A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 1 of 2: Third edition, Revised and Expanded, in two volumesRobertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)
Religion
A Short History of Freethought Ancient and Modern, Volume 1 of 2: Third edition, Revised and Expanded, in two volumes
Robertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)
Free thought -- History
§ 1. Germany and Switzerland. Mutianus. Crotus.
Bebel. Rise of Unitarianism. Luther and
Melanchthon. Their anti-democratic politics.
Their dogmatism. Zwingli. Calvin and his
victims. Gruet. The Libertini. Servetus.
Gripaldi. Calvin's polity. Ochino. Anthoine.
Moral failure of Protestantism 434
§ 2. England. Henry and Wolsey. Advanced heresy.
Persecution. Sir Thomas More 458
§ 3. The Netherlands. Calvinism and Arminianism.
Reaction towards Catholicism. Barneveldt.
Grotius 461
§ 4. Conclusion. The intellectual failure. Indirect
gains to freedom 464
Chap. XIII.--The Rise of Modern Freethought
§ 1. The Italian Influence. Deism. Unitarianism.
Latitudinarianism. Aconzio. Nizolio. Pereira 466
§ 2. Spain. Huarte 470
§ 3. France. Treatises against atheism: De Mornay.
New skepticism: Sanchez. Montaigne. Charron.
The Satyre-Menippée. Garasse on the Beaux
Esprits. Mersenne's attack 473
PREFACE
This, the third edition, represents a considerable expansion of the
second (1906), which in its turn was a considerable expansion of the
first (1899). The book now somewhat approximates, in point of fullness,
to the modest ideal aimed at. Anything much fuller would cease to be a
"Short History."
The process of revision, carried on since the last issue, has,
I hope, meant some further advance towards correctness, and some
improvement in arrangement--a particularly difficult matter in such
a book. As before, the many critical excursus have been so printed
that they may be recognized and skipped by those readers who care
to follow only the narrative. The chapter on the nineteenth century,
though much expanded, like those on the eighteenth, remains, I fear,
open to objection on the score of scantiness. I can only plead that
the ample and excellent work of Mr. A. W. Benn has now substantially
met the need for a fuller survey of that period.
It is fitting that I should acknowledge the generous critical
reception given by most reviewers to the previous editions of a
book which, breaking as it did new ground, lacked the gain from
previous example that accrues to most historical writing. My many
debts to historians of culture are, I trust, indicated in the notes;
but I have to repeat my former acknowledgments as to the Biographical
Dictionary of Freethinkers of my dead friend, J. M. Wheeler, inasmuch
as the aid I have had from his manifold research does not thus appear
on the surface.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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