Chapter 14:
"So that before the time of Civill Society, or in the interruption thereof by Warre, there is nothing can strengthen a Covenant of Peace agreed on, against the temptation of Avarice, Ambition, Lust, or opther strong desire, but the feareof that Invisible Power, which they everyone Worship as God."
"When the tranferring of Right, is not mutuall; but one of the parties transferreth, in hope to gain thereby friendship, or service from another; . . . or to deliver his mind from the pain of compassion . . . This is not Contract, but Gift, Free-gift, Grace."
To continue Miriam's general direction about Hobbes's reading ("rereading?") of Christianity, I wonder how his understanding of the origins of the commonwealth and the nature of humans without commonwealth relate to general biblical understanding.
How is his "state of nature" different from the Roman Catholic idea?
Hobbes believes religion is necessary for the securing of common law and peace. Thus, he takes a distinctly sociopsychopolitical approach to religion. Does his rhetoric of the practicality of religion undermine religion itself or reinforce it?
Moreover, his language of "grace" is distinctly biblical. Is he changing the biblical ideas to suit his own model, or are they mutually compatible?
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