Reformation principles : the religious and political ideas of Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761)
Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761), successively Bishop of Bangor (1716), Hereford (1721), Salisbury (1723) and Winchester (1734), was a Latitudinarian divine and one of the foremost Whig propagandists of his generation. Contemporary Nonjuring, High Church and Tory opponents maintained that he was an ambitious, unprincipled opportunist who employed the secular reason of Deists and atheists to foster anarchy in the Church and rebellion in the state. So far, historians have only discussed Hoadly in a number of articles, parts of theses or in a few pages in long histories of the period. Moreover, the work which has been carried out has tended to focus on his political or his religious ideas and has in general reinforced the view presented by contemporary opponents. The purpose of this present study is to give the first comprehensive understanding of Hoadly's religious and political views. Hoadly was a polemicist rather than an abstract philosopher, and a study of six debates during the period 1700-1737 has displayed the dynamics of his thought, as well as casting light on the temper of the age. The findings challenge the traditional interpretation of Hoadly and reveal that the Bishop was not an unprincipled opportunist,
Rutherford, Susan Lesley
V300 History by topic ; V600 Theology and Religious studies
Reformation principles : the religious and political ideas of Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761). Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761), successively Bishop of Bangor (1716), Hereford (1721), Salisbury (1723) and Winchester (1734), was a Latitudinarian divine and one of the foremost Whig propagandists of his generation. Contemporary Nonjuring, High Church and Tory opponents maintained that he was an ambitious, unprincipled opportunist who employed the secular reason of Deists and atheists to foster anarchy in the Church and rebellion in the state. So far, historians have only discussed Hoadly in a number of articles, parts of theses or in a few pages in long histories of the period. Moreover, the work which has been carried out has tended to focus on his political or his religious ideas and has in general reinforced the view presented by contemporary opponents. The purpose of this present study is to give the first comprehensive understanding of Hoadly's religious and political views. Hoadly was a polemicist rather than an abstract philosopher, and a study of six debates during the period 1700-1737 has displayed the dynamics of his thought, as well as casting light on the temper of the age. The findings challenge the traditional interpretation of Hoadly and reveal that the Bishop was not an unprincipled opportunist,
reformation principle religious_political idea benjamin benjamin successively bishop winchester divine foremost whig generation contemporary high_church tory opponent maintain ambitious employ secular reason foster anarchy church rebellion state far historian discuss number article part_thesis page long_history period moreover work_carry tended focus political_religious idea general reinforce view present contemporary opponent purpose present_study give first_comprehensive religious_political view polemicist rather_abstract philosopher study debate period displayed dynamic think well cast_light temper age finding challenge_traditional interpretation reveal bishop