Crisis of Doubt : Honest Faith in Nineteenth-Century England

## Abstract For fifty years or more, a dominant motif in 19th-century British studies has been the Victorian crisis of faith or loss of faith. From Basil Willey to A. N. Wilson, books have been written that recounted the stories of Victorians who lost their faith. This narrative has become so ingrained that it is often the principal theme presented when religion in 19th-century Britain is discussed in general histories, textbooks, and literary studies. Serving as a corrective to that tired and overblown approach, this book uncovers a new pattern: the Victorian crisis of doubt. A whole succession of freethinking or Secularist leaders in 19th-century England reconverted back to Christianity, including figures well known in social, political, and literary studies such as the radical publisher William Hone and the Chartist Thomas Cooper. As sceptics, they had read, written about, and lectured on all the latest ideas that served to undermine faith such as biblical criticism and Darwinism. Nevertheless, they went on to judge that faith was more intellectually compelling than doubt, and to defend Christian thought in their writings, lectures, and public debates with Secularists. They held an honest faith to match the familiar theme of honest doubt. This was a deep crisis in the popular, freethinking movement: again and again leading Secularist lecturers and editors defected from the cause and re-emerged as able opponents. The book explores in detail their reasons for rejecting scepticism and their responses to the intellectual challenges to faith in their day. This study serves not only to correct an exaggerated emphasis on the Victorian crisis of faith, but also to reveal the intellectual strength of Christianity in the 19th century. For fifty years or more a dominant motif in nineteenth-century British studies has been the Victorian crisis of faith. From Basil Willey to A. N. Wilson books have been written that recount the stories of Victorians who lost their faith. This narrative has become so ingrained that it is often the principal theme presented when religion in nineteenth-century Britain is discussed in general histories, textbooks, and literary studies. Serving as a corrective to that tired and overblown approach. Crisis of Doubt uncovers a new pattern: the Victorian crisis of doubt. A whole succession of freethinking or Secularist leaders in nineteenth-century England reconverted back to Christianity, including figures well known in social, political, and literary studies such as the radical publisher William Hone and the Chartist Thomas Cooper. As sceptics, they had read, written about, and lectured on all the latest ideas that served to undermine faith, such as biblical criticism and Darwinism. Nevertheless, they went on to judge that faith was more intellectually compelling than doubt and to defend Christian thought in their writings and lectures and in public debates with Secularists. This was a deep crisis in the popular, freethinking movement: again and again leading Secularist lecturers and editors defected from the cause and re-emerged as able opponents. Timothy Larsen explores in detail their reasons for rejecting scepticism and their responses to the intellectual challenges to faith in their day. His study serves not only to correct an exaggerated emphasis on the Victorian crisis of faith, but also to reveal the intellectual strength of Christianity in the nineteenth century. The Victorian crisis of faith has dominated discussions of religion and the Victorians. Stories are frequently told of prominent Victorians such as George Eliot losing their faith. This crisis is presented as demonstrating the intellectual weakness of Christianity as it was assaulted by new lines of thought such as Darwinism and biblical criticism. This study serves as a corrective to that narrative. It focuses on freethinking and Secularist leaders who came to faith. As sceptics, they had imbibed all the latest ideas that seemed to undermine faith; nevertheless, they went on to experience a crisis of doubt, and then to defend in their writings and lectures the intellectual cogency of Christianity. The Victorian crisis of doubt was surprisingly large. Telling this story serves to restore its true proportion and to reveal the intellectual strength of faith in the nineteenth century. -- from publisher's description

the Victorian Crisis Of Faith Has Dominated Discussions Of Religion And The Victorians. Stories Are Frequently Told Of Prominent Victorians Such As George Eliot Losing Their Faith. This Crisis Is Presented As Demonstrating The Intellectual Weakness Of Christianity As It Was Assaulted By New Lines Of Thought Such As Darwinism And Biblical Criticism. This Study Serves As A Corrective To That Narrative. It Focuses On Freethinking And Secularist Leaders Who Came To Faith. As Sceptics, They Had Imbibed All The Latest Ideas That Seemed To Undermine Faith; Nevertheless, They Went On To Experience A Crisis Of Doubt, And Then To Defend In Their Writings And Lectures The Intellectual Cogency Of Christianity. The Victorian Crisis Of Doubt Was Surprisingly Large. Telling This Story Serves To Restore Its True Proportion And To Reveal The Intellectual Strength Of Faith In The Nineteenth Century.

Contents......Page 12 1. Crisis of Faith......Page 14 2. William Hone......Page 31 3. Frederic Rowland Young......Page 63 4. Thomas Cooper......Page 85 5. John Henry Gordon......Page 122 6. Joseph Barker......Page 149 7. John Bagnall Bebbington......Page 186 8. George Sexton......Page 210 9. How Many Reconverts Were There?......Page 241 10. Crisis of Doubt......Page 252 Appendix: More Reconverts and Other Persons of Interest......Page 267 Works Cited......Page 301 B......Page 318 C......Page 319 D......Page 321 G......Page 322 H......Page 323 L......Page 324 M......Page 325 P......Page 326 S......Page 327 U......Page 329 Z......Page 330 A Corrective To The Victorian 'crisis Of Faith', This Study Focuses Upon Several Prominent Individuals Who Experienced A 'crisis Of Doubt' And Made The Reverse Journey, Abandoning Secularism To Defend Christianity. Their Stories Demonstrate The Intellectual Strength Of Faith In The 19th Century. Timothy Larsen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [288]-304) And Index. The nineteenth-century crisis of faith is a motif that has become vastly overblown.