The American Deists Voices of Reason and Dissent in the Early Republic / Kerry S. Walters.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Walters, Kerry S.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Deism--United States.

Deism.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 394 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

University Press of Kansas 1992

1992. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. :

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Challenging carvedinstone tenets of Christianity, deism began sprouting in colonial America in the early eighteenth century, was flourishing nicely by the American Revolution, and for all intents and purposes was dead by 1811. Despite its hasty demise, deism left a theological legacy. Christian sensibility would never be quite the same.Bringing together the works of six major American deists—Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Ethan Allen, Thomas Paine, Elihu Palmer, and Philip Frenau—an dthe Frechman Comte de Volney, whose writings greatly influenced the American deists, Kerry Walters has created the fullest analysis yet of deism and rational religion in colonial and early America. In addition to presenting a chronological collection of several works by each author, he provides a description of deism’s historical roots, its major themes, its social and political implications, and the reasons for its eventual demise as a movement.Essential readings from the three major deistic periodicals of the period—Temple of Reason, Prospect, and the Theophilanthropist—also are included in the volume. This is the first time they have been reprinted since their original publication.American deism is more than merely an antiquated philosophical position possessing only historical interest, Walters contends. Its search for a religion based upon the ideals of reason, nature, and humanitarianism, rather than the blind faith, scriptural inerrancy, and miracles preached by Christian churches at the time, continues to offer insight of real significance.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Benjamin Franklin: I Believe in One God, Creator of the Universe

Thomas Jefferson: Reason and Free Inquiry Are the Only Effectual Agents against Errors

Ethan Allen: Nature Is God's Revelation

Constatin Francois Chasseboeuf, Comte De Volney: Let Man Study Nature's Laws!

Thomas Paine: My Own Mind Is My Own Church

Elihu Palmer: Reason, the Glory of Our Nature

Philip Freneau: The Reasoning Power, Celestial Guest, the Stamp upon the Soul Impress'd

The Temple of Reason: In Defence of Pure Religion

Prospect

or, View of the Moral World: Virtue, the Highest Dignity of Man

The Theophilanthropist: The Love of God and Man

Sources and Permissions

Bibliographic Essay

Index

Back Cover.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [369]-390) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780700605408

0700605401

OCLC:

608062366