Ernest Renan

Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan (1823–1892) was a French philosopher, historian, and writer known for his works on religion, particularly Christianity and early Islam. His most famous work, "Life of Jesus" (1863), caused controversy due to its rationalist approach, portraying Jesus as a historical figure rather than a divine one. Renan's ideas influenced the secularization of European thought and sparked debates about faith and reason in the 19th century. He also wrote "The Future of Science" and "The History of the Origins of Christianity," contributing significantly to modern historical and religious scholarship.

Author's Books:


PART I. Tréguier, my native place, has grown into a town out of an ancient monastery founded at the close of the fifth century by St. Tudwal (or Tual), one of the religious leaders of those great migratory movements which introduced into the Armorican peninsula the name, the race, and the religious institutions of the island of Britain. The predominating characteristic of early British Christianity... more...

LIFE OF JESUS PLACE OF JESUS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. The great event of the History of the world is the revolution by which the noblest portions of humanity have passed from the ancient religions, comprised under the vague name of Paganism, to a religion founded on the Divine Unity, the Trinity, and the Incarnation of the Son of God. It has taken nearly a thousand years to accomplish this... more...