理查‧普萊斯與英格蘭廢止《檢覈法》與《地方公職法》運動，1720-1791

Abstract

17-19世紀，非國教徒一直受《檢覈法》與《地方公職法》的限制。這兩個法案規定不願跟從國教會禮拜儀式者，將會被褫奪公權、限制他們部分的民事權益。由於國教會強迫其它不奉國教者皈依他們，這也導致國教會的部分神職人員與非國教徒，自18世紀起對於國教會強迫人們服從「正統教義」的行徑提出質疑。1770年代，非國教徒中受過良好教育者，如：理查．普萊斯、約瑟夫．普萊斯特利等理性非國教徒，這些人除了撰文說明宗教自由的合理性，也與憲法通訊社這類激進主義社團合作，試圖透過爭取政治自由，以達成宗教自由的訴求。本文試圖透過理查．普萊斯做為個案，分析他如何將道德哲學著作，用於闡述宗教、政治自由的論述，並從他在1789年的佈道—《論愛吾國》，觀察他對激進主義運動中非國教徒社群的影響。

From the 17th to the 19th century, the Dissenters were restricted by the Test and Corporation Acts, which forced the English people to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper according to the Usage of the Church of England. Those who refuse to take such usage would be punished with a civil disability, which they cannot access corporation employment, and Incapacity to prosecute any Suit in Law or Equity, or to be Guardian of any Child, or, Executor. That caused some people wherefrom Anglican or Dissenters to question Anglican force people subscribe to such 'formal doctrine'. In the 1770s, some well-educated dissenters, whom we called 'rational dissenters' such as Joseph Priestly and Richard Price have written some pamphlets to justify religious freedom. They also co-operated with radical societies, like Society for Constitution Society and the Revolution Society attempted to fight for religious freedom through the political campaign. In this essay, we shall discuss Richard Price as a case; to analyze how he use his Moral Philosophy to account for his concept of religious and political freedom and observe the impact of his sermon in 1789 Discourse on the Love our Country on dissenter communities in radicalism Society.