History of Free Thought in Reference to The Christian Religion

"History of Free Thought in Reference to The Christian Religion" by Adam Storey Farrar is a historical exploration from lectures given at the University of Oxford in the mid-1800s that examines how independent reasoning has clashed with Christian beliefs over time. Farrar wants to explain why people have questioned Christian teachings and presents a detailed study of the intellectual and emotional reasons for it. The book begins by stating the need to review events and the reasons for free thought's growth regarding Christian faith. Farrar begins a full review of important historical trends starting with initial resistance from non-Christian ideas, progressing through key eras like the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and ending with modern expressions of doubt and non-religious views, highlighting the importance of understanding both the history of these concepts and the affect they might have on beliefs.