Customer Reviews

Deism and Natural Religion a Source Book

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Introduction was adequate, described most of the ideas and debates of the issue over deism - however, the selections were not well chosen.

First, Lord Herbert Cherbury is left out completely, which, to be an anthology of "British" deism, and leave out the founding father of the movement - is crazy. That is like haveing an anthology of the American founding period and leaving out the Declaration of Independence.

Second, there is way to many selections from those opposed to the movement of deism. I understand wanting to show how opposing viewpoints dominated the discussion over "natural religion". But if I am preparing a volume on the movement, I am not going to use up space with those writers who were opposed to the movement - especially about half the volume (especially in a volume this small to begin with).

This is an adequate volume - nothing special. A better volume, for those of you looking for selections from deists, at least American deists is Kerry S. Walters: The American Deists. Which I am sad to say, is also out of print. That volume rocks, as far as selections from actual American deists of the founding period.