Abstract
This paper provides a narrative account of the development of Spinoza's view of human religion in terms of historical influences in Spinoza's life. Spinoza embraced a position in which the majority of religious beliefs are reduced to anthropological phenomena on naturalistic grounds. However, certain rationally grounded religious beliefs are defended as objectively valid. This paper seeks to demonstrate that the philosophical substance of Spinoza's position was derived from the philosophical work of Maimonides and Hobbes. However, the impetus behind the radical conclusions which Spinoza drew came from the atmosphere of early modern Amsterdam. It is through a novel synthesis of these diverse historical influences that Spinoza was able to reach a unique stance on human religion
