Catholicisme et socialisme en Allemagne (1848-1933)

Book Description

This scholarly exploration examines the complex relationship between Catholic faith and socialist thought in Germany during a pivotal period of social transformation from 1848 to 1933. J.-Y Paraïso investigates how both Catholic social teaching and Marxist socialism emerged from the same historical roots: the pressing social questions that arose during the nineteenth century.

While mainstream Catholic social doctrine initially responded to socialist proposals with a corporatist, authoritarian model that rejected liberal democratic principles, this study focuses on a different story. Paraïso illuminates the experiences of minority Christian groups who, particularly during the Weimar Republic era, refused to accommodate themselves to the dominant capitalist system of their time.

The author traces the spiritual and intellectual journeys of Christians who made the deliberate choice to embrace socialist ideals. These individuals developed their own distinctive interpretations of Karl Marx's teachings, creating a unique synthesis between their religious convictions and their commitment to social transformation.

For readers interested in understanding how faith communities have grappled with questions of economic justice and social change, this work offers valuable insights into the tensions and possibilities that emerge when spiritual beliefs encounter radical political thought. The book reveals how some believers found ways to integrate their Christian values with their desire for fundamental social reform, challenging conventional boundaries between religious and secular approaches to creating a more just society.