Religions en transition dans la seconde moitié du XVIIIe siècle

The essays contained in this volume were presented at a colloquium held in 1995 at the University of Nancy. With contributions from both French and Italian scholars, the collection aims to examine major tendencies in religious reform and practices during the second half of the eighteenth century and to challenge traditional assumptions equating the triumph of the Enlightenment with a decline of religion throughout Europe. In his introduction, Louis Chatellier rejects a schematized vision of irremediable dechristianization and suggests that religious sentiment was in some cases reinvigorated by the competing influence of philosophy. Instead, he maintains that even as the Church faced hostile criticism as an institution, renewed religious fervor expressed itself in more personal forms of spirituality, in a faith that more willingly adapted itself to the exigencies of human existence and the quest for earthly happiness. The plural Religions of the title is particularly significant in this respect: even within the bounds of Catholicism, a plurality of different organizations, behaviors and types of belief developed during the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Undoubtedly, one of the merits of this volume is its success in bringing to light the diversity of eighteenth-century European religious practice. At the same time, however, the variety of subjects and approaches represented in the collection sometimes makes it difficult to attain a synthetic perspective over the broad trends that influenced and shaped religion during the period. Quite understandably, the topics chosen by the individual contributors do not provide a master plan for coherent and exhaustive treatment of the colloquium's theme. But it is unfortunate that some of the contributions fall entirely outside the designated chronological scope of the collection, and the broad, uneven geographical coverage (extending as far as Syria, in one case, but including only one essay on England and no commentary on Spain or the Low Countries) makes it difficult to tie the various studies together. Also striking is the complete absence of Judaism here, despite the plurality of "religions" under discussion.

In short, this collection does not furnish a convenient overview of the major religious transformations that accompanied or rivaled the philosophical developments of the age. Taken one by one, however, the individual essays often point to larger questions and furnish intriguing insights into the ways in which the evolution of the Church paralleled the development of certain philosophical ideals, even while remaining faithful to the fundaments of Christianity. One lesson that can be drawn from the ensemble of the collection is that contrary to common perceptions of the eighteenth century, the relationship between religion and Enlightenment was not exclusively adversarial. In many cases, the Church and its agents were sensitive to social, intellectual and political changes and to a certain extent attempted to respond to the evolving desires and concerns of the faithful. Notions of individuality, utility and social benefit were common to both domains.

In its organizational structure, the volume groups the nineteen essays into four sections, each with a brief introduction by Chatellier. The first section focuses on the interaction between State and religion, particularly with regard to reforms imposed from above. The second section highlights various cultural indicators that help to measure shifting patterns in eighteenth century religious life. The third section centers on new forms of religious devotion, with emphasis on popular movements within the Catholic Church. The fourth and final section turns to the critique of religion by opponents of the Church. At the end of the volume, the concluding essay by Mario Rosa is useful in situating the various contributions within the framework of the collection.

As I have tried to suggest, the merit of the component parts is greater than the cumulative impact of this volume as a whole. Accordingly, some of the most noteworthy contributions deserve special mention. Among these, Paola Vismara Chiappa traces the give-and-take in eighteenth century Milan between tradition and innovation, and between State and ecclesiastical authority, leading to a greater emphasis on charity and pastoral duty. Marina Caffiero demonstrates that the popular cult that arose around Beno?t-Joseph Labre was indicative of a feminization of religious devotion at a time when the Church beatified relatively few women. Taken as a group, the essays by Gerard Michaux (progressive conceptions of monastic life), Philippe Lefebvre (the image of the non-believer in sermons from the period), Philippe Martin (the presence of philosophical language and arguments in books of piety), and Francois Pupil (the continued vitality of religious art during the second half of the eighteenth century) provide a remarkable panorama of the religious landscape in France. Each of the four essays is particularly well documented and argued; together they furnish many useful indications for further analysis of French Catholicism within the context of the Enlightenment. In the final section, Roger Marchal convincingly argues that one of Voltaire's favorite themes in his critique of Christianity - the idea of historical variation, inconsistency and contradiction - was borrowed from Bossuet. And Diego Venturino analyzes with commendable lucidity the evolving image of Mohammed during the course of the eighteenth century in France, starting with skeptical denunciations of religious imposture and shifting towards more positive assessments of the Islamic Prophet as a religious and political legislator.

As these rapid summaries indicate, this volume contains a great deal of valuable information about a topic that often receives short shrift in eighteenth-century studies. However, only researchers specializing in the history of religion will probably wish to read the entirety of Religions en transition dans la seconde moitie du XVIIIe siecle. Scholars in other areas who are interested in specific facets of eighteenth-century religious sentiment may prefer to select only the most pertinent essays from the rich array offered here.

Contents:

Louis Chatellier, Introduction: le paradoxe des Lumieres.

I. Eglises, Etats et societes.

Viviane Barrie, "Gouvernements, episcopat et renovation de l'Eglise d'Angleterre dans la seconde moitie du dix-huitieme siecle et au debut du dix-neuvieme siecle." Paola Vismara Chiappa, "Tradition et innovation: l'Eglise de Milan ? l'epoque des Lumieres."

Louis Chatellier and Peter Claus Hartmann, "Le catholicisme en Baviere dans la seconde moitie du dix-huitieme siecle: transition ou rupture?"

Claude Langlois, "La morale economique en proces dans le seconde moitie du dix-huitieme siecle: De l'usure de Jean-Joseph Rossignol (1787-1804)."

Gerard Michaux, "Une nouvelle conception de la vie monastique en France dans la seconde moitie du dix-huitieme siecle."

II. Mesure et changement.

M.-H. Froeschle-Chopard, "Indulgences et confreries, tests de l'evolution des devotions au dix-huitieme siecle."

Philippe Lefebvre, "Le regard sur l'incredule dans les sermons de la deuxieme moitie du dix-huitieme siecle: evolution."

Philippe Martin, "Des livres de piete eclaires?"

Dominique Lerch, "Naissance, evolution et fin d'une coutume religieuse: les lettres de bapteme en milieu protestant de langue allemande (1750-1850)."

III. Les d?votions nouvelles.

Stefania Nanni, "Les formes nouvelles de la devotion au Christ et la naissance d'une congregation: les passionistes."

Philippe Boutry, "Une theologie morale en transition: rigorisme et liguorisme dans la formation du cure d'Ars."

Bernard Heyberger, "Entre Orient et Occident, la religion des devotes d'Alep." Marina Caffiero, "Naissance et construction d'un culte ? la fin du dix-huitieme siecle: Beno?t-Joseph Labre (1748-1783)."

Daniele Menozzi, "En reaction aux Lumieres: le Sacre-Coeur de Jesus dans les familles chretiennes (dix-huitieme-vingtieme siecles)."

Francois Pupil, "La piete traditionnelle d'apres les oeuvres exposees au Salon.

IV. Le phenomene religieux vu de l'exterieur."

Roger Marchal, "La religion dans le Dictionnaire philosophique de Voltaire: variation et tradition."

Diego Venturino, "Imposteur ou legislateur? Le Mahomet des Lumieres (vers 1750-1789)."

Louis Chatellier, Buffon, "le temps et Dieu."

Rose Goetz, "Trois ideologues devant le phenomene religieux: Volney, Destutt de Tracy, Daunou."

Mario Rosa, Conclusion.