Agrarische Religiosität

By Peter Hersche

Book Description

In this compelling exploration of rural Catholic spirituality, historian Peter Hersche challenges conventional timelines by revealing how baroque religious practices and mentalities persisted far beyond their supposed historical boundaries. Rather than confining these spiritual traditions to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Hersche demonstrates how deeply rooted religious consciousness continued to shape rural communities well into the twentieth century.

Drawing from intimate interviews with elderly residents who lived through this transformation, the author focuses on two distinctly Catholic regions: Appenzell-Innerrhoden and Obwalden. Through their personal testimonies, he uncovers the profound connection between the decline of traditional agriculture and the gradual fading of time-honored religious practices that had sustained these communities for generations.

This work transcends typical institutional church history by delving into the lived spiritual experiences of ordinary people. Hersche examines how faith was woven into the fabric of daily rural life, exploring the customs, beliefs, and sacred rhythms that guided agricultural communities through centuries of change.

For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions adapt and endure within specific cultural contexts, this study offers valuable insights into the relationship between place, practice, and belief. The author presents a nuanced portrait of how religious consciousness evolved alongside social and economic transformation, providing a window into the authentic spiritual life of rural Catholic communities during a pivotal period of transition.