Une histoire du sentiment religieux au XIXe siècle

Book Description

In this illuminating exploration of nineteenth-century spiritual life, Guillaume Cuchet challenges conventional assumptions about religion's supposed decline during the age of rationalism and positivism. Rather than witnessing faith's retreat, this era actually pulsed with extraordinary religious fervor and innovation that matched the century's dramatic political upheavals.

Cuchet reveals how intense spiritual movements flourished both within established traditions like Catholicism and far beyond their boundaries. A remarkable early New Age phenomenon emerged, attracting followers from unexpected quarters, including segments of the political left that remained far from fully secularized. The century witnessed an astonishing array of religious expressions: Marian apparitions captivated believers, while theological debates reshaped concepts of hell, purgatory, and paradise.

The author traces how new dogmas like the Immaculée Conception and papal infallibility took root alongside the rise of ultramontane piety. Simultaneously, alternative spiritual practices gained momentum through séances, table-turning, and spiritist movements, while religious philosophies attracted devoted followings. Even practices surrounding death and burial reflected this spiritual renaissance.

Through careful examination of these diverse phenomena, Cuchet unveils a more intimate and complex nineteenth century, where the boundaries between believers and skeptics often blurred in surprising ways. This scholarly yet accessible work offers readers a fresh perspective on how spiritual seeking and religious innovation have shaped modern consciousness, revealing patterns that continue to influence contemporary spiritual movements.