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Back to topRadical Rhetoric of the English Deists: The Discourse of Skepticism. 1680-1750 (Hardcover)
Description
The innovative strategies, scathing attacks, and lasting impact that marked a sweeping critique of traditional Christian thought
The Radical Rhetoric of the English Deists illuminates the major battlefields of a rhetorical war waged for the religious mind of Britain and eventually of Europe and the colonies. Focusing on the works of lesser-known but highly influential Deists whose radically controversial spirit and willingness to absorb enormous personal risks made Deist controversy so intriguing and consequential, James A. Herrick examines the seventy-year polemic between the English Deists and the Church of England. He contends that Deism owes its enduring significance to the rhetorical acumen, textual resources, and iconoclastic motivation of skilled controversialists who sought nothing less than the destruction of Christianity.
About the Author
James A. Herrick is a professor of rhetoric and communication and chair of the communication department at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.