The book explores the nuanced forms of violence present in early modern England, revealing how the concept of moderation served as a means of social control. It delves into the contradictions inherent in this ideology, illustrating how the pursuit of moderation often masked underlying tensions and conflicts within society. Through its analysis, the work sheds light on the complexities of social dynamics during this period, challenging conventional understandings of power and behavior.
This landmark book traces the history of belief in the Christian West from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, revealing for the first time how a distinctively modern category of belief came into being. Ethan Shagan focuses not on what people believed, which is the normal concern of Reformation history, but on the more fundamental question of what people took belief to be. Shagan shows how religious belief enjoyed a special prestige in medieval Europe, one that set it apart from judgment, opinion, and the evidence of the senses. But with the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation, the question of just what kind of knowledge religious belief was--and how it related to more mundane ways of knowing--was forced into the open. As the warring churches fought over the answer, each claimed belief as their exclusive possession, insisting that their rivals were unbelievers. Shagan challenges the common notion that modern belief was a gift of the Reformation, showing how it was as much a reaction against Luther and Calvin as it was against the Council of Trent. He describes how dissidents on both sides came to regard religious belief as something that needed to be justified by individual judgment, evidence, and argument
Exploring the diverse reactions to the English Reformation, this study delves into the societal and cultural shifts following Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church. It examines how various groups, including the clergy and laypeople, interpreted and responded to the changes in religious practices and beliefs, highlighting the complexities of faith and identity during this transformative period in English history. Through detailed analysis, the book sheds light on the lasting impact of the Reformation on English society.
