The Paradox of Christianity

The French and Russian Revolution saw themselves as diametrically opposed to religion. But you'd still argue that they were, perhaps unwittingly, still the heirs of Christianity. The Reformation casts itself as purging the Christian order of superstition. And it doesn't take long before this kind of idea ends up having Christianity itself as its object. It's a fundamental part of the more radical elements of what we call the enlightenment.