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A book forged in hell: Spinoza's scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age

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The story of one of the most important—and incendiary—books in Western history When it appeared in 1670, Baruch Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise was denounced as the most dangerous book ever published—"godless," "full of abominations," "a book forged in hell . . . by the devil himself." Religious and secular authorities saw it as a threat to faith, social and political harmony, and everyday morality, and its author was almost universally regarded as a religious subversive and political radical who sought to spread atheism throughout Europe. Yet Spinoza's book has contributed as much as the Declaration of Independence or Thomas Paine's Common Sense to modern liberal, secular, and democratic thinking. In A Book Forged in Hell , Steven Nadler tells the fascinating story of this extraordinary book: its radical claims and their background in the philosophical, religious, and political tensions of the Dutch Golden Age, as well as the vitriolic reaction these ideas inspired. It is not hard to see why Spinoza's Treatise was so important or so controversial, or why the uproar it caused is one of the most significant events in European intellectual history. In the book, Spinoza became the first to argue that the Bible is not literally the word of God but rather a work of human literature; that true religion has nothing to do with theology, liturgical ceremonies, or sectarian dogma; and that religious authorities should have no role in governing a modern state. He also denied the reality of miracles and divine providence, reinterpreted the nature of prophecy, and made an eloquent plea for toleration and democracy. A vivid story of incendiary ideas and vicious backlash, A Book Forged in Hell will interest anyone who is curious about the origin of some of our most cherished modern beliefs.
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9781400839513
9781665061001
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Grouping Information

Grouped Work ID1068aee5-ce20-7133-cfcf-a261e0f20643
Grouping Titlebook forged in hell spinozas scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age
Grouping Authorsteven nadler
Grouping Categorybook
Grouping LanguageEnglish (eng)
Last Grouping Update2024-03-20 20:35:19PM
Last Indexed2024-03-27 21:40:07PM

Solr Fields

accelerated_reader_point_value
0
accelerated_reader_reading_level
0
auth_author2
Lescault, John
author
Nadler, Steven
author2-role
Lescault, John
author_display
Nadler, Steven
display_description
The story of one of the most important—and incendiary—books in Western history When it appeared in 1670, Baruch Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise was denounced as the most dangerous book ever published—"godless," "full of abominations," "a book forged in hell . . . by the devil himself." Religious and secular authorities saw it as a threat to faith, social and political harmony, and everyday morality, and its author was almost universally regarded as a religious subversive and political radical who sought to spread atheism throughout Europe. Yet Spinoza's book has contributed as much as the Declaration of Independence or Thomas Paine's Common Sense to modern liberal, secular, and democratic thinking. In A Book Forged in Hell , Steven Nadler tells the fascinating story of this extraordinary book: its radical claims and their background in the philosophical, religious, and political tensions of the Dutch Golden Age, as well as the vitriolic reaction these ideas inspired. It is not hard to see why Spinoza's Treatise was so important or so controversial, or why the uproar it caused is one of the most significant events in European intellectual history. In the book, Spinoza became the first to argue that the Bible is not literally the word of God but rather a work of human literature; that true religion has nothing to do with theology, liturgical ceremonies, or sectarian dogma; and that religious authorities should have no role in governing a modern state. He also denied the reality of miracles and divine providence, reinterpreted the nature of prophecy, and made an eloquent plea for toleration and democracy. A vivid story of incendiary ideas and vicious backlash, A Book Forged in Hell will interest anyone who is curious about the origin of some of our most cherished modern beliefs.
id
1068aee5-ce20-7133-cfcf-a261e0f20643
isbn
9781400839513
9781665061001
last_indexed
2024-03-28T03:40:07.608Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
primary_isbn
9781400839513
publishDate
2011
2021
publisher
Blackstone Publishing
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Electronic books
History
Nonfiction
Philosophy
title_display
A book forged in hell : Spinoza's scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age
title_full
A book forged in hell [electronic resource] : Spinoza's scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age. Steven Nadler
title_short
A book forged in hell
title_sub
Spinoza's scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age
topic_facet
History
Nonfiction
Philosophy

Solr Details Tables

item_details

Bib IdItem IdShelf LocCall NumFormatFormat CategoryNum CopiesIs Order ItemIs eContenteContent SourceeContent URLDetailed StatusLast CheckinLocation
overdrivecmc:ODN0000616351ODN0000616351Overdrive (CMC)Online Overdrive (CMC)eBookeBook1falsetrueOverdrive (CMC)http://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=162&titleID=616351Available OnlineOverdrive (CMC)
overdrivecmc:ODN0006435592ODN0006435592Overdrive (CMC)Online Overdrive (CMC)eAudiobookAudio Books1falsetrueOverdrive (CMC)http://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=162&titleID=6435592Available OnlineOverdrive (CMC)

record_details

Bib IdFormatFormat CategoryEditionLanguagePublisherPublication DatePhysical DescriptionAbridged
overdrivecmc:ODN0000616351eBookeBookEnglish20111 online resource
overdrivecmc:ODN0006435592eAudiobookAudio BooksUnabridgedEnglishBlackstone Publishing20211 online resource (10 audio files) : digital