Religion and Superstition in Reformation Europe

Religion and Superstition in Reformation Europe
ISBN-10
071906158X
ISBN-13
9780719061585
Category
History
Pages
239
Language
English
Published
2002
Publisher
Manchester University Press
Authors
Helen Parish, William G. Naphy

Description

"Superstition" is one of the most fought over terms in the history of early modern popular culture, especially religious culture, and is also one of the most difficult to define. This volume offers a novel approach to the issue, based upon national and regional studies, and examinations of attitudes to prophets, ghosts, saints, and demonology, alongside an analysis of Catholic responses to the Reformation and the apparent presence of "superstition" in the reformed churches. It challenges the assumptions that Catholic piety was innately superstitious, while Protestantism was rational, and suggests that the early modern concept of "superstition" needs more careful treatment by historians.

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