Marlowe's Attempts to Condemn Questioning Religious AuthorityThe role of religion in shaping Western civilization is crucial to understand the evolution of humanity. First, religion was the primary agent of social construction in the early development of today's modern states, as it provided all the answers for men. Therefore, studies of theology and the primary role of the Church in the states were a common trend among Western nations. States enforced the study of religion and took an active role in protecting it from possible threats, as demonstrated by the Inquisition and banning of texts in the 16th century. Once scientific thought began to gain popularity in these countries, society found itself questioning the role of the Church as a legitimate source of information and power. Additionally, these social conflicts influenced writers such as Christopher Marlowe in their depiction of social struggles in the face of these new realities. In his play Doctor Faustus, Marlowe physically represents the struggles of Elizabethan society with religion and science. This article argues that Faustus's attempts to advance his knowledge are linked and embody Elizabethan society's choice of religion over science. Changes in the concept of knowledge are crucial to the development of Faustus. Historically, the Middle Ages supported the idea that God and religion were the primary sources of knowledge using the Great Chain of Being. This describes a religiously based social and power hierarchy that organizes all aspects of life and places God at the top ("The Great Chain of Being"). The article "The Great Chain of Being" explains how "all existing things have their precise place and function in the universe, and deviate from its proper place...... middle of paper." ..... has crucial impacts for the broader field of understanding the transformation of the religious institution in Western civilizations. However, this contradicts those who thought Marlowe was arguing against religion. Instead, it opens the debate on how theater was used to reinforce the values ​​of its patronizing state. Works Cited Catherall, Paul. “Does Doctor Faustus face the gap between the human aspiration for life and the reality of real life? Draigweb.co.uk. Np, July 5, 2013. Web. April 22, 2014Larson, John. “Doctor Faustus – Selling your soul to make a point.” Luminarium.org University of Oregon, 2010. Web. April 23, 2014 Marlowe, Christopher. Doctor Faustus. New York: Signet Classics, 2010. PrintKeefer, Michael H. “History and the Canon: The Case of Doctor Faustus.” PDF file. “The great chain of being”. Faculty.up.edu. Np, nd, April 22. 2014