The Irony of Christianity
Astell writes, “And what’s the reason that we sometimes see persons unhappily falling off from their Piety, but because ’twas their Affections, not their Judgment, that inclin’d them to be Religious? Reason and Truth are firm and immutable, she who bottoms on them is on sure ground, Humour and Inclination are sandy Foundations, and she who is sway’d by her Affections more than by her Judgment, owes the happiness of her Soul in a great measure to the temper of her Body; her Piety may perhaps blaze high but will not last long.” When an individual forsakes Christianity, it means that such an individual was obliged, through socialization, to consent and submit to the religious philosophies unconditionally. The falling of a pious individual is ironic considering the magnitude devotion he/ she parades before the fall. Such ironic falls accentuate the prime drawback of Christianity which amounts to overemphasis of piety without providing a stable foundation for the piousness. Accordingly, the lack of sturdy groundwork elicits the unanticipated falls.
“Rude Essay”
Astell concludes, “To close all, if this Proposal which is but a rough draught and rude Essay, and which might be made much more beautiful by a better Pen, give occasion to wiser heads to improve and perfect it, I have my end. For imperfect as it is, it seems so desirable, that she who drew the Scheme is full of hopes, it will not want kind hands to perform and compleat it.” This conclusion is an ironic underestimation of the worth of Astell’s pitch. She would have concluded with a authoritative conclusion which emphasizes the worth of her suggestion which underlines the import of women refining themselves. The ironic conclusion is a tactic which anticipates criticism which may arise regarding her endorsements.
