Jesus in an age of enlightenment. Radical gospels from Thomas Hobbes to Thomas Jefferson. By Jonathan C. P. Birch. (Christianities in the Trans-Atlantic World.) Pp. xx + 493. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019. €77.99. 978 1 137 51275 8

Key Points

• The book explores radical reinterpretations of Jesus by Enlightenment thinkers and their implications on Christianity.
• Literary analysis of texts from Thomas Hobbes to Thomas Jefferson.
• Examination of theological and philosophical shifts during the Enlightenment.
• Contextual exploration of the impact of Enlightenment ideas on Christian thought.
• Illustrates diverse views on Jesus' teachings from secular and religious perspectives.
• Highlights the tension between faith and rational thought in Enlightenment writings.
• Sheds light on how Enlightenment figures influenced modern interpretations of Christianity.