Religio Medici and Christian Morals - Sir Thomas Browne
"Religio Medici" first published 1642. "Christian Morals" first published 1716.
This is technically two books in one cover, but as both are quite short, as they are 'quite complementary' to each other, and as I didn't know they were two separate works until I started reading them, I've decided to keep them as one entry on my list.
I had never heard of Sir Thomas Browne before picking up this book, but apparently he lived during the reign of Charles II of England. His main occupation was that of a doctor, and he became a writer without really intending it. He had written Religio Medici as an essay for his own satisfaction, and when it was published without his permission, then embraced the release, editing the work further and writing a foreword.
This first work (and Christian Morals afterwards) is written as reflections on life and Christian living, and provides an interesting glimpse into morality and Christian philosophy from a different era in history. Some things that Browne addresses, therefore, are very foreign to a modern reader - he talks a lot about the influence of the stars in an astrological sense (though denies that anyone should consult them to predict the future, dismissively stating that astrologers "neither understanding reasonably things past or present, [yet] pretend a knowledge of things to come" (page 76)), references Roman and Greek philosophers and mythology far more frequently than we would today (even though some philosophers still do so), and even discusses the idea of physiognomy. All of these are interesting topics but can seem a bit dated.
On the other hand, writing in a different age and culture also allows Browne to focus in on things that we may not consider from our perspective, and that may be beneficial for us to consider. The most prominent example I can think of currently is that of Browne's musings around death. In our modern society death is far less a feature of day to day life than it would have been in Browne's era (and as a doctor, Browne no doubt encountered death more than his peers). Browne admits that death is a little intimidating, yet, from a Christian perspective, "I find not any thing therein able to daunt the courage of a man, much less a well-resolved Christian" (page 66). In fact, Browne continues, when we realise that a greater glory awaits us in the life to come, it seems a little amusing that "we all labour against our own cure; for death is the cure of all diseases" (page 114).
Browne writes with a lot of rational insight, even arguing that "There is no danger to profound these mysteries...The World was made to be inhabited by Beasts, but studied and contemplated by Man: 'tis the Debt of our Reason we owe unto God, the the homage we pay for not being Beasts." (page 30) In fact, "those highly magnifie [sic] him, whose judicious inquiry into his Acts, and deliberate research into his Creatures, return the duty of a devout and learned admiration" (page 31). In other words, if using your logic and reason to grow your admiration for God's goodness and power, then you are using it correctly!
As you may be able to tell from some of the above quotes, Browne's style is that of an earlier era. Although I enjoyed his logic and insights and will reflect on his writing for a while to come, I admit that at points I found it hard to focus on the old-fashioned way of writing, and may have missed some points as a result. I recommend having a read of this, but maybe also of pacing yourself with it. Browne is quite witty, and occasionally verging on sarcastic in tone, but this is something that needs to be slowly read in order to pick up on.
A book that is very interesting, yet may only be revisited on occasion.
Completed 24 January 2022.
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