What Isaac Newton thinks about religion

@isaac-newton · 20 positions · On ppll ↗

English mathematician and physicist (1642 to 1727), Lucasian professor at Cambridge and later Master of the Royal Mint; author of the Principia and the Opticks.

Isaac Newton did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

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Only Isaac Newton on religion. See everyone on religion

2 dated positions, 1692 to c. 1713–1726, in their own words. Our reading of what Isaac Newton has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. c. 1713–1726

   Our readingThe system of sun, planets and comets could only come from an intelligent and powerful Being

   Their wordsThis most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.

   ↗The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, Book III (tr. Andrew Motte, 1729; 1846 edition)en.wikisource.org All 4 from this book

3. 10 Dec 1692

   Our readingHe wrote the Principia with an eye to principles that would bring thinking people to believe in a God

   Their wordsWhen I wrote my treatise about our Systeme I had an eye upon such Principles as might work with considering men for the beleife of a Deity & nothing can rejoyce me more then to find it usefull for that purpose

   ↗Letter to Richard Bentley, 10 December 1692newtonproject.ox.ac.uk