A Discourse of Free-thinking

A Discourse of Free-thinking is a significant work by Anthony Collins, an English Deist and freethinker. Published anonymously in 1713, it argues that ignorance is the root of atheism and that free-thinking is its cure. The book advocates for reason in understanding religious propositions and suggests that revelation should align with natural reason.1

This work is a key text within the broader Deist movement, which emphasized natural religion, morality, and the use of reason over divine revelation or church dogma. Deists, like Collins, often challenged traditional religious authority and dogma, advocating for a more rational and empirical approach to faith. Collins's ideas contributed to the intellectual climate of the Enlightenment, influencing thinkers who championed liberty, progress, and equality.2345