... on indulgences in 1517. Thus it would have been nigh on impossible for More to have written such a work with its many subtle attacks on the structure of society and its pointed references to religion without having been somewhat influenced by the contextual situation. It has been definitively conceded that Utopia is not entirely fictional in this sense. However, it is whether or not Utopia is an attack on Christian beliefs and practices that is to be the primary concern from here on. Nevertheless, the context of the work remains extremely important, especially concerning the "Christian humanist" movement, if it can be classed as such. Erasmus, whom More met initially in 1499, concerned himself with the question which he "believed was paramount in those years [and which was] at once great and simple: "what is it to be Christian?"" and it cannot be denied that More was influenced by the ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now