Ap Euro Dbq Essay On Religion

Eighteenth-century Europe witnessed multiple actions taken upon religion. Revolts against, as well as in support of religion were contrasted simultaneously in a period of time, parallel to one-another. With these factors in motion, multiple individuals were subjected to a change in their lifestyle which, in that time, was greatly influenced by religion. In the later years of the eighteenth-century, the French Revolution arose, and the Roman Catholic Church was greatly challenged. Moreover, Enlightened thinkers greatly criticized religion as it would impede progression and innovation, particularly the sciences and new ideas. Both previously mentioned period of times highlighted the usual thoughts on religion. The various views on religion emerging

The Jewish individuals were typically targeted and put on the lower levels of power in the political ladder. Fortunately for those residing under Joseph II’s rule - the Austrian emperor - were protected from various restrictions granted on them by many individuals. In an imperial proclamation, Joseph II pursued the ideal of treating the Jews with equality like other citizens, standing up for their cause and granting them more freedom (Document 6). This intention was a form of support manifested for religion, since the views on Jewish population was seen negatively. This was not, however, the only time religion was looked down upon. The French Enlightened philosophe Voltaire opposed religion as he saw it slow down scientific progression and new ideals. He also viewed it to be a fault on rationality, explaining the thinking of religious individuals to be flawed (Document 3). This thinking influenced much of Europe, and therefore controlled the way in which individuals would

In the earlier part of the eighteenth-century, the Church attempted to use threat as its own power. Moses Mendelssohn, a Jewish philosophe in the Enlightenment, hated the idea of the church using powers like the state against other people. He declared that the Church and state should be separate entities without correlation against one-another on influence with how both institutions are controlled; he criticized the church for using the threat of excommunication, much like the state uses coercion, or the act of obtaining something by using threats (Document 7). In the document, Mendelssohn compares the state and religion first by noting their differences as he sees it should be, however it is then stated that it is not the case, as he continues to explain how the Church and state have unfortunately grown closer alike. In addition to Mendelssohn and Voltaire’s ideas of religion in the Enlightenment, a Scottish philosophe David Hume directly opposes rationality in religion. Hume, in a literary document, wrote about the idea of a miracle, and explains that no such miracle can exist and, linking to religion with miracles, God cannot exist by reason and rationality (Document 2). His explanations involved mechanics employed in philosophy which view religion paradoxical to the new discoveries. Oppositions continued to harass the reputation of