Religion and the Rise of Modern Culture

by Louis Dupré

Religion and the Rise of Modern Culture describes and analyzes changing attitudes toward religion during three stages of modern European the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Romantic period. Louis Dupré is an expert guide to the complex historical and intellectual relation between religion and modern culture. Dupré begins by tracing the weakening of the Christian synthesis. At the end of the Middle Ages intellectual attitudes toward religion began to change. Theology, once the dominant science that had integrated all others, lost its commanding position. After the French Revolution, religion once again played a role in intellectual life, but not as the dominant force. Religion became transformed by intellectual and moral principles conceived independently of faith. Dupré explores this new situation in three the literature of Romanticism (illustrated by Goethe, Schiller, and Hölderlin); idealist philosophy (Schelling); and theology itself (Schleiermacher and Kierkegaard). Dupré argues that contemporary religion has not yet met the challenge presented by Romantic thought. Dupré’s elegant and incisive book, based on the Erasmus Lectures he delivered at the University of Notre Dame in 2005, will challenge anyone interested in religion and the philosophy of culture.

130 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Louis Dupre is a Catholic phenomenologist and religious philosopher. He was the T. Lawrason Riggs Professor in Yale University's religious studies department from 1973 to 1998, after which he became Professor Emeritus.[1] His work generally attempts to tie the modern age more closely to medieval and classical thought, finding precursors to Enlightenment and Reformation events that were naively viewed as revolutions. His well known works include "Passage to Modernity" and "The Enlightenment and the Intellectual Foundations of Modern Culture."

Reviews

[Johann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first foray into a “philosophy” book. Deborah warned me that it probably wasn’t what I was looking for, but this small book was taunting me on our shelf. What I assumed would be a quick weekend read turned into a two week mind exercise. I probably understood about 70% of what I read.

Initially a series of lectures, then a paper, Dupre assumes an audience of philosophy/religious scholars and makes passing references to things with which I’ve had no interaction.

I found the evolution of philosophy on religion interesting, particularly when it intersected with other material I have read. I could see John Spong’s influence for defining “god” as Being Itself in the work of Schelling. I could see the story of the Christ figure in Greek mythology (particularly Dionysus). What Mormons may see as unique theology, that the soul existed before the mortal body, was materialized centuries before the birth of Jesus in the writings of Plato.

I’d like to soon dive further into the writings of these men.