". . . the best way to preserve peace was to deemphasize religion, or more specifically, to cool its intensity."
In their book "The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture" Hahn and Wiker say "not quite". The modern state is founded on the vision of Marsilius of Padua, Machiavelli and Hobbes, that the Bible ought to be demythologised and use…
". . . the best way to preserve peace was to deemphasize religion, or more specifically, to cool its intensity."
In their book "The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture" Hahn and Wiker say "not quite". The modern state is founded on the vision of Marsilius of Padua, Machiavelli and Hobbes, that the Bible ought to be demythologised and used as a political book. In this vision, religion belongs to the State as a means of social control, though the educated elite know that there is no life beyond this one, man's ultimate end is located in this life only, and religion and the Church are to be instrumentalised as a means of controlling the superstitious masses. So eternam salvation and the life of the world to come are no longer the point on which all political activity must converge.
". . . the best way to preserve peace was to deemphasize religion, or more specifically, to cool its intensity."
In their book "The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture" Hahn and Wiker say "not quite". The modern state is founded on the vision of Marsilius of Padua, Machiavelli and Hobbes, that the Bible ought to be demythologised and used as a political book. In this vision, religion belongs to the State as a means of social control, though the educated elite know that there is no life beyond this one, man's ultimate end is located in this life only, and religion and the Church are to be instrumentalised as a means of controlling the superstitious masses. So eternam salvation and the life of the world to come are no longer the point on which all political activity must converge.