1st Edition

Violence and Religion Attitudes towards militancy in the French civil wars and the English Revolution

By Judy Sproxton Copyright 1995
    112 Pages
    by Routledge

    112 Pages
    by Routledge

    Integrating her extensive knowledge of sixteenth and seventeenth century literature, Judy Sproxton examines the expression of a recurring theme in history, that of the tension between religious faith and political and militant action. Violence and Religion offers a detailed and fascinating study of the writings of some of the major figures of the time including Calvin, D'Aubigné Cromwell, Winstanley and the poet Andrew Marvell. Looking at texts written during two periods of major political upheaval and civil unrest in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, she explores the division between their understanding of the self-interest of humanity and the will of God.

    Introduction 1 Calvin: violent remedies, Repression of will, Repression of armed hostility 2 Perspectives of war in the writings of Agrippa d’Aubigné 3 Resistance justified The pamphleteers’ account, A poet’s account 4 From Calvin to Cromwell through Beard 5 Winstanley: the values of experience 6 In the shadow of God: Andrew Marvell 7 Conclusion

    Biography

    Judy Sproxton is Lecturer in French at the University of Birmingham.

    'Stimulating volume ... Judy Sproxton is to be commended on having opened up a number of promising lines of enquiry.' - French Studies