Milton and the Radical Sectarians

FAIN: FB-12270-74

Norman T. Burns
SUNY Research Foundation, Binghamton (Binghamton, NY 13902-4400)

To study a selection of Milton's more unorthodox religious ideas as they relate to the printed controversies these ideas provided when they were first articulated by 17th century Englsih radical sectarians. This study is an attempt at demonstrating that these controversies made a vital contribution to the development of Milton's thought, and that his independence of mind was such that he was not ashamed to adopt many sectarian ideas. Also it is an attempt at a new approach to Milton and an effort to dispell erroneous assumptions concerning Milton and his society.