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The '''Enlightenment''' was a philosophical movement in the 1700s characterized by [[rationalism]], or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification".  This view often rejected traditional social, political and religious views. Its inspiration was the idea that [[God]] was not the solution for everything, and that some things were controlled by natural laws, not by the supernatural.

The '''Enlightenment''' was a philosophical movement in the 1700s characterized by [[rationalism]], or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification".  This view often rejected traditional social, political, and religious views. Its inspiration was the idea that [[God]] was not the solution for everything, and that some things were controlled by natural laws as opposed to the supernatural.

Writers during the Enlightenment assumed that science, beginning in the late 1600s with [[Isaac Newton]], could be duplicated in other fields through a systematic and logical approach. Some of the "enlightened" authors of the period even rejected and criticized Christianity.  Many were [[deists]]. Enlightenment philosophy took root in England, France and the American colonies, where it provided the intellectual foundations of the [[American Revolution]].   

Writers during the Enlightenment assumed that science, beginning in the late 1600s with [[Isaac Newton]], could be duplicated in other fields through a systematic and logical approach. Some of the "enlightened" authors of the period even rejected and criticized Christianity.  Many were [[deists]]. Enlightenment philosophy took root in England, France, and the American colonies, where it provided the intellectual foundations of the [[American Revolution]].   

According to researcher Rodney Stark, the 'The “Enlightenment” [was] conceived initially as a propaganda ploy by [[militant atheism|militant atheists]] and [[humanism|humanists]] who attempted to claim credit for the rise of [[natural science|science]] [through promulgating] the falsehood that science required the defeat of [[religion]].'<ref>Stark, Rodney, "For The Glory of God:

According to researcher Rodney Stark, "The 'Enlightenment' [was] conceived initially as a propaganda ploy by [[militant atheism|militant atheists]] and [[humanism|humanists]] who attempted to claim credit for the rise of [[natural science|science]] [through promulgating] the falsehood that science required the defeat of [[religion]].'<ref>Stark, Rodney, "For The Glory of God:

How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery", Princeton University Press, 2003, p.123, quoted in Williams, Alex, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/images/pdfs/tj/j18_2/j18_2_49-52.pdf The biblical origins of science], ''Journal of Creation'' 18(2):50, 2004.</ref>

How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery", Princeton University Press, 2003, p.123, quoted in Williams, Alex, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/images/pdfs/tj/j18_2/j18_2_49-52.pdf The biblical origins of science], ''Journal of Creation'' 18(2):50, 2004.</ref>