Irenista, calvinista, scettico, o ateo nascosto? Il dibattito sulla religione di Paolo Sarpi, in Atheism, Religion, and Politics in Early Modern Europe, ed. by Gianluca Mori, "Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics," XX, 2018, 3, pp. 121-161.

Among the main topics discussed by Sarpi scholarship, the question of the Servite's religious attitude is undoubtedly the most popular. No other topic attracted more interest and produced such deep disagreement, especially since the rediscovering of his manuscript Pensieri (whose first trustable edition dates only to 1996). In this essay, I will analyse the most important interpretations of Sarpi's attitude towards religion and theology that have emerged so far. This analysis will open the way for a more direct examination of some of Sarpi's texts that have been used to support the different readings of his thoughts. Finally, I will propose some considerations regarding the possibility to include Sarpi in the history of early modern atheism.

ABSTRACT Among the main topics discussed by Sarpi scholarship, the question of the Servite’s religious attitude is undoubtedly the most popular. No other topic attracted more interest and produced such deep disagreement, especially since the rediscovering of his manuscript Pensieri (whose first trustable edition dates only to 1996). In this essay, I will analyse the most important interpretations of Sarpi’s attitude towards religion and theology that have emerged so far. This analysis will open the way for a more direct examination of some of Sarpi’s texts that have been used to support the different readings of his thoughts. Finally, I will propose some considerations regarding the possibility to include Sarpi in the history of early modern atheism.