Description

The Analogy of Religion by Joseph Butler (1824) is a seminal work in Christian apologetics. Butler meticulously examines the parallels between the natural world and the principles of religion, arguing that both share a common structure and design by a divine creator. His treatise is divided into two main parts: the first focuses on natural religion, addressing the existence of God and the moral order, while the second delves into revealed religion, particularly Christianity. Butler employs a method of reasoning based on analogy to demonstrate that the complexities and perceived imperfections in religion reflect similar patterns found in nature, thus reinforcing the credibility and divine origin of religious doctrines. The work includes two additional dissertations on personal identity and the nature of virtue, as well as a charge delivered to the clergy of the Diocese of Durham, further enriching its theological discourse.