Enlightenment ideas influenced the reforms of the French Revolution in many ways. These ideas, especially in the areas of politics, society, and religion, helped shape the policies of the French Revolution. The heliocentric view of the universe was formed and replaced the standard geocentric view. The government and political views of the people were greatly influenced by Enlightenment ideas. For the first time people began to question the church and its teachings. The members of the society up to that point had followed the church and all the beliefs it taught. The ideas of the Enlightenment brought new ways of thinking that had not existed before. The Enlightenment or “the age of light,” as it is called in Gavin Lewis' WCIV, gave way to new ideas that reformed the French Revolution. The scientific revolution challenged long-held views that held the universe. Until that time it was believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe or in the geocentric view, but the heliocentric theory of the Polish astronomer Copernicus brought a new perspective of the universe. The heliocentric view explained that the sun is the center of the universe and not the earth as was believed for a long time. The heliocentric vision caused conflicts within the members of the ecclesial community. Traditional views were questioned and denied. Enlightenment ideas led to the rejection of traditional views and customs of the church. These ideas have taught society to use reason, knowledge and nature as a source and to be guided by. The Enlightenment led to deism and some even came to believe in atheism. Philosophers of the time believed that “God's relationship with the universe was there...... middle of paper ...... the universe and its traditional views. This new vision questioned and contradicted the old beliefs of the church. Members of the church community were angered by these new ideas. Philosophers of the time began to question religion and the existence of God, which led to deism and atheism among citizens of society. The government and the political opinions of the people were greatly influenced by Enlightenment ideas. Many forms of government have been influenced by these ideas. The form of government best influenced by Enlightenment ideas was that of Baron de Montesquieu, a Frenchman and admirer of the Enlightenment of the time, who believed that a division of government was the way to protect the freedom of the people and prevent a tyranny. Furthermore, Enlightenment ideas may be evident in many areas of the reform of the French Revolution.