Hobbes' Discussion of Religion

To discuss Hobbes's view of religion as a science, it is first necessary to examine the criteria he uses to define science, then explore whether these criteria are meant to be consistent with his evaluation of religion. Hobbes's formulation of Science in Chapter 5 of Leviathan derives from his formulation of Reason, as "nothing but Reckoning (that is, Adding and Subtracting) of the Consequences of generall names agreed upon" (Hobbes 111). For Science to be worthy of the name, whatever subject it deals with must be possible to explain and indeed predict in a reasonable, systematic, logical way. Similarly, the implications, or consequences, of what is being explained need to flow naturally from what has been added or subtracted to the argument to make the explanation clear. "Science," says Hobbes in this regard, "is the knowledge of Consequences, and dependance of one fact upon another" (Hobbes 115). Hobbes continues:

Because when we see how any thing comes about, upon what causes

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called ordinary religion and true religion. By the same token, true religion appears to have a connection to Science. However, Hobbes's treatment of religion does not seem to admit that true religion has ever been arrived at. Indeed, his discussion very much reads as if religion is like a dream and as if God is an illusion. To arrive at this conclusion, Hobbes gives an account of the origin and evolution of religion in (Western) consciousness, beginning with primitive religion, moving thence toward polytheistic classical religion, and thence to monotheistic Judaism and institutional Christianity, in its Catholic and Protestant forms. Hobbes argues that the practice of religion emerged from fear. Self-preservation is the fundamental motive of all human passions, and what is unknown threatens the fulfillment of that motive. This is in the background of Hobbes's statement that "it is impossible for a man, who continually endeavoureth to secure himselfe against the evill he feares, and procure the good he desireth, not to be in a perpetuall solicitude of the time to come" (Hobbes 169). The response to this fundamental human condition is to construct an explanation for the cause of the evil and a comfort against the uncertainty. Beca
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Approximate Word count = 1842
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)