Stephen Strehle - Böcker

In this compelling narrative, discover how Christianity—particularly through Puritanism—shaped the foundations of modern Western democracy, only to see its influence dramatically transformed by the forces of secularization. This accessible yet profound work The Rise and Fall of Christian Civilization in the Modern World traces two pivotal movements that defined our modern world: the rise of Puritan ideals that birthed concepts of liberty, equality, and democracy, and the subsequent emergence of secular society that challenged religious authority.From the democratic principles of early Puritan churches to the development of social contract theory, from revolutionary movements to the rise of the secular state, this book illuminates how religious and anti‑religious forces shaped our current cultural landscape. The author masterfully weaves together historical events, theological developments, and philosophical shifts that transformed Western civilization—from the Protestant Reformation to the French Revolution, from the Enlightenment to the modern entertainment industry.Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand: How Puritan ideals shaped modern democratic principlesThe historical roots of church‑state separationWhy and how secular institutions emergedThe complex relationship between religion and modern societyWritten in clear, engaging prose and organized in concise chapters perfect for discussion groups and classrooms, this work offers both general readers and scholars a comprehensive understanding of how Christianity’s cultural influence evolved from a dominant force to one voice among many in our contemporary pluralistic society. More than a historical account, it provides crucial insights into the ongoing dialogue between faith and secularism in modern life.

In this compelling narrative, discover how Christianity—particularly through Puritanism—shaped the foundations of modern Western democracy, only to see its influence dramatically transformed by the forces of secularization. This accessible yet profound work The Rise and Fall of Christian Civilization in the Modern World traces two pivotal movements that defined our modern world: the rise of Puritan ideals that birthed concepts of liberty, equality, and democracy, and the subsequent emergence of secular society that challenged religious authority.From the democratic principles of early Puritan churches to the development of social contract theory, from revolutionary movements to the rise of the secular state, this book illuminates how religious and anti‑religious forces shaped our current cultural landscape. The author masterfully weaves together historical events, theological developments, and philosophical shifts that transformed Western civilization—from the Protestant Reformation to the French Revolution, from the Enlightenment to the modern entertainment industry.Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand: How Puritan ideals shaped modern democratic principlesThe historical roots of church‑state separationWhy and how secular institutions emergedThe complex relationship between religion and modern societyWritten in clear, engaging prose and organized in concise chapters perfect for discussion groups and classrooms, this work offers both general readers and scholars a comprehensive understanding of how Christianity’s cultural influence evolved from a dominant force to one voice among many in our contemporary pluralistic society. More than a historical account, it provides crucial insights into the ongoing dialogue between faith and secularism in modern life.

The Dark Side of Church/State Separation analyzes the Enlightenment's attack upon the Judeo-Christian tradition and its impact upon the development of secular regimes in France, Germany, and Russia. Such regimes followed the anti-Semitic/anti-Christian agenda of the French Enlightenment in blaming the Judeo-Christian tradition for all the ills of European society and believing that human beings can develop their own set of values and purposes through rational means, apart from any revelation from God or Scripture.Stephen Strehle's analysis extends our understanding of church/state relations and its history. He confirms the spiritual roots of modern anti-Semitism within the ideology of the Enlightenment and recognizes the intimate relationship between anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity. Strehle questions the absolute doctrine of church/state separation, given its background in the bigotries of the philosophes. He notes the nefarious motives of subsequent regimes, which used the French doctrine to replace the religious community with the state and its secular ideology.This detailed historical analysis of original sources and secondary literature is woven together with special appreciation for the philosophical and theological ideas that contributed to the emergence of political institutions. Readers will gain an understanding of the most influential ideas shaping the modern world and present-day culture.

Religion no longer plays a dominant role in the everyday consciousness of modern Western society. Few people recognize the underlying role of religious beliefs and practices in their life choices. Stephen Strehle shows the significance and ongoing influence of religion in contemporary life by revealing the sacred roots of modern political ideas in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He discusses the role of the church in government, probing into the sources of democratic, federal, and egalitarian ideas on the continent of Europe during the Reformation.The separation of church and state in America and the diminished power of the Church of England were the culmination of secular forces evolving since the Enlightenment. This secular view of life represents the basic mentality of the culture and the government in general; yet there is much to contradict it. The last half of the twentieth century witnessed a surge of grassroots movements from all sides of the political/religious spectrum. These included the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the Moral Majority of the 1980s, both of which provided an effective challenge to a simple separation of the two realms.Strehle explores some of the most cherished political ideals of modern society, including equality and democracy, liberty and natural rights, progress and capitalism, federalism and mixed government. He does not dismiss the vital contribution of other possible sources of inspiration from the world of religion or undermine the well-established place of 'secular' sources. But he does show that certain ideas associated with the religious community have left an indelible mark upon significant aspects of the emerging American landscape.

Religion no longer plays a dominant role in the everyday consciousness of modern Western society. Few people recognize the underlying role of religious beliefs and practices in their life choices. Stephen Strehle shows the significance and ongoing influence of religion in contemporary life by revealing the sacred roots of modern political ideas in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He discusses the role of the church in government, probing into the sources of democratic, federal, and egalitarian ideas on the continent of Europe during the Reformation.The separation of church and state in America and the diminished power of the Church of England were the culmination of secular forces evolving since the Enlightenment. This secular view of life represents the basic mentality of the culture and the government in general; yet there is much to contradict it. The last half of the twentieth century witnessed a surge of grassroots movements from all sides of the political/religious spectrum. These included the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the Moral Majority of the 1980s, both of which provided an effective challenge to a simple separation of the two realms.Strehle explores some of the most cherished political ideals of modern society, including equality and democracy, liberty and natural rights, progress and capitalism, federalism and mixed government. He does not dismiss the vital contribution of other possible sources of inspiration from the world of religion or undermine the well-established place of 'secular' sources. But he does show that certain ideas associated with the religious community have left an indelible mark upon significant aspects of the emerging American landscape.

The Dark Side of Church/State Separation analyzes the Enlightenment's attack upon the Judeo-Christian tradition and its impact upon the development of secular regimes in France, Germany, and Russia. Such regimes followed the anti-Semitic/anti-Christian agenda of the French Enlightenment in blaming the Judeo-Christian tradition for all the ills of European society and believing that human beings can develop their own set of values and purposes through rational means, apart from any revelation from God or Scripture.Stephen Strehle's analysis extends our understanding of church/state relations and its history. He confirms the spiritual roots of modern anti-Semitism within the ideology of the Enlightenment and recognizes the intimate relationship between anti-Semitism and anti-Christianity. Strehle questions the absolute doctrine of church/state separation, given its background in the bigotries of the philosophes. He notes the nefarious motives of subsequent regimes, which used the French doctrine to replace the religious community with the state and its secular ideology.This detailed historical analysis of original sources and secondary literature is woven together with special appreciation for the philosophical and theological ideas that contributed to the emergence of political institutions. Readers will gain an understanding of the most influential ideas shaping the modern world and present-day culture.

Stephen Strehle is a leading scholar of church/state issues. In this volume, he focuses his rigorous historical analysis and philosophical acumen upon a topic of great interest today and source of cultural wars around the globe—the process of secularization. The book starts with a discussion of early capitalism and how it saw the real world functioning well-enough on its own principles of individual struggle and self-interest, without needing religious or moral principles to meddle in its affairs and eventually dispelling the need for any intelligent design or providential orchestration of life through the work of Darwin. The book then discusses the growth of the secular point of view: how historians dismissed the impact of religion in developing modern culture, how scientists conceived of the universe running on self-sufficient or mechanistic principles, and how people no longer looked to the providential hand of God to explain their suffering. The book ends with a discussion of how the Deist concept of human autonomy became a political policy in America through Jefferson’s concept of a wall of separation between church and state and how the US Supreme Court proceeded to dismiss the importance of religion in shaping or justifying the values of the nation and its laws. The book is accessible to most upper-level and graduate students in a wide-variety of disciplines, keeping technical and foreign words to a minimum and leaving scholarly details or debates to its extensive notes.