Spinoza, a precursor to the Enlightenment, argued for 'monism'—the idea that God and Nature are the same thing (Deus sive Natura). This radical view denied the existence of a personal, transcendent God who could intervene in human affairs or grant miracles. For Spinoza, 'God' is the infinite, logical structure of the universe itself. If human beings want to be free, they must understand the laws of nature and align themselves with them, rather than praying for them to change. This 'Radical Enlightenment' perspective laid the groundwork for a purely secular, scientific understanding of existence.