4a: Early Enlightenment Precursors to Religious Humanism
Both Secular and Religious Humanism have roots in the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, during the 17th and 18th centuries. However, these roots are not identical and different Enlightenment influences gave rise to the two different types of Modern Humanism. This is where Modern Humanist precursors branch off to eventually give rise first to Religious Humanism, then later to Secular Humanism. We will first start with Enlightenment precursors to Religious Humanism, then continue with those of Secular Humanism next month. There is a fine line between the two, so the way I categorize their influences may be arguable.
The previous article in this series explained how the Reformation, especially the anti-Trinitarian movement, led to the open questioning of religious authority and scripture. This rejection of authority generally led to advancements in scientific thought, empiricism, critical thinking and reason. Religious Humanism has its roots in the movements of the Quakers and Deists, as well as 19th century Ethical Culture, and 20th century Unitarian Universalism.
In the 17th century, Christian denominations continued to proliferate, as did the persecution of heretics and atheists. Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618) wrote "History of the World" while in prison between 1613 and 1616 for treason, and questioned the story of Noah's Ark. Although he was often accused of being an atheist, he was actually a Deist. Deism is naturalistic, except for the idea that there is a first-cause of the universe, called God and the belief in an afterlife. But this God, after getting the universe started, left the world to unfold according to natural law. Therefore, the God of Deism does not perform miracles nor is involved in human affairs. The implication is similar to that of Humanism: that as human beings, we must depend on each other and ourselves and not expect divine intervention. Raleigh wrote an essay called "The Skeptick" that said "the skeptick doth neither affirm nor deny any position but doubteth of it, and applyeth his Reason against that which is affirmed, or denied, to justify his non-consenting." (sic) He was beheaded in 1618.
The ideas of Isaac Newton (1642-1727), physicist and philosopher, helped popularize Deism. Although Newton himself was a Christian, others used his ideas of a mechanistic universe to support Deism. Deism reached its peak in the 18th century and will be discussed again later in this article.
After George Fox (1624-1691) was imprisoned for forming the Society of Friends (Quakers), many of his followers emigrated from Europe to America in an effort to escape persecution. Fox objected to political and religious authority and opposed war and slavery. Fox was imprisoned several times for interrupting and rebuking a minister, and for blasphemy. The Society of Friends continued to grow while Fox helped lobby for the Act of Toleration, which passed in 1689.
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