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영어

This essay aims to analyze the reaction of religious camps to secularism as seen through the debate between Charles Kingsley and John Henry Newman, both of whom were well-known religious leaders in the Victorian age. First, a scientific and rational faith was observed in Kingsley’s claims attacking Newman’s faith. Kingsley denounced Newman’s faith as lacking historic evidences and scientific rationality. Kingsley believed newly discovered scientific knowledge should be incorporated into and bolster religious convictions. Kingsley’s vision for the progress of the world is exemplified by his poems, “Saint Maura: A. D. 304” and “The World’s Age.” On the other side, Newman responded to all critiques raised by Kingsley by elevating the value of the Church’s history and tradition. He recommended using imagination to understand the Church’s history, instead of scientifically deducing what happened. Newman’s two poems, “Hidden Saints” and “Warnings” reflected on how to oppose the tendency to analyze faith with new scientific knowledge. Newman’s vision for a traditional world was clearly in opposition to Kingsley’s progressive one, yet in their own way they were both suggesting a solution to the same problem; a way for religion to cope with the rapid spread of secularism.