Religion and Society at the Dawn of Modern Europe

By Beat A. Kümin

Book Description

During one of history's most turbulent periods, European Christianity underwent profound transformation as it grappled with the emerging forces of modernity. This scholarly exploration examines how religious communities reinvented themselves between 1750 and 1850, a century that witnessed revolutionary upheaval and the rise of secular thinking.

Rudolf Schlögl presents a sweeping analysis of how both Protestant and Catholic traditions evolved new expressions of faith and practice when confronted with secularity's challenge. Rather than simply chronicling institutional changes, this work delves into the philosophical and theological currents that shaped religious thought during Europe's modernization crisis.

The book illuminates how religious institutions adapted their structures and how personal piety transformed in response to changing social conditions. Schlögl weaves together the development of religious practices with contemporary intellectual debates about religion's role and purpose in society. This comprehensive approach reveals how deeply intertwined spiritual life remained with European identity formation during an era of dramatic change.

For readers interested in understanding how spiritual traditions navigate periods of social transformation, this work offers valuable insights into the dynamic relationship between faith and modernity. The author demonstrates how religious communities didn't merely react to secular challenges but actively participated in defining what European society would become during this pivotal century of transition.