One of the most important Enlightenment concepts was the notion that the truth about the world around us should be based on empirical evidence. Enlightenment thinkers believed that the kind of empirical investigation used in scientific inquiry was the surest and most secure method of finding out about the natural world. This meant that science, if allowed to develop freely, would often reach conclusions that conflicted with the teachings of the Church. This is precisely what happened with Galileo, for instance.
Although not all churchmen were hostile to Enlightenment principles, a fair number of them saw these principles as a threat to the Church's monopoly of the truth. The Catholic Church regarded itself as the sole repository of truth, both spiritual and temporal: a truth whose interpretation was determined by the Church itself. For Enlightenment thinkers, however, truth was its own authority; it did not have to rely on the Church or any other institution for its support. Enlightenment principles, then, posed a serious threat to the power of the Catholic Church and, indeed, all forms of organized religion that believe themselves in possession of the absolute truth.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Why would organized religion be opposed to Enlightenment principles?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What is the theme of the chapter Lead?
Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...
-
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in diverse environments (such as the ocean, the soil, and the human body). Various bac...
-
It seems most likely you are asking about Michael Halliday's theories of language. He argues children have seven main functions they use...
-
Note that these events are not in chronological order. The story is told by the narrator, looking back upon her life. The first notable even...
-
Under common law, any hotel, inn, or other hospitality establishment has a duty to exercise "reasonable care" for the safety an...
-
The statement "Development policy needs to be about poor people, not just poor countries," carries a lot of baggage. Let's dis...
-
The tension between the three world orders after World War II (1939–1945) manifested itself in territorial, economic, military, ideologic...
-
When we try to analyze the modern world today, we’ll notice that it’s going through several changes. No one is sure who will control or s...
No comments:
Post a Comment