Eliot Was A Radical Thinker And A Silent Agnostic

One of the interesting facts about George Eliot is that she was a radical thinker and a silent agnostic. After her mother passed away in 1836 and her brother got married, Eliot relocated to Foleshill, close to Coventry. She had no idea how significant an influence such a decision would have on her life. Eliot quickly joined Coventry society, where she made connections with liberal philosophers. A fascinating tidbit about George Eliot is that she frequently visited the "Rosehill" location, where the organization congregated to discuss their extreme viewpoints. Robert Owen, Herbert Spencer, Harriet Martineau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson are examples of these radical philosophers.

George Eliot eventually encountered radical and agnostic theologies through the Coventry organization. She was introduced to the works of Ludwig Feuerbach and David Strauss, two authors who questioned the biblical accounts. Eliot was definitely impacted by these encounters. In actuality, she translated David Strauss' "The Life of Jesus" (1864) into English as her first significant contribution. But her father was furious when Eliot started publicly criticizing her religious convictions. As a result, she faithfully went to church up to her father's passing.