Genre:

Abstract

Publications abstracted:

William R Thayer Atlantic Monthly Magazine

Subjects:

Christianity, Rationalism, Heterodoxy

    Many conflicting verdicts have been passed on Giordano Bruno, but for the nineteenth century 'when the growing bulk of rationalism casts a pessimistic shadow over so many hopes, it is encouraging to know that the rationalist Bruno saw no reason for despair'. Nevertheless, he is still regarded by the Vatican as 'devil-possessed' and if Popes were as influential as they were in Bruno's day 'they would have found reason enough to burn Mill and Darwin'.