Analysis Of Thomas More's Utopia

Critics of Thomas More’s Utopia are sometimes divided on the religious interpretation of the work. In other words, they question whether it supports Catholic or Protestant beliefs and ideals. Utopia was published a year before the Reformation in England which leads critics to dispute More’s intentions in regards to religion. More himself was a devout Catholic, but some of his claims about the Church and European society in Utopia’s book one could, to some critics, come across as satire. However, evidence from the work itself, particularly in the section in book two about the Utopians’ own religious practices, sheds light on the Catholic influence in the work as a whole. In Thomas More’s Utopia, the Utopian society is heavily influenced by

Protestants believe that religious authority lies solely in Scripture and nothing else. Nothing else but the literal interpretation of Scripture determines the beliefs of Protestants. On the other hand, Catholics hold their Church in the highest authority with Scripture being subordinate to it. Thomas More also wrote A Dialogue Concerning Heresies and in it is a section on the Church’s status as the highest authority as a dialogue between two men. “And much marvel were it, if ye should in Holy Scripture see better than the old holy doctors and Christ’s whole Church,” (681). More claims that all of the Church’s priests and other members are more skilled in interpreting Scripture because they have been specifically chosen and trained to read Scripture. He states that the regular person cannot in any way interpret the Bible better than a member of the Catholic Church; therefore the Church has the authority concerning Scripture. This belief is reflected in More’s Utopia where Hythloday talks about the Utopian priests in book two. According to Hythloday, “no official in Utopia is more honored than the priest,” (639). The Utopians see their priests as the ultimate authority not just in religion but also in other aspects of society like military campaigns. Utopian priests are also not prosecuted by the law if they are found to be doing wrong because they are

However, looking closer at the text itself reveals many examples of the Catholic beliefs regarding works as charity and ultimate religious authority of priests in the Utopian society. The Catholic influence in Utopia is present most noticeably in the section on Utopian religion but other influences can be found throughout the work in both books. The context surrounding Utopia may confuse critics on its religious leanings, but the work itself contains compelling evidence of its Catholic