The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations
Abstract
In this article, the author argues that Hobbes treats religion as a profound political problem because its psychological origins, susceptibility to manipulation, and competing claims to authority can fracture obedience and destabilize the commonwealth. Through a systematic reinterpretation of miracles, prophecy, spirits, and Scripture, Hobbes strips religious authorities of independent power and places all public religious meaning under the sovereign’s control. The paper concludes that Hobbes does not abolish religion but domesticates it, transforming faith into a politically safe instrument that reinforces unity, obedience, and civil peace.
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Recommended Citation
Schulz, Erin
(2026)
"From Superstition to Stability: Hobbes on Religion and Political Order,"
The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations: Vol. 35, Article 7.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/political-realm/vol35/iss1/7