1731. Christian deist Matthew Tindal wrote Christianity as Old as the Creation. In essence, Tindal takes the position that the essential truths in Christianity have always been known by all human beings since the creation of the world. According to Tindal, any claim to receiving an exclusive revelation of truth by anyone, or the church, must be tested by human reason. Any such revealed truth that cannot be verified through human reason is either invalid or nonessential in Christianity. Tindal finds that a number of church doctrines fail to pass the test of human reason but Tindal explains that the essential truths in Christianity are known naturally and universally. Tindal explains that whatever honors God and is good for mankind is in accord with God's will and should guide human behavior. This, of course, is Tindal's paraphrase of what Jesus described as love for God and love for neighbor, which Christian deists believe is the essence of Christianity. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
