Edward Gibbon · Civilisations

Religion as History

Gibbon’s scandalous achievement - treating the rise of Christianity not as divine truth but as a historical phenomenon with natural causes, founding the secular study of religion.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Gibbon treated Christianity as a historical phenomenon with natural causes, scandalising his age. Explain his approach and why it was both shocking and important, in your own words.

Leads to David Hume.

Begin this lesson →
← All lessons on Edward Gibbon

epoché — a humanities education that remembers you.