Robert Browning
...y and philosophical ideas of the time period, yet he was also instructed to believe the unexplained mysteries of the Christian faith. His mother, who had strong ties to the congregational church, took great time to instruct Robert in his religious studies. With this open atmosphere, however, Browning exhibited signs of disinterest in religion during his early childhood. The town preacher, in fact , found it necessary to publicly scold "for restlessness and inattention Master Robert Browning". Robert Browning's tendency toward skepticism was recorded early on. Robert Browning's first deviation from his faith was at the age of fifteen or sixteen. His primary influences were the Flower family and the writing of P.B Shelley. Browning often traveled to the Flower's house to discuss music, poetry, and Aethism. Eliza Flower , with whom Browning was infatuated was an influence in Browning's Aethism. She was one of the primary influences that turned Browning away from the Christianity of his mother. His other influence, the writing of Shelley, a known aethist, taught Browning to be an independent free thinker. After reading Shelley's book, Queen Mab , Browning became an Aethist and a vegetarian. He rejected his mother's world to gain a sense of liberty and independence. This faith change at such an early age seemed to lead to a continual spiritual inconsistency throughout his life. Browning had trouble accepting any faith or religion he chose to follow and often questioned his judgment in faith related decisions. Browning clearly possessed a great respect for Shelley which followed him through much of his early poetry. Browning's life was "fundamentally affected" by the Shelley's writing. Although there is no available poetry written before his first published work, Pauline, his early Aethism is still reflected in his early poetry. In 1845, Browning met Elizabeth Barret. In 1846 they were married against the wishes of Barrett’s father. Upon meeting his extremely religious wife and with her persuasion, Browning began to realize that Shelley's poetry ha...