History of Free Thought in Reference to the Christian Religion

A critical historical account written in the mid-19th century. This work comprises a series of lectures delivered at the University of Oxford, focusing on the evolution of free thought and its implications for Christianity throughout various historical periods. Farrar aims to explore the struggles of the human mind against the confines of Christian doctrine while presenting an analysis of the intellectual and emotional causes underpinning this tension. The opening of the book outlines its objectives, emphasizing the need to examine both the facts and causes behind the development of free thought as it relates to Christianity. Farrar sets the stage for a comprehensive analysis of significant historical currents, beginning with early opposition from pagan philosophies, through notable periods in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and culminating in modern expressions of skepticism and secularism. He highlights the importance of understanding the historical context of these ideas as well as the moral implications they may bear on faith and belief.