"Shallow and pretentious intellectualism, unreasonable contempt for authority and tradition." Should be called the age (mid-18th century) of unbelief and free thought.
Shorter Oxford English Dictionary of 1934
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Began in the mid 1800's. It was encouraged by the "philosopher king" Frederick II, better know as Frederick the Great, who reigned for 46 years over Prussia (1740-1786). He was "a thorough rationalist and patron of 'free thought.' The sight of a cross, it is said, was enough to make him blaspheme" (Iain Murray, Evangelicalism Divided, p. 5).
