The Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment saw many great changes in Western Europe. It was an age of reason and philosophes. During this age, changes the likes of which had not been seen since ancient times took place. Such change affected evert pore of Western European society. Many might argue that the Enlightenment really did not bring any real change, however, there exists and overwhelming amount of facts which prove, without question, that the spirit of the Enlightenment was one of change. Specifically change which went against the previous teachings of the Catholic Church. Such change is apparent in the ideas, questions, and philosophies of the time, in the study of science, and throughout the monarchial system.

Previously, the Catholic Church had professed to the entire medieval world that faith in God was absolute. The medieval world was truly an age of faith. As such, ideas that went against the teachings of God were ignored and their preachers subsequently murdered. After the Crusades brought back old Aristotelian learning from the Middle East, all this changed. Advances in Geography were made with the introduction of Ptolemaic Geography. More importantly than the rediscovery of ancient geography was the beginning of skepticism in Western Europe, no longer would the Church's word be taken on faith. The idea that the physical world could be understood through the use of empiricism was also introduced. RenÐ"© Descartes even began to doubt his own existence until coming to the conclusion: "I think, therefore, I am." In this age we see the rise of deism. No longer is a priest's cryptic and dogmatic preachings the sole explanation for weather, personal failure, and scientific phenomena such as electricity. With deism, religion now merely serves a spiritual purpose and science is free to begin exploring the world.

Today, we see the ideas of the enlightenment in our everyday lives. Without this period, I believe that religion may have overpowered us and our thoughts would be that of what religious leaders wanted us to think and know. Any ideas that scientists had about the solar system or how it came about would be shot down by the Catholic Church and they would determine the fate of whoever doubted the word of God. A new founding that people deserve to free and have a life of liberty and happiness was initiated by this period.

Human rights have developed and are very striking to oppressed peoples everywhere who oppose natural law. If religious conflicts erupt, they are settled by creating mutual religious tolerance. The enlightenment has also impacted