for a diverse range of purposes, highlighting the enduring influence of human nature on religious ideas throughout the centuries. While the doctrine of innate religious ideas may have faded, the notion that human nature was inherently framed for religion continued to manifest in new forms and expressions into the 18th century. This insightful work not only deepens our understanding of the historical dynamics of religious belief but also provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between human nature, religion, and society in the early modern era.

\n Weight: 320g\n
Dimension: 156 x 218 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9783030843229\n
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021\n