Religion, Politics and Thomas Hobbes (International Archives of the History of Ideas / Archives internationales d'histoire des idées)

This collection develops insight into the relation which Hobbes describes between his theory of government and the three-part division he draws with respect to religion. Pursuing the chain of causes that proves God's existence as first cause, Hobbes identifies and defines both ''true religion'' and such superstition as he found in the theology and practices of the Roman Catholic Church of his era. He then emphasizes the difference between natural religion and revealed religion in order to extinguish the claim of contemporary theologians to an authority in the state greater than that of the political sovereign. Although, according to the author, Hobbes falters in carrying out his politico/theological project, his careful, radical and innovative attempt to describe the relationship of religion and politics, church and state, has special relevance for us today, as forms of religious fundamentalism in many countries are increasingly claiming and, in some cases, winning control of political institutions. The Essaysthat Comprise Thisvolume Were Written Over The Period Of Some Ten Years, For Different Purposes And On Different Occasions, But They Are Unitedby A Number Of Features, Which This Preface May Serve To Indicate. While The Collection Begins With A Translation Drawn From The Fourth P- Sentation Of Hobbes’s Political Thought, Namely, The Latin Leviathan Of 1668, After The Elements Of Law (1640), De Cive (1642 And 1647) And The English Leviathan Of 1651, The Focus Of The Essays Is Largely On Theenglish Version Of His Masterpiece Of Political Philosophy. It Isthe Center Of Gravityinthe Twenty Eight Years Spanninghis Departure From England For Exile In France In 1640 Till The Publication In 1668 Of The Latin Leviathan,withits Lengthy And C- Plex Appendix. The Translation Andintroduction Of Theappendix, Previously Published,appears Here With Several Revisions And Additions, As Does The Essay ‘thomas Hobbes And The Economictrinity. ’ A Second Feature Common To These Essays Isthe Deliberate Attempttomake Sense Of Thereligious Elements Inhobbes’s Thought, Bothintheir Own Rightand Inrelation To His Politics And Natural Science. These Themes Are Woven Together In Complex Ways. For Instance, Objecting To The Use Of Greek Philosophic Language And Concepts To Interpret The Doctrines Of The Christian Religion, He Propounds What He Takes To Be A More Thoroughly Scriptural Interpretation, In Pursuit Of The Goal Of Demolishing The Basis For Anypower Inthe State Independent Of Thecivil Sovereign. From The Contents Preface. Acknowledgements -- Introduction To The 1668 Appendix -- Hobbes And The Economic Trinity -- The Haunting Of Thomas Hobbes -- Hobbes In Exile -- Afterword -- Bibliography. Index Of Subjects. Index Of Names. By George Wright. Includes The Text Of The Appendix To The 1668 Edition Of Hobbe's Leviathan, In Latin With English Translation On Facing Pages. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [313]-335) And Indexes.

This collection develops insight into the relation which Hobbes describes between his theory of government and the three-part division he draws with respect to religion. Pursuing the chain of causes that proves God's existence as first cause, Hobbes identifies and defines both true religion and such superstition as he found in the theology and practices of the Roman Catholic Church of his era. He then emphasizes the difference between natural religion and revealed religion in order to extinguish the claim of contemporary theologians to an authority in the state greater than that of the political sovereign.

Although, according to the author, Hobbes falters in carrying out his politico/theological project, his careful, radical and innovative attempt to describe the relationship of religion and politics, church and state, has special relevance for us today, as forms of religious fundamentalism in many countries are increasingly claiming and, in some cases, winning control of political institutions.

"This collection develops insight into the relation which Hobbes describes between his theory of government and the three-part division he draws with respect to religion. Pursuing the chain of causes that proves God's existence as first cause, Hobbes identifies and defines both "true religion" and such superstition as he found in the theology and practices of the Roman Catholic Church of his era. He then emphasizes the difference between natural religion and revealed religion in order to extinguish the claim of contemporary theologians to an authority in the state greater than that of the political sovereign."--BOOK JACKET Aims to develop insight into the relation, which Hobbes describes between his theory of government and the three-part division he draws with respect to religion. According to the author, Hobbes falters in carrying out his politico/theological project, and his attempt to describe the relationship of religion and politics, church and state