The Miraculous Conception

Annet, Peter, 1693-1769Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 28K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Miraculous Conception by Peter AnnetAuthor: Annet, Peter, 1693-1769,Language: English, Class: BL: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Religion: General, Miscellaneous and Atheism, Release Date: Oct 8, 2012

Editor's review

This short polemical text by the eighteenth-century English thinker Peter Annet discusses the miracle of Jesus's birth and belongs to the fields of philosophy of religion and biblical criticism. From a rationalist standpoint the author questions the miraculous narratives of traditional doctrine; the prose is direct and strongly argumentative, reflecting the critical attitude of Enlightenment freethinkers toward revealed religion. The text is brief but serves as primary material for understanding eighteenth-century English religious controversy, Deism, and the history of biblical criticism. It should be read in the intellectual and publishing context of its time, with attention to its polemical nature; it is not to be taken as an objective general history of religion. Suitable for readers in religious studies, intellectual history, and English-language primary sources.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers in philosophy of religion and biblical criticism seeking primary polemical texts
Enthusiasts of Enlightenment intellectual history interested in Deism and freethought
Religious studies students with good English reading ability using it as topical material
Readers interested in the history of religious controversy who are willing to read primary sources

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking devotional or faith-building reading; this is a skeptical polemic
Beginners in religious history who lack background and may misread the controversial context
English beginners; eighteenth-century polemical style and religious terminology pose barriers

Reading tips

First understand the context of eighteenth-century English Deism and biblical criticism, then read the main text
Distinguish the author's polemical aims from his argumentative steps, tracing his skeptical logic paragraph by paragraph
Read alongside contemporary apologetic works to understand the shared assumptions of both sides
Write a brief summary afterward, noting core arguments and the types of evidence used

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is this book mainly about?

This book is an argument centered on the miraculous narratives of Jesus's birth; from a rationalist standpoint, the author questions the miraculous elements in traditional doctrine. It belongs to the polemical literature of eighteenth-century religious philosophy and biblical criticism rather than to systematic theology.

Can readers without a background in religion understand it?

They can, but supplementary background is needed. The book involves biblical narratives, doctrinal traditions, and the polemical context of its time; readers are advised to first acquaint themselves with the basic outlines of Deism and biblical criticism, or they may mistake polemical statements for general exposition.

How long is the book, and how difficult is it to read?

The text is not long, but its eighteenth-century English syntax and religious polemical terminology pose a certain barrier for modern readers. It is suited to slow reading as specialized material, accompanied by notes and background sources; it is not meant for rapid cover-to-cover reading.

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About the author

Annet, Peter, 1693-1769 Author · English · 1693–1769

Peter Annet (1693–1769) was an English deist writer and teacher. He was tried for publishing articles that questioned biblical miracles, an important event in his life that can be confirmed. Two of his works are held in the collection: Critical Examination of the Life of St. Paul and The Miraculous Conception. Both offer critical examinations of biblical figures and accounts of miracles, showing that his writing was often guided by a rational scrutiny of religious tradition, with a questioning and direct tone. Because public information is limited, his early life, education, and specific teaching posts are difficult to describe in detail. Nevertheless, his writings stirred controversy at the time and led to legal prosecution, indicating that such deist writing had a certain influence in eighteenth-century England. Overall, Annet's texts serve argument and are marked by textual inquiry and skepticism, making him a concrete case for understanding the currents of English deism.