Reason and Religion in the English Revolution: The Challenge of SocinianismThis book provides a significant rereading of political and ecclesiastical developments during the English Revolution, by integrating them into broader European discussions about Christianity and civil society. Sarah Mortimer reveals the extent to which these discussions were shaped by the writing of the Socinians, an extremely influential group of heterodox writers. She provides the first treatment of Socinianism in England for over fifty years, demonstrating the interplay between theological ideas and political events in this period as well as the strong intellectual connections between England and Europe. Royalists used Socinian ideas to defend royal authority and the episcopal Church of England from both Parliamentarians and Thomas Hobbes. But Socinianism was also vigorously denounced and, after the Civil Wars, this attack on Socinianism was central to efforts to build a church under Cromwell and to provide toleration. The final chapters provide a new account of the religious settlement of the 1650s. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 13 | |
Chapter 2 Socinianism in England and Europe | 39 |
Socinianism and scholarship | 63 |
Chapter 4 Royalists Socinianism and the English Civil War | 88 |
Chapter 5 Socinianism and the Church of England | 119 |
Chapter 6 Reason religion and the doctrine of the Trinity | 147 |
Other editions - View all
Reason and Religion in the English Revolution: The Challenge of Socinianism Sarah Mortimer No preview available - 2010 |
Reason and Religion in the English Revolution: The Challenge of Socinianism Sarah Mortimer No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
anti-Trinitarianism argued argument Arminian Arminius Ascham authority began believed Biddle Calvinist Cambridge Catholic chapter Charles Cheynell Chillingworth Christ Christianity Church of England Church settlement civil magistrate claim clerical controversy Covenant Crell debate defend Digges discussion divine doctrine Dutch early ecclesiology emphasised engagement with Socinian English episcopacy Episcopius Erastian Erbery ethical faith Falkland friends God’s Goodwin grace Grebby Hammond heresy heterodox History Hobbes Holy Hugo Grotius human Ibid individual insisted interpretation justice law of nature liberty of conscience London McLachlan ministers moral natural law natural right ODNB Opera Omnia original sin Oxford Parliament Parliamentarian philosophy political Presbyterian Prideaux Protestant punishment Racovian Catechism Rakow readers reason rejected religion religious Remonstrant role Royalist salvation scholars scriptural text seventeenth century Simon Episcopius Socinian ideas Socinian writing Socinus sought Spirit suggested Taylor theologians Thomas Hobbes thought Trinitarian Trinity Unitarian United Provinces views Volkelius Vorstius wanted William Chillingworth