Christianity in Early-Modern Europe

The role of religion in early-modern Europe (from about 1400 to 1700) religion remained an essential ‘lens’ through which members of this period viewed their lives and the world around them. The influence of religious outlooks was always important during this time period. This can be seen through Cabeza de Vaca’s Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America, Michel de Montaigne’s On Cannibals, and the political works of philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. These authors’ works can only be understood and put into proper context with an understanding of the religious lens through which they wrote.

Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan provides ample evidence for the tremendous importance of religious frameworks in early-modern Europe as well as religions importance as a lens through which people judged their lives and experiences. Hobbes starts the argument of his political system by describing the nature of man without organized political society. "Hereby it is manifest, that during the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called Warre [war]; and such a warre, as is of every man, against every man." The phrase “Without a common Power to keep them all in awe” foreshadows Hobbes advocacy for an absolute Sovereign. Additionally, another common Power could be God which is where the Sovereign draws his power. The use of the word awe is interesting as it is often used to describe the feelings of man has at the hands of God. Therefore, Hobbes ideas of a Sovereign have been influenced by religious forces. Hobbes then gives the descriptions for the various roles in the power structure of his proposed political system. "This done, the Multitude so united in one Person, is called a Commo...

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...a political society works. He states, "Every man being, as has been showed, naturally free, and nothing being able to put him into subjection to any earthly power, but only his consent;" Locke is affirming the influence of the individual by stating that every man is naturally free but he uses the phrase "subjection to any earthly power" to describe that freedom. Though not explicit in this instance, he is subtly implying that men are not free from divine subjection. In other parts of his work he says that natural law is the law of God. So while Locke's system of governance does not mirror the architecture of religious systems of power, he ultimately fortifies the idea that religious frameworks were immensely important in early-modern Europe by framing his argument through a religious lens as well as implying that political society relies on God as the supreme power.