ABSTRACT
Burke's political religion has its roots deep in three convictions. The first is that civil society rests on spiritual foundations, being indeed nothing less than a product of Divine will; the second, that this is a fact of significance so profound that the recognition of it is of vital moment, both for the corporate life of the State and for the lives of each and all of its members; and the third, that whilst all forms of religion within the nation may play their part in bearing witness to religion, this is peculiarly the function of an Established Church, in which the 'consecration of the State' finds its appropriate symbol, expression, and support. Burke, however, as is well known, would have his readers go a step further. Neither the sanctuaries of the heart nor the sanctuaries of voluntary Churches are enough for him. Certainly for the mind of Burke there could be no ultimate rest in the idea of humanity.
