A book forged in hell: Spinoza's scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age
Author:
Publisher:
Varies, see individual formats and editions
Pub. Date:
Varies, see individual formats and editions
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.
More Copies In Prospector
Loading Prospector Copies...
More Details
Contributors:
ISBN:
9781400839513
9781665061001
9781665061001
Reviews from GoodReads
Loading GoodReads Reviews.
Staff View
Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 1068aee5-ce20-7133-cfcf-a261e0f20643 |
---|---|
Grouping Title | book forged in hell spinozas scandalous treatise and the birth of the secular age |
Grouping Author | steven nadler |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-03-20 20:35:19PM |
Last Indexed | 2024-03-27 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
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
2021
publisher
Blackstone Publishing
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Electronic books
History
Nonfiction
Philosophy
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
Nonfiction
Philosophy
Solr Details Tables
item_details
Bib Id | Item Id | Shelf Loc | Call Num | Format | Format Category | Num Copies | Is Order Item | Is eContent | eContent Source | eContent URL | Detailed Status | Last Checkin | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
overdrivecmc:ODN0000616351 | ODN0000616351 | Overdrive (CMC) | Online Overdrive (CMC) | eBook | eBook | 1 | false | true | Overdrive (CMC) | http://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=162&titleID=616351 | Available Online | Overdrive (CMC) | |
overdrivecmc:ODN0006435592 | ODN0006435592 | Overdrive (CMC) | Online Overdrive (CMC) | eAudiobook | Audio Books | 1 | false | true | Overdrive (CMC) | http://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=162&titleID=6435592 | Available Online | Overdrive (CMC) |
record_details
Bib Id | Format | Format Category | Edition | Language | Publisher | Publication Date | Physical Description | Abridged |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
overdrivecmc:ODN0000616351 | eBook | eBook | English | 2011 | 1 online resource | |||
overdrivecmc:ODN0006435592 | eAudiobook | Audio Books | Unabridged | English | Blackstone Publishing | 2021 | 1 online resource (10 audio files) : digital |