Tina Kim and Ruis MacDonald The Enlightenment and Religion Philosophes argued that both established and non-established Christian churches hindered the pursuit of a rational life and the scientific study of humanity and nature According to the doctrine of original sin ? meaningful improvement in human nature on Earth was impossible (therefore religion turned attention away from present world to the ?world to come?) Differences in doctrines of the various denominations of Christianity led to churches promoting intolerance and bigotry, inciting torture, war, etc. Now philosophes were not only challenging ideas, but also the church