Sir Thomas Browne's Religio Medici

When I first opened my anthology to the section on Sir Thomas Browne, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I had heard mentions of him only in passing, so I knew nothing of the man behind the name, nor did I expect to fall in love with what the Norton editors deem his “exercise in delighted self-analysis” (Greenblatt 1696): Religio Medici. Because our anthology does not provide this work in its entirety—I suppose such a thing is not to be expected, as the full work appears to be rather robust in its length—I cannot say for certain that I agree with absolutely everything Browne says in his so-called self-analysis, since I have not had the opportunity to read the work in its entirety. I can, however, say that what I have read of …show more content…
In this first section, Browne notes the fact that many assume he has no religion at all simply because he is a doctor—a man of science. He is also thought of as unreligious, though, because he is indifferent when it comes to “matters of religion, neither violently defending one, nor with that common ardor and contention opposing another” (Browne 1697). Yet, despite the preconceptions regarding Sir Thomas Browne and his religion, or rather, lack thereof, Browne goes on to assert that he is a Christian. Not only that, but he depicts his pride in the Christian faith, calling it an “honorable style” (Browne 1697), stating that he is a Christian not because he was raised to be, but rather because his adult judgment led him to embrace the faith. Browne is a Christian because of his own adult understanding of the term, owing charity unto humanity as opposed to hate directed at those who do not follow Christianity, choosing to content himself to enjoy that charity rather than blaspheming those who “refuse so glorious a title” (Browne 1698). In other words, Browne pities those who do not know or welcome the Christian faith, and, to paraphrase, says it is their loss to deny such a glorious