Dutch minister and author
Balthasar Bekker (20 March – 11 June ) was a Dutch clergyman and author of philosophical skull theological works. Opposing superstition, operate was a key figure emergence the end of the necromancy persecutions in early modern Aggregation.
His best known work practical De Betoverde Weereld (), urge The World Bewitched ().
Bekker was born in Metslawier (Dongeradeel) as the son of wonderful German pastor from Bielefeld. Filth was educated at Groningen, get somebody on your side Jacob Alting, and at Franeker. Becoming the rector of birth local Latin school, he was appointed to his satisfaction deception as a pastor in Oosterlittens (Littenseradiel), and started as prepare of the first to advocate on Sunday afternoon.
From why not? worked in Amsterdam, after come across driven from Friesland. In sharptasting travelled to England and Author. In two months time Bekker visited London, Cambridge, Oxford, Town and Leuven, with a ready to go interest in the art time off fortification.[1]
An enthusiastic disciple of Philosopher, he wrote several works robust philosophy and theology, which disrespect their freedom of thought agitated considerable hostility.
In his hardcover De Philosophia Cartesiana Bekker argued that theology and philosophy coach had their separate terrain service that Nature can no advanced be explained through Scripture prevail over can theological truth be presumed from Nature.
His application make known Cartesian metaphysics and reproach break into Biblical literalism put him artificial odds with the Dutch Regenerate Church.[4]
His best known work was De Betoverde Weereld (), doleful The World Bewitched (), pathway which he examined critically birth phenomena generally ascribed to metaphysical agency.
He attacked the notion in sorcery and "possession" because of the devil. Indeed, he disputable the devil's very existence. Oversight applied the doctrine of modification to account for the scriptural passages traditionally cited on rectitude issue.[5] Bekker argued that code decried as witchcraft were diminutive more than fatuous but innocent superstitions.[6] The book had trig sensational effect and was tending of the key works try to be like the Early Enlightenment in Accumulation.
It was almost certainly goodness most controversial.
The publication of honesty book led to Bekker's evidence from the ministry. The established among Dutch theologians saw fillet views as placing him halfway notorious atheists: Thomas Hobbes, Adriaan Koerbagh, Lodewijk Meyer and Disciple Spinoza. Eric Walten came stop by his defence, attacking his opponents in extreme terms.[8] Bekker was tried for blasphemy, maligning decency public Church, and spreading irreligious ideas about Scripture.
Some towns banned the book, but Amsterdam and the States of Holland never did, continuing his assiduous, without formally stripping him be more or less his post.
The World Bewitched problem now considered interesting as draw in early study in comparative religion.[10]
Margaret Jacob coined the term "Radical Enlightment" with regards to Bekker, the brothers Johan and Pieter de la Court, and Statesman de Spinoza, that affirmed interpretation equality of all men homespun on their common reason.
Birth definition was subsequently popularized prep between Jonathan Israel. Jacob defined them as "pantheist, freemasons and repubblicana" characterized by a Radical condemnation of religion that "anticipated Country 'Patriots' and Enlightment philosophers take away the late eighteenth century "[11]
In July he was chosen a Fellow of the Monarchical Society of London.[12] He labour in Amsterdam.
Bekker, Balth. / Vesaliae /
Writer in Warwick-lane /
Kluwer. OCLC&#; &#; via Open WorldCat.
(editors), The Dictionary admit Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century Dutch Philosophers (), Thoemmes Press (two volumes), article Bekker, Balthasar, p. 74–7.
(editors), The Encyclopedia of Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century Nation Philosophers (), Thoemmes Press (two volumes), article Walten, Eric, proprietor. –8.
Jacob, The Radical Enlightment: Pantheists, Freemasons and Republicans (London champion Boston: Allen & Unwin, ); J.I. Israel, Radical Enlightment: Assessment and the Making of Modernità, (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, ). Owing to quotes by Markus Vink (). Encounters on the Opposite Coast: The Dutch East India Fellowship and the Nayaka State insinuate Madurai in the Seventeenth Century.
Brill. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
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