The Blasphemies of Thomas Aikenhead : Boundaries of Belief on the Eve of the Enlightenment

Thomas Aikenhead, a student at the University of Edinburgh, was hanged for blasphemy in 1697. His story brings together many of the critical themes in Scottish and British history in an era of transition from the revolutionary upheavals of the highly confessionalized seventeenth century to the more open civil society which came to characterize the Enlightenment. Aikenhead's views, which questioned the origins of Scripture, the historical aspects of Moses and Jesus, and the assumed superiority of Christianity over other doctrines, would later appear in the mainstream of Enlightenment discourse. But in 1696-7 they were toxic. Michael Graham's microhistory, the first of its kind, places his story firmly in the social and political context of Edinburgh and Scotland in the 1690s while at the same time identifying the influences on his thinking, the legal issues raised by his trial and the ways it was viewed by contemporaries in Scotland and England. The Aikenhead case illuminates a number of themes in late-seventeenth-century history: \* The influence of books and reading \* The growth of higher education \* The nature of "public opinion" in Britain more generally, as the case was covered in newspapers published in London \* The ways legislation was drafted and used \* The fissures in the religious politics of Britain after the "Glorious Revolution." This Is The First Modern, Book-length Study Of The Case Of Thomas Aikenhead, The Sometime University Of Edinburgh Student Who In 1697 Earned The Unfortunate Distinction Of Being The Last Person Executed For Blasphemy In Britain. Taking A Micro-historical Approach, Michael F. Graham Uses The Aikenhead Case To Open A Window Into The World Of Late-seventeenth-century Edinburgh And Scotland. This Book Brings Together Many Of The Critical Themes In Scottish And British History In A Period Of Transition From The Confessional Era Of The Reformation - Which Emphasised The Defence Of Orthodox Belief To The More Open Civil Society And Polite, Literary World Of The Enlightenment, Of Which Edinburgh Would Become A Major Centre. Graham Traces The Roots Of The Aikenhead Case In Seventeenth-century Scotland And The Law Of Blasphemy Which Was Evolving In Response To The New Intellectual Currents Of Biblical Criticism And Deism. He Analyses Aikenhead's Trial And The Scottish Government's Decision To Uphold The Sentence Of Hanging. Finally, He Details The Debate Stimulated By The Execution, Carried Out In A Public Sphere Of Print Media Encompassing Both Scotland And England. Aikenhead's Case Became A Media Event Which Highlighted The Intellectual And Cultural Divisions Within Britain At The End Of The Seventeenth Century.--jacket. 1. Edinburgh And Scotland In The 1690s -- 2. Politics Of Blasphemy -- 3. 'so Unnaturall A Seasone': The Dreadful Year 1696 -- 4. Making Of A Blasphemer -- 5. Trial And Execution -- 6. Aftermath: Public Opinion In Scotland And England. Michael F. Graham. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. GBS_insertPreviewButtonPopup('ISBN:9780748634262'); This is the first modern book-length study of the case of Thomas Aikenhead, the sometime University of Edinburgh student who in 1697 earned the unfortunate distinction of being the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain. Taking a micro-historical approach, Michael Graham uses the Aikenhead case to open a window into the world of Edinburgh, Scotland and Britain in its transition from the confessional era of the Reformation and the covenants, which placed high emphasis on the defence of orthodox belief, to the polite, literary world of the Enlightenment, of which Edinburgh would become a major centre. Graham traces the roots of the Aikenhead case in seventeenth-century Scotland and the law of blasphemy which was evolving in response to the new intellectual currents of biblical criticism and deism. He analyzes Aikenhead's trial and the Scottish government's decision to uphold the sentence of hanging. Finally, he details the debate engendered by the execution, carried out in a public sphere of print media encompassing both Scotland and England. Aikenhead's case became a media event which highlighted the intellectual and cultural divisions within Britain at the end of the seventeenth century. This is the first modern book-length study of the case of Thomas Aikenhead, the sometime University of Edinburgh student who in 1697 earned the unfortunate distinction of being the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain. Taking a micro-historical approach, the book uses the Aikenhead case to open a window into the world of Edinburgh, Scotland and Britain in its transition from the confessional era of the Reformation and the covenants, which placed high emphasis on the defence of orthodox belief, to the polite, literary world of the Enlightenment, of which Edinburgh would become a major centre. The book traces the roots of the Aikenhead case in seventeenth-century Scotland and the law of blasphemy which was evolving in response to the new intellectual currents of biblical criticism and deism. The author analyzes Aikenhead's trial and the Scottish government's decision to uphold the sentence of hanging. Finally, he details the debate engendered by the execution, carried out in a public sphere of print media encompassing both Scotland and England. Aikenhead's case became a media event which highlighted the intellectual and cultural divisions within Britain at the end of the seventeenth century This is the first modern book-length study of the case of Thomas Aikenhead, the sometime University of Edinburgh student who in 1697 earned the unfortunate distinction of being the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain. Taking a micro-historical approach, Michael Graham uses the Aikenhead case to open a window into the world of Edinburgh, Scotland and Britain in its transition from the confessional era of the Reformation and the covenants, which placed high emphasis on the defence of orthodox belief, to the polite, literary world of the Enlightenment, of which Edinburgh would become a major centre. Graham traces the roots of the Aikenhead case in seventeenth-century Scotland and the law of blasphemy which was evolving in response to the new intellectual currents of biblical criticism and deism. He analyzes Aikenhead's trial and the Scottish government's decision to uphold the sentence of hanging. Finally, he details the debate engendered by the public execution. Thomas Aikenhead was an Edinburgh University student and, in 1697, the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain. This examination of the media event that was his trial opens a window onto the clash of intellects and cultures that took place in late seventeenth-century Scotland as it stood in transition between Reformation and Enlightenment.