The Hind and the Panther was written and published by John Dryden in 1687. It's a poem which marries religion and politics. Upon converting to Catholicism, Dryden expresses his praise and contention with the Church, especially in the relationship between the various denominations in England. He presents an argument in three parts -- characterizing the differences between Christian sects, calling for the reconciliation of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, and advocating for the union of Anglicans, loyalists, and Catholics against the Nonconformists. His poem attempts to erase borders by clarifying his own understanding of the "essential" Church.
Dryden lays out the distinctions between the denominations by comparing each body to a wild animal. For instance, the Catholic Church is a hind. By establishing these animals' relationships -- predator vs. prey, social vs. solitary, intelligent vs. naive -- Dryden sheds light upon the nuanced manifestations of Christianity. Essentially he acknowledges that people form groups because of their animal instincts. They desire separation and distinction as a demonstration of superiority or even survival.
Nevertheless, Dryden desires more unity for the Church. He acknowledges the recent trend, with the Panther -- the Church of England, -- to motivate people to participate in religion by political threat. He despises this practice and calls for more unity, with Jesus Christ as the ultimate authority over the Church, rather than a given human leader. Throughout the text, Dryden warns against the corruption of religion for political aims. He calls upon the various sects to unite in order to firmly oppose the radicalism of the Nonconformists.
