A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and NationsWheeler, J. M. (Joseph Mazzini)
Religion
A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations
Wheeler, J. M. (Joseph Mazzini)
Free thought -- Biography
Strange (Thomas Lumsden), late Madras Civil Service, and for many
years a judge of the High Court, Madras. A highly religious man, and
long an Evangelical Christian, he joined the Plymouth Brethren, and
ended in being a strong, and then weak Theist, and always an earnest
advocate of practical piety in life and conduct, and a diligent
student and writer. When judge, he sentenced a Brahmin to death,
and sought to bring the prisoner "to Jesus." He professed himself
influenced, but at the gallows "he proclaimed his trust to be in
Rama and not in Christ." This set the judge thinking. He investigated
Christianity's claims, and has embodied the result in his works. The
Bible, Is it the Word of God? '71; The Speaker's Commentary Reviewed,
'71; The Development of Creation on the Earth, '74; The Legends of the
Old Testament, '74; and The Sources and Development of Christianity,
'75. A friend of T. Scott and General Forlong, he died at Norwood,
4 Sept. 1884.
Strauss (David Friedrich), German critic, b. Ludwigsburg (Wurtemburg),
27 Jan. 1808. He studied Theology at Tübengen, was ordained in '30, and
in '32 became assistant-teacher. His Life of Jesus Critically Treated,
'35, in which he shows the mythical character of the Gospels, aroused
much controversy, and he was deprived of his position. In '39 the
Zürich Government appointed him professor of church history, but they
were obliged to repeal their decision before the storm of Christian
indignation. His next important work was on the Christian Doctrines
(2 vols.), '40. In '47 he wrote on Julian the Apostle, and in '58 an
account of the Life and Time of Ulrich von Hutten. He prepared a New
Life of Christ for the German People, '64, followed by the Christ of
the Creeds and the Jesus of History. In '70 he published his lectures
on Voltaire, and two years later his last work The Old Faith and the
New, in which he entirely breaks not only with Christianity but with
the belief in a personal God and immortality. A devoted servant of
truth, his mind was always advancing. He died at his native place,
8 Feb. 1874.
Strindberg (Johan August), Swedish writer, known as the Scandinavian
Rousseau, b. Stockholm, 22 Jan. 1849. He has published many prominent
rationalistic works, as The Red Chamber and Marriage. The latter
was confiscated. He is one of the most popular poets and novelists
in Sweden.
Stromer (Hjalmar), Swedish astronomer, b. 1849. He lectured on
astronomy and published several works thereon, and also wrote
Confessions of a Freethinker. Died 1887.
Strozzi (Piero), Italian general in the service of France, b. of
noble Florentine family 1500. Intended for the Church he abandoned
it for a military career, and was created marshal of France by Henry
II. about 1555. He was killed at the siege of Thionville, 20 June
1558, and being exhorted by the Duc de Guise to think of Jesus,
he calmly declared himself an Atheist.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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