This book deals with the British deists' biblical hermeneutics its roots and its effects on
European culture and society. Deist thinkers such as John Toland Anthony Collins and Matthew
Tindal pointed out the historical and anthropological origins of positive religions. Focusing
on the human roots of Judaism Christianity Islam and Ancient Paganism they advocated
tolerance and freedom of thought. In the context of the deists' research on the history of
positive religions the study of the Scriptures played a key role. Deists and freethinkers
fought against the influence of Christian doctrine on political and social life. They denied
the supernatural foundations of Christianity and of Christian institutions and analyzed the
Bible with the aim to promote the free search for truth. This book thus stresses the
significance of the deists' biblical criticism for the development of Enlightenment views of
religion and for the secularization of Europe.
