Overview

Challenging the common assumption that the Enlightenment of the late seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries was an essentially secular, irreligious and atheistic movement, this book critiques this standard interpretation as based on a narrow view of Enlightenment sources. Building on the work of revisionist historians, this volume takes the argument squarely into the theological domain, whether Anglican, Dissenting, Lutheran or deistic, whilst also noting that the Enlightenment deeply affected Roman Catholic and Jewish theologies. It challenges the stereotype of ‘Enlightenment rationalism’, and the penultimate chapter brings out the biblical and ecclesial roots of the image of enlightenment and reclaims it for Christian faith.

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9780567705648

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Reviews

In this momentous work, the author gives a comprehensive and fresh examination of the Enlightenment's philosophies, religious thought and theology. This book is an invaluable guide for navigating the critical debates on the Enlightenment. Anyone interested in understanding the theological dimension of the Enlightenment will definitely welcome this magnificent book. -- Nikolaus Knoepffler, The University of Jena, Germany This book makes a very significant contribution to recent re-working of the Enlightenment. Avis, with his customary detailed scholarship and careful articulation, has drawn out the issues and presents a provocative and detailed account of theology and the End the Enlightenment. An excellent piece of accessible scholarly writing. -- Bruce Kaye, Charles Sturt University, Canberra

Author Information

Paul Avis is Honorary Professor in the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK, as well as Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, UK, and Editor-in-Chief of Ecclesiology.

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