Many writers of the English Enlightenment attempted to formulate an original monotheistic “natural religion” that could be contrasted with the “positive religion” of Christianity. Priests suppressed the true natural religion that was maintained in secret by philosophers until they could teach it openly.

The form of this historical account is similar in a number of respects to patristic arguments against pagan belief. Justin, for instance, argues that the Greek philosophers got all their good ideas from the earlier revelation of Moses, and argues too that behind Greek polytheism there often lurked a covert monotheism. Philosophers such as Plato demurred from proclaiming their monotheistic faith openly because they feared they would run afoul of the authorities, including the priests.