Research Paper on Enlightenment: 'Age of Reason' and Its Impact on Mankind

Introduction

Enlightenment is commonly referred to as 'Age of Reason," which came into effect between the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also the period where humankind could use reason in discovering the world and the rights of mankind. Before the enlightenment era, people believed in God and His plans. God placed things according to his plans, and contradicting opinions were not welcome. The answer to all questions, whether on life or environment, came from God. The Bible was considered the source of all knowledge about God, and everyone was expected to learn from it. All problems, including political challenges, were solved using the Bible. People believed in divine purposes, as stated in the Bible. Everything worked according to God's plan. Events and occurrences served the plan of God. Enlightenment-era changed the map of the world with their ideas affecting all factions in the society, such as society through the introduction of deism, fideism, and atheism, which contradicted traditional beliefs of God and superstitions.

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Enlightenment movement emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism. It emerged after the Second World War after the massive destruction took place. Thirty years of war were the driving force for enlightenment evolution (Margaret 12). Enlightenment thinkers criticized ideas on nationalism and warfare. Thinkers of enlightenment had different opinions concerning God, nature, and humanity. Thinkers were curious and investigated the modern-day knowledge questioning the old beliefs. During this era, people began to use mathematics and experiments to prove the existence of human and divinity - thinkers aimed at bringing to end manipulation of people by the church and those in power. Enlightenment valued freedom, liberty, and enhanced human rights. Thus, discoveries invalidated old beliefs and traditions, creating friction between religion and enlightenment.

Early philosophers such as John Locke, who influenced enlightenment during its evolution, encouraged participants to find their true identity while creating their own life how they want it. Enlightenment argued against religious aspects of superstition, enthusiasm, fanaticism, and supernaturalism (Margaret 15). Thinkers value truth and reasonable beliefs in Christianity. As a result, controversy regarding religious beliefs deemed the place of religion in society. Enlightenment questions led to individual liberty concerning faith and authority in the church. Protestantism values the liberty of conscience, which plays a critical role in enlightenment thinkers. Original Protestants questioned Catholic principles based on the scriptures.

A shift in thinking during the enlightenment era was based on science. After the Second World War, the world kept growing, and knowledge increased drastically. New changes resulted in the late enlightenment era at the time. Philosophers introduced experimentation to distinguish truth and error. Science becomes the source of knowledge for people in the West. For anything to be accurate, it should be scientifically proven and experimented. The discoveries created conflicts among religions and philosophers. For instance, geological findings indicated that the world is older than the Old Testament scriptures and stories, which states that the world was created close to 4000 years before Christ. These explorations were troubling to Christians as their faith become questionable.

New optimism was introduced as a way of learning to listen to experiences other than religious traditions. People are encouraged to learn about life in different ways instead of relying only on religious beliefs and principles. Most discoveries by man are from his ability to interact and socialize with his environment. In this case, science bases its facts on verifiable facts. Rationalism encouraged people to question outstanding religious beliefs for verification. Philosophers presented religion as natural human sentiments instead of intellectual operations. Religion becomes a matter of the heart with no need to learn artificial forms of worship as introduced during enlightenment error.

Impacts of Enlightenment on Religion

Religion encourages fideism as the basis of knowledge. Enlightenment introduced reason and individual intelligence that contradicts the fideism theory. Fideism is said to have a negative sense to thinkers who do not support its ideas. Philosophers argue that having faith as the only source of knowledge is deceitful. Faith cannot be experimented or scientifically proven. Notably, fideism cannot be criticized by a non-religious point of view (Barnett 11). However, fideism was rejected by Catholics, who claimed that the existence of God could be proved and demonstrated through reason. Critically examining fideism, theologians argue that faith alone is not the only proper way to worship God (Barnett 30). According to them, one ought to understand what one believes in which can be analyzed through reason. Therefore, fideism, according to philosophers, limits people on which God to have faith and rejects the notion of religious thinking becoming equal.

Scientifically the existence of God cannot be proven. The beliefs and principles upheld by Christians are based on pure orthodox. Philosophers and thinkers came up strongly to oppose beliefs about God. Atheism alludes that God does not exist either and answers the question of what a person believes. Atheism denies gods and their beliefs. According to scientists, human behavior results from the social and political environment (Samuel 115). The knowledge of the Bible is just a historical book, according to atheists. Atheists are constitutionally protected and should be treated as a form of religion. They apply reason to make their decisions and distinguish between what is right and wrong. Atheism is present in the enlightenment era supported by natural conception.

Anti-supernaturalism emphasized empiricism, which is based on valid senses and experimentation. Skeptical of the supernatural is a prove of an enlightened era. Anti-supernaturalism overthrew bible records of miracles and claims. Science states that miracles do not obey the law; neither do new revelations do. Thinkers argued that nature could not act against itself as miracles of Christ indicated (Barnett 24). Logic suggests that miracles are just a violation of the laws of nature. For instance, a human can't be fed by five loaves of bread and two fish as miracles claimed. Jesus walking on water is scientifically impossible and against the laws of gravity. Enlightenment alludes that miracles are just beliefs and superstitions which should not be accepted. The anti-super nationalism provided the groundwork for atheists and other scientists to prove their irrational tradition and the supernatural God.

N, contrary to theism, deism philosophical ideas rejects revelation and religion as a source for knowledge. Philosophers argue that knowledge comes from observation of the natural world is sufficient to prove the existence of a supernatural God (Samuel 116). Alongside reason, thinkers supported some features of deist as a source of knowledge. However, philosophers rejected revelation and the ideas of divine revelation. God has created and established laws, there was no need for him to keep tinkering his creation. Deism also rejected the validity of miracles as well as the immortality of the soul. Thinkers argued that God exists, created the universe, and gave the human being the ability to reason.

However, deists rejected all books, including the Bible, that talks about divine revelation. The notion of the trinity and other religious mysteries are also dismissed. Deists do not believe in miracles nor the prophets and their prophecies. According to the definition of a Christian, deists are seen as non-Christians. Deist rejected the divinity of Jesus but recognized him as a historical person. All the miracle stories in the Bible were dismissed, and all knowledge based on reason according to thinkers. Deists believe that after God created the universe and set laws, he left, leaving humans fully equipped to make decisions (Barnett 33). God's divine providence and having a hand in human affairs is rejected. According to thinkers, God could do whatever he wanted, including suspending his laws if he never wanted a human being to reason effectively.

Thinkers also claim that the earth is in motion, and creation is set to continue even without divine help. They view human behavior as determined by situations and natural law. However, contemporary deism incorporates modern knowledge when it comes to problem-solving as well as in understanding nature. The purpose of deists in life is to exercise their liberty based on their personal thoughts and nature. Thus, the role of God was reduced to a mere act of creation following the natural law, who later withdrew from interference with human activities. Thus, the role of Christianity in the universe became problematic.

Moreover, enlightenment is the primary tool leading t bible criticism. Increased reasoning has led to the study of the Bible as ordinary text in the 19th century. Thinkers started analyzing the Bible critically and scientifically whole, noting the naturalistic notions. The Bible is filled with superstitious accounts that can be easily misunderstood (Margaret 18). The creation stories are contradicting. Scientifically, philosophers claim that word of mouth cannot create as indicated in the scriptures. The credibility of what is named in the Bible is undermined and should be dismissed. Jesus, being born of a virgin, is scientifically impossible and a belief. Miracle speculations are just an act of faith that cannot be proven.

Scholars also have come out emphatically to analyze scriptures in the Bible that contradict. Philosophers claim that some parts of the scripture cannot be explained. For instance, after Adam and Eve left the garden of Aden, their sons married daughters not indicated in the scripture. This means that other people were living beside those created by God. Notably, it is Impossible to have the universe created in six days. According to thinkers, all the words in the scripture are but believe that Christians and other followers should follow without question.

Conclusion

To sum up, enlightenment is a vast topic that should be emphasized to understand the contemporary world better. As a Christian, it is essential only to take what is valuable to you and leave genuine vestiges behind. Christians should hold on to what is good biblically. However, to avoid being brainwashed by religious beliefs, Christian ought to apply reason when it is required to solve critical problems encountered in life.

Works Cited

Barnett, Stephen J. The Enlightenment, and religion: The myths of modernity. Manchester University Press, 2018. https://www.manchesteropenhive.com/view/9781526137722/9781526137722.xml

Margaret C. Jacob.The Enlightenment: A Brief History with Documents. Princeton University Press. (2000). https://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/enlightenment

Nelson, Samuel. "Anglican Enlightenment: Orientalism, Religion and Politics in England and its Empire, 1648-1715." (2016): 114-116. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21567689.2016.1159846?journalCode=ftmp21