Paganism in the philosophical reflection of Edward Herbert

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify the significance of Edward Herbert of Cherbury's work "The Religion of the Gentiles" for the development of the philosophy of religion and religious studies. The article examines the source base, methods, and content of Herbert's book, in which the author took the study of religion beyond confessional boundaries. At the core of Herbert's philosophical study lies an attempt to justify paganism by proving the unity of the essential religious foundations of all confessions of the past and present. The scientific novelty of the study is associated with the fact that Herbert's book "The Religion of the Gentiles" is considered for the first time as a methodological attempt to substantiate a universal religion based on cross-cultural comparison. As a result of the study, it was established that the book "The Religion of the Gentiles", firstly, is one of the extensive encyclopedias of religious traditions of its time; secondly, it continues and develops Herbert's teaching on a single universal religious foundation; thirdly, the issues raised in the book define religion as an object of philosophical reflection; fourthly, Herbert bases his conclusions not only on the use of diverse sources, but also on comparative analysis, which brings his study closer to the scientific standards of comparative religious studies.

Research materials

1. Herbert E. De Religione Laici / translated by H. R. Hutcheson. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1944.
2. Herbert E. De Veritate / translated with an Introduction by M. H. Carre. Bristol: University of Bristol, 1937.
3. Herbert E. The Antient Religion of the Gentiles and Causes of their Errors. L.: Printed for John Nutt, 1705.

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Author information

About this article

Publication history

• Received: August 18, 2026.
• Published: September 9, 2026.

Keywords

• трактат «Религия язычников» Э. Герберта
• философия религии
• естественная религия
• сравнительное религиоведение
• кросс-культурный метод
• E. Herbert’s treatise "The Religion of the Gentiles"
• philosophy of religion
• natural religion
• comparative religious studies
• cross-cultural method

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© 2026 The Author(s)
© 2026 Gramota Publishing, LLC

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)