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Thomas Pooley Blasphemy Case
Thomas Pooley (1806–1876) was a Cornish well-sinker and controversial thinker whose case became an important one for secularism, secularists and freethought, freethinkers when he was imprisoned for blasphemy in 1857. Background Pooley was born in the town of Liskeard, Cornwall. He was employed as a well-sinker (digging wells), but took on other work where it was available, including bill-sticking. In the 1851 United Kingdom census he is identified as "(Pauper) General Labourer)". He was married with four children. Over a period of 15 years Pooley displayed unconventional habits and anger towards established religion. A contributory cause may have been the refusal of the local Anglican and Methodist churches to bury his son Thomas, who died aged eleven in 1852. With religious ideas of a pantheism, pantheist nature, Pooley became convinced that by digging into the ground, which was his profession, he was digging into a living being. He advocated the burning of all bibles and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on naturalistic considerations, uninvolved with religion. It is most commonly thought of as the separation of religion from civil affairs and the state and may be broadened to a similar position seeking to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere. Secularism may encapsulate anti-clericalism, atheism, naturalism, non-sectarianism, neutrality on topics of religion, or antireligion. Secularism is not necessarily antithetical to religion, but may be compatible with it. As a philosophy, secularism seeks to interpret life based on principles derived solely from the material world, without recourse to religion. It shifts the focus from religion towards "temporal" and material concerns. There are distinct traditions of secularism like the French, Turkish, American and Indian models. These differ greatly, from the American emphasis on avoiding an established religion and the freedom of bel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
