The pillars of priestcraft shaken

"This book examines the intellectual confrontation between priest and Freethinker from 1660 to 1730, and the origins of the early phase of the Enlightenment in England." "Through an analysis of the practice of historical writing in the period, Dr. Champion maintains that historical argument was a central component for displaying defences of true religion. Taking religion--and specifically defences of the Church of England after 1660--as central to the politics of the period, the first two chapters of the book explore the varieties of clericalist histories, arguing that there were rival emphases upon regnum or sacerdos as the font of true religion. The remainder of the book examines how radical Freethinkers like John Toland or the third Earl of Shaftesbury set about attacking the corrupt priestcraft of established religion. Arguing against the secular interpretation of Freethinkers, the later chapters examine how the radicals developed a theory of religion that not only condemned corrupt Christianity, but also importantly promoted a reforming civil theology. Using an analysis of 'other' religions the Freethinkers insisted, following James Harrington's thought, that all societies needed a form of public religion."--Jacket.