On the Wrong Side of History: Crypto-Catholics, Enlightenment, and the Emergence of “Catholic-ism” in Late Eighteenth-Century Germany

This article investigates an episode of anti-Catholic polemic in the late eighteenth century in Germany. It shows how fear over the influence of “crypto-Catholics” masquerading as Protestants and exponents of Enlightenment triggered the conceptualization of “Catholicism” as a social and cultural for...

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Détails bibliographiques
Auteur principal: Schaefer, Richard ca. 20./21. Jh. (Auteur)
Type de support: Électronique Article
Langue:Anglais
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Publié: Brill 2022
Dans: Journal of religion in Europe
Année: 2022, Volume: 15, Numéro: 1/4, Pages: 162-186
Sujets non-standardisés:B history of concepts
B Friedrich Nicolai
B Reinhart Koselleck
B Enlightenment
B Catholicism
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Résumé:This article investigates an episode of anti-Catholic polemic in the late eighteenth century in Germany. It shows how fear over the influence of “crypto-Catholics” masquerading as Protestants and exponents of Enlightenment triggered the conceptualization of “Catholicism” as a social and cultural force beyond Church membership. It shows how Friedrich Nicolai played a leading role in suggesting that Catholics posed a distinct threat to the Enlightenment and the progressive achievements of the last few decades. Guided by Reinhart Koselleck’s insights into the temporalization of fundamental concepts, this article shows how the conceptualization of Catholicism was part of the larger attempt to navigate the dissolution of feudal society. It argues that placing Catholics on the wrong side of history was thus generative of the modern historical regime.
ISSN:1874-8929
Contient:Enthalten in: Journal of religion in Europe
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/18748929-bja10065