Balthasar Bekker

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Title page of "Betoverde Weereld"
Title page of "Betoverde Weereld"

Balthasar Bekker (March 20, 1634 - June 11, 1698), Dutch divine and author of philosophical and theological works. Opposing superstition, he was a key figure in the end of the witchcraft persecutions in early modern Europe.

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[edit] Life

Bekker was born in Metslawier (Dongeradeel) as a son of a German pastor from Bielefeld. He was educated at Groningen, under Jacob Alting, and at Franeker. Becoming the rector of the local Latin school, he was appointed to his satisfaction in 1657 as a pastor in Oosterlittens (Littenseradiel), and started as one of the first to preach on Sunday afternoon. An enthusiastic disciple of Descartes, he wrote several works in philosophy and theology, which by their freedom of thought aroused considerable hostility. In his book De Philosophia Cartesiana Bekker argued that theology and philosophy each had their separate terrain and that Nature can no more be explained from Scripture then can theological truth be deduced from Nature.[1] From 1679 he worked in Amsterdam, driven from Friesland. In 1683 he travelled to England and France. In two months time Bekker visited London, Cambridge, Oxford, Paris and Leuven, with a great interest in the art of fortification.[2]

His best known work was Die Betooverde Wereld (1691), or The World Bewitched (1695), in which he examined critically the phenomena generally ascribed to spiritual agency, and attacked the belief in sorcery and "possession" by the devil, whose very existence he questioned. The book had a sensational effect and was one of the key books of the Early Enlightenment in Europe, and almost certainly the most controversial.[3] Bekker became a heroic figure defying an army of obscurantists.[4]

The World Bewitched is interesting as an early study in comparative religion, but its publication in 1691 led to Bekker's deposition from the ministry. He was tried for blasphemy, maligning the public Church, and spreading atheistic ideas about Scripture. Some towns banned the book, but Amsterdam and the States of Holland never did so, continuing his salary, without formerly stripping him of his post.[5] He died at Amsterdam.

[edit] Works

  • De philosophia Cartesiana admonitio candida & sincera. Bekker, Balth. / Vesaliae / 1668
  • The world bewitch'd; or, An examination of the common opinions concerning spirits: their nature, power, administration, and operations. As also, the effects men are able to produce by their communication. Divided into IV parts; Bekker, Balthasar / Translated from a French copy, approved of and subscribed by the author's own hand / printed for R. Baldwin in Warwick-lane / 1695

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jonathan I. Israel (1995) The Dutch Republic. Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall, 1477-1806, p. 895.
  2. ^ Bekker, Balthasar (1998) Beschrijving van de reis door de Verenigde Nederlanden, Engeland en Frankrijk in het jaar 1683. Fryske Akademy.
  3. ^ Jonathan I. Israel (1995) The Dutch Republic. p. 925.
  4. ^ Jonathan I. Israel (1995) The Dutch Republic. p. 928.
  5. ^ Jonathan I. Israel (1995) The Dutch Republic, p. 930

[edit] External links