Francis Ellingwood Abbot (1836–1903) was an American philosopher, theologian, and advocate for free religion, known for reconciling theology with scientific reasoning. His writings challenged religious dogma, promoting a rationalist approach to faith.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Abbot studied at Harvard University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1859. He later attended Meadville Theological School, developing progressive theological views. As a Unitarian minister, he served congregations in Dover, New Hampshire, and Toledo, Ohio, but faced opposition for his non-traditional beliefs. In 1868, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled his views insufficiently Christian, leading to his resignation. He founded and edited The Index, a journal promoting free religious thought, and contributed to philosophical discourse.
His most influential works include Scientific Theism (1885,) arguing for a rational approach to theology; The Way Out of Agnosticism (1890,) exploring philosophical alternatives to skepticism; and The Syllogistic Philosophy (1906,) examining logic and scientific reasoning. The Collected Essays of Francis Ellingwood Abbot (1995) provides insight into his intellectual legacy.
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Agnosticism is the philosophical, ethical, and religious dry-rot of the modern world.
—Francis Ellingwood Abbot
Topics: Ethics
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