The Common-Sense Philosophy of Religion of Bishop Edward Stillingfleet 1635 - 1699

I. Reason and Religion "Si on soumet tout a la raison, notre religion n'aura rien de mysterieux et de surnaturel; si on choque les principes de la raison, notre religion sera absurde et ridicule",l In this passage from his Pensees Pascal summarizes what is perhaps the most basic problem for the defender of the reasonableness of Christianity: the necessity of upholding beliefs which Reason is incapable of judging, while at the same time claiming that those beliefs are reasonable. Pascal does not state the problem in precisely these terms regarding the limits of Reason, yet it seems clear that the dilemma he is indicating involves the question of the relation of religious beliefs to the compass of Reason. He does not, however-at least in the passage cited-indicate that the problem is a question of either/or: either Reason and no Religion, or Religion and Irrationality. Rather, he seems to be simply stating what he perceives to be a simple matter of fact. If Reason is allowed to be the judge of all Religion, then all Religion must abandon any elements that are either contrary to reason or cannot be shown to be in accord with Reason. On the other hand, if Reason is not allowed to judge Religion at all, then Religion will be absurd and ridiculous.

Contenu
One Introduction.- I. Reason and Religion.- II. Chillingworth's Common-Sense Anglicanism.- III. Chillingworth's Legacy.- IV. Chillingworth's Influence.- Two Society, Politics, and Religion The Career of an Anglican Conservative.- I. Education and Ecclesiastical Career.- II. Irenicum.- III. Toleration.- IV. Glorious Revolution.- V. Stillingfleet's Conservatism.- Three the Reasonableness of Christianity Part One.- I. The Common-Sense Defense of Religion.- II. The Problem of Certainty.- III. Anti-Catholic Writings.- IV. Protestant Infallibility.- V. Stillingfleet's Theory of Certainty.- VI. Reasonable Faith.- VII. Miracles.- VIII. Miracles (continued).- IX. Conclusion.- Four the Reasonableness of Christianity Part Two.- I. Divine Faith.- II. Divine Mysteries.- III. John Toland and John Locke.- IV. Summary.- Five the Defense of Natural Religion.- I. Introduction.- II. Reason and the Principles of Natural Religion.- III. The Existence of God.- IV. The Immortality of the Soul.- V. Summary.- Six Conclusion.- Appendix A: An Essay on Biography.- Appendix B: Stillingfleet's Influence.- Index of Names.