Perfection proclaimed
Book Description
In the turbulent decades of mid-17th-century England, a remarkable flowering of radical spiritual expression emerged that would reshape religious consciousness forever. This scholarly exploration delves into the profound religious literature created between 1640 and 1660, revealing how revolutionary spiritual movements developed their distinctive voices and practices.
Rather than viewing these radical religious groups as isolated phenomena, this study demonstrates their deep connections to the broader currents of English society during this transformative period. The author presents fresh evidence about previously overlooked religious individuals and communities, offering readers new insights into how spiritual seekers of the era navigated their faith journeys.
The book examines the powerful role of personal spiritual narratives within gathered religious communities, showing how believers shared their most intimate encounters with the divine. Particularly fascinating is the exploration of dreams and visions as vehicles for spiritual revelation, with special attention to the prophetic writings of women who dared to claim divine inspiration in an era when such voices were often silenced.
The study also investigates how these radical Puritans engaged with mystical and occult traditions, revealing the complex spiritual landscape they inhabited. Through careful analysis of their distinctive religious language and practices, readers gain understanding of how these communities developed new ways of expressing their deepest spiritual convictions and experiences.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~11 hours)
📄 Length: 396 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religious Dissenters
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Radicalism in literature
- ✓ Explore English literature
- ✓ Explore Histoire et critique
- ✓ Explore Religiöse Sprache
- ✓ Explore Geistliche Literatur
- ✓ Explore Dissenters, Religious
