Title: The book of God : secularization and design in the romantic era /
Authors: Jager, Colin.
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press,
Year: 2007
Subjects: Theology in literature.; English literature History and criticism; English literature History and criticism; Romanticism Great Britain; Natural theology History.; Secularization (Theology) History.; Intelligent design (Teleology); God Proof, Teleological; Religion and literature England History.
Abstract: "The Book of God is a penetrating study of the argument from design as it emerged and circulated in the romantic era. This argument holds that the intricacy and complexity of the natural world point to a divine designer and that nature is to be read as God's book. A literary and philosophical study of this idea, The Book of God revisits the familiar equation of romanticism, modernity, and secularization."--Jacket.
Contents: Preface Introduction. Nature is the Book of God Chapter 1. The Argument Against Design from Deism to Blake Chapter Two. Arbitrary Acts of Mind: Natural Theology in Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion Chapter Three. Theory, Practice, and Anna Barbauld Chapter Four. Natural Designs: William Paley, Immanuel Kant, and the Power of Analogy Chapter Five. Mansfield Park and the End of Natural Theology Chapter Six. Wordsworth: The Shape of Analogy Chapter Seven. Reading With a Worthy Eye: Secularization and Evil Chapter Eight. Religion Three Ways Afterword. Intelligent Design and Religious Ignoramuses; or, the Difference between Theory and Literature Endnotes Bibliography Index Acknowledgments.