Modernity

1
Modernity

• European challenges to Christianity

2
Back in Europe

• Huge challenges posed to Christianity
• Wars of Religion
• Development of modern science (Galileo, Newton)
  is Christianity reliably true?
• Continues an aspect of the Reformation Critique
  authority
• Reformation scripture is highest authority
• Enlightenment how do we know anything is true?
  Why should we accept this?

3
Forerunner Descartes

• Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
• Philosopher, mathematician
• I think, therefore I am
• How do we know anything? How can we be certain?
• Dont simply trust authorities doubt all
  received authority and knowledge
• Raze everything to the ground, begin again from
  the original foundations
• He knew he doubted he thought, and he knew his
  own existence

4
Enlightenment themes

• Confidence in the abilities of human reason (to
  enlighten people)
• How had they been in darkness?
• Religion is useful when it serves morality
• But not the focus on supernatural, miracles,
  etc., because these things cannot be explained by
  reason
• But it is destructive when it divides people
• Human reason leads to human progress
• Through science, empiricism, knowledge
• Humanity is progressing from primitive stages to
  an advanced stage

5
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

• From Prussia (eastern Germany)
• Lutheran
• University professor
• Conscience was at the heart of religion
• people understand themselves to have moral duties
• this is the exercise of human freedom
• religion for him focused on morality, as the
  recognition of divine commands

6
What is enlightenment?

• Dare to think
• Public vs. private (define)
• Human progress in history
• Role of state

7
Questions

• How does Kant critique religion?
• How does he advocate religion?
• Do you think that people fail to think for
  themselves out of laziness and cowardice?
• Where do you see difficulties today in daring to
  think?
• Can one be authentic and act differently in
  public and private, as Kant advises?
• How does Kant think ministry is different from
  university theology?
• Do you agree that people will work their way out
  of barbarism if they are free?