The Apologetics of Hugo Grotius

“For viciousness of rhetoric and physical treatment of other human beings, few ages rival the early modern period,” writes our friend Nathaniel Peters on the Liberty Law blog. “In the midst of that age’s battles, Hugo Grotius, the Dutch humanist whose writings have greatly contributed to international law, sought to determine and argue for the core principles of Christianity on which all parties could agree.”

Reviewing a new edition of Grotius’ book  The Truth of the Christian Religion , Peters explores  Grotius’ proofs of God’s existence, eternality, omnipotence, omniscience, and perfect goodness, as well as his defense of Christianity as the one true faith. He also gives an overview of Swiss theologian Jean Le Clerc’s supplement to Grotius’ work. Le Clerc argued that the principle of sola Scriptura would put an end to controversy and division among Christians—-a prediction both proven and disproven by subsequent events, as Peters explains.

In his view, the book is “more than a marker in the history of Christian thought.” Rather:

It serves as a mirror in which to see our own society in light of the past. Indeed, it reminds us that portions of our society really are the anomaly when it comes to belief in a creator and basic principles of natural law. It tells us how we got to our own polarized age, and helps us see what the way back might be.

Read the rest here .