Utopia Book 2 Chapter 9: Utopian Religion and Raphael’s Conclusion

TLDRUtopian religion and its various aspects are described in the final chapter of Book 2. While some utopians worship celestial bodies or great men, most worship a singular God called Mithras. Raphael acts as a missionary, explaining Christianity to the utopians who find similarities between the teachings of Jesus and the philosophy of utopia. However, since Raphael and his friends are not priests, they cannot administer sacraments. The utopians choose one of themselves to be a priest, challenging the authority of the Pope. The utopian religion is open and tolerates other forms of worship. Raphael concludes with criticism of other governments and expresses his appreciation for certain aspects of utopian values.

Key insights

💒Utopian religion encompasses various beliefs, including worship of celestial bodies, great men, and a singular God called Mithras.

🕊️Raphael serves as a missionary and explains Christianity to the utopians, who find similarities between Jesus' teachings and utopian philosophy.

🙏Raphael and his friends, not being priests, cannot administer sacraments to utopian converts to Christianity.

The utopians choose one of themselves to be a priest, challenging the authority of the Pope.

🌍Raphael criticizes other governments as conspiracies of the rich and praises utopian values as likely to lead to happiness.

Q&A

What does utopian religion involve?

Utopian religion encompasses beliefs such as worshipping celestial bodies, great men, and a singular God named Mithras.

What role does Raphael play in the utopian religion?

Raphael acts as a missionary, explaining Christianity to the utopians and drawing parallels between Jesus' teachings and utopian philosophy.

Can Raphael and his friends administer Christian sacraments?

No, since Raphael and his friends are not priests, they cannot administer sacraments to the utopian converts to Christianity.

How do the utopians establish a priesthood?

The utopians choose one among themselves to be a priest, challenging the authority of the Pope and his official clergy.

What are Raphael's views on other governments?

Raphael criticizes other governments as conspiracies of the rich and praises utopian values as more likely to lead to happiness.

Timestamped Summary

00:01The final chapter of Utopia's Book 2 focuses on utopian religion, describing various beliefs and worship practices.

00:35Raphael acts as a missionary, introducing Christianity to the utopians and emphasizing its similarities to utopian philosophy.

01:17Although Raphael and his friends cannot administer sacraments, the utopians choose one of themselves to be a priest.

01:40The utopian religion embraces religious diversity, allowing different forms of worship in their magnificent temples.

02:00Raphael criticizes other governments, considering them conspiracies of the rich, and praises utopian values for their potential to bring happiness.