Philosophical treatise
Christianity not Mysterious
A deist argument that Christianity contains nothing contrary to reason.
Description
About the work
A deist argument that Christianity contains nothing contrary to reason.
Christianity not Mysterious is usually read through its treatment of deism, reason, and anti clericalism. As a philosophical treatise, it turns those concerns into conflicts of character, voice, setting, and social pressure rather than leaving them as abstract ideas.
Part of the work's durability lies in the way its form intensifies its themes. Readers return to it not only for subject matter but for the distinctive voice, structure, and atmosphere through which it makes deism, reason, and anti clericalism feel immediate.
Overview
Why it was banned
Christianity not Mysterious entered censorship debates as a philosophical treatise associated with deism, reason, and anti clericalism. In the current dossier, the main state objections cluster around heresy and anti clericalism.
The earliest event currently captured here is 1697 in Ireland, where Irish Parliament and church-backed authorities condemned and burned. The work challenged orthodox claims about mystery and revelation. Its punishment belongs to the long history of state-backed doctrinal control.
This entry is still incomplete: more jurisdictions, court orders, and translated justifications should be added over time.
This page is intentionally incomplete. The ban history is a starter dataset, not a final census of every jurisdiction or decree.
Counter and critical readings
Context, rebuttals, and criticism
- Assassins of the Mind Christopher Hitchens
Frames the Rushdie affair as a test of free speech against violent religious intimidation.
- From Fatwa to Jihad Kenan Malik
Tracks how conflicts over blasphemy, race, and offense evolved after the Rushdie controversy.
- 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature Nicholas J. Karolides, Margaret Bald, and Dawn B. Sova
A compact reference on how censorship systems moved across states, churches, and courts.
- Banned Books: 387 B.C. to 1978 A.D. Anne Lyon Haight
Useful for comparing older obscenity, heresy, and political bans with modern free-speech disputes.
Ban history
Known government actions
| Date | Jurisdiction | Action | Reason | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1697 | Ireland | condemned and burned | The work challenged orthodox claims about mystery and revelation. | Its punishment belongs to the long history of state-backed doctrinal control. |
Sources
Harvested references for this page
- Wikipedia: List of books banned by governments reference partial
- Wikipedia REST summary API database partial
- Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds book partial
- 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature book partial
- Encyclopedia of Censorship book partial
- Christopher Hitchens: Assassins of the Mind article partial
- From Fatwa to Jihad book not started
- Banned Books: 387 B.C. to 1978 A.D. book partial