The Victorian Era and Religion

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses belief in the Victorian era. It particularly focuses on the Victorians' skepticism of the existence of God and their belief that God could not influence their lives. The paper discusses the questions posed by new social and scientific theories of the time that led to the crisis of faith in the Victorian period and, more specifically, their doubt about the origins of life and the meaning of existence.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Changing Views Of Life And Reality
Science, Evolution And Faith

From the Paper:

"Related to the development of the scientific attitude was the utilitarian view of life. This view was based on the assumption that only material reality existed and was driven by industrialization and modern commerce. This philosophy was also related to for the desire for monetary wealth. Briefly utilitarianism is "The belief that the value of a thing or an action is determined by its utility." (Definitions of Utilitarianism on the Web) Therefore, in this view there can therefore be no intrinsic and spiritual meaning to life. The individual has worth only to the extent of his immediate utility to society and industry. Writers of the time like Charles Dickens reacted strongly against this view of life. Utilitarianism was also an indication that the religious dimension had been lost in Victorian society. "They knew something fundamental had been lost from their society, and they were trying to grasp it, but most of them had an incomplete understanding of what it was." (Ahlquist D.)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ahlquist D. The Victorian Age in Literature. June 15, 2006. <http://www.chesterton.org/discover/lectures/24victorianage.html>
• Darwin, religion, and morality. June 13, 2006. <http://ftp.ccccd.edu/andrade/britlit/victorians/religionandmorality.htm>
• Definitions of Utilitarianism on the Web. June 13, 2006. <http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&hs=eIC&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&defl=en&q=define:Utilitarianism&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title>
• Rojas M. Victorian Doubt in God. 1990. June 14, 2006. <http://victorian.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/victorianweb/vn/victor5.html>
• Shurbutt S. The Victorian Age:1832-1901. June 13, 2006. <http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:yN3N2NVTliUJ:www.shepherd.edu/englweb/engl408/victorian.doc+Victorian+%22religious+doubt%22&hl=en&gl=za&ct=clnk&cd=13&client=firefox-a>

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