Deaths on January 27

Thomas Woolston, English theologian and author (b. 1669)

Thomas Woolston (baptised November 1668 – 27 January 1733) was a highly controversial and influential English theologian whose heterodox views challenged conventional religious thought during the early 18th century, a period significantly shaped by the rise of Enlightenment rationalism and critical inquiry.

While often categorized by his contemporaries and some later scholars as a Deist—a follower of the philosophical belief system advocating a religion based on natural reason rather than divine revelation or supernatural phenomena—Woolston's modern biographer, William H. Trapnell, offers a more nuanced interpretation.

Trapnell, in his seminal work on Woolston, argues compellingly that he remained firmly within the fold of the Church of England as an Anglican. However, Woolston's Anglicanism was undeniably marked by profoundly unorthodox theological views that challenged the literal interpretation of central Christian tenets, distinguishing him from pure Deists who often rejected revealed religion entirely.

Woolston's Unorthodox Theology and the Miracles Controversy

Woolston's most significant contribution, and the primary source of his notoriety, was his series of publications, particularly the six-part "Discourses on the Miracles of Our Saviour," published between 1727 and 1729. In these discourses, Woolston did not deny the existence of miracles outright, but rather argued vehemently for their allegorical, rather than literal, interpretation.

He contended that taking biblical miracles, such as the healing of the sick or the resurrection of the dead, as literal historical events made Christianity appear absurd, irrational, and indefensible to enlightened, rational minds. For instance, Woolston famously challenged the literal truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus, a foundational tenet of Christian doctrine, suggesting it should be understood in a metaphorical sense. He posited that the miracles were parables intended to convey deeper spiritual truths, rather than merely serving as historical proofs of divine intervention through supernatural occurrences.

This radical approach was profoundly unsettling to the Anglican establishment and many Christian thinkers of his time, who relied on the literal truth of the Gospels and the miracles as irrefutable evidence of Christ's divinity and the veracity of the Christian faith. Woolston's work effectively questioned the historical accuracy of key biblical narratives, sparking widespread outrage and theological debate.

The Enlightenment Context and Legal Ramifications

Woolston's ideas emerged within the broader intellectual currents of the Enlightenment, an era that championed reason, empirical observation, and skepticism towards traditional authority. English Deism, a prominent intellectual movement of this period, sought to establish a "natural religion" based on universal moral principles discernible through reason, often rejecting supernatural revelation, divine intervention, and the literal interpretation of scripture. Although Woolston maintained his Anglican allegiance, his methodology and conclusions shared some common ground with Deist critiques, leading to his frequent categorization alongside them. However, as Trapnell argues, Woolston's aim was not to dismantle Christianity but to purify it and make it more intellectually palatable to an increasingly rationalistic society.

The repercussions for Woolston's controversial writings were severe. Accused of blasphemy and seditious libel, primarily for his "Discourses," he was prosecuted by the British government. In 1729, he was convicted, fined, and sentenced to imprisonment for failing to pay the fine. He died in prison on January 27, 1733, having become a symbol of intellectual freedom and the dangers of challenging religious orthodoxy in 18th-century England.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thomas Woolston

Who was Thomas Woolston?

Thomas Woolston (1668–1733) was a prominent, albeit controversial, English theologian from the early 18th century, recognized for his unorthodox interpretations of Christian doctrine and biblical miracles during the Enlightenment period.

Was Thomas Woolston a Deist?

While often classified as a Deist by his contemporaries and some historians due to his rationalistic approach to miracles, his biographer William H. Trapnell argues that Woolston was an Anglican who held exceptionally unorthodox theological views, seeking to reinterpret Christianity rather than abandon it.

What were Woolston's most controversial theological views?

His most controversial views, extensively detailed in his "Discourses on the Miracles of Our Saviour," advocated for the allegorical interpretation of biblical miracles, including the literal Resurrection of Jesus. He believed this approach would make Christianity more rational and credible in an age of reason.

What consequences did Thomas Woolston face for his writings?

For his "Discourses," Thomas Woolston was prosecuted for blasphemy and seditious libel. He was convicted, fined, and subsequently imprisoned due to his inability to pay the fine, ultimately dying in jail on January 27, 1733.