Economics of Faith

Reforming Poverty in Early Modern Europe
Erscheinungsjahr 2021
ISBN: 978-0-19-753773-2
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 272 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 236 mm, Gewicht: 612 g

Economics of Faith examines the role of religious leaders in the development of poor relief institutions in early modern Europe. As preachers, policy makers, advocates, and community leaders, these reformers offered a new interpretation of salvation and good works that provided the religious foundation for poor relief reform. Although poverty was once associated with the religious image of piety, reformers no longer saw it as a spiritual virtue. Rather they considered social welfare reform to be an integral part of religious reform and worked to modify existing poor relief institutions or to set up new ones.

Population growth, economic crises, and migration in early modern Europe caused poverty and begging to be an ever-increasing concern, and religious leaders encouraged the development and expansion of poor relief institutions. This new cadre of reformers served as catalysts, organizers, stabilizers, and consolidators of strategies to alleviate poverty, the most glaring social problem of early modern society. Although different roles emerged from varying relationships and negotiations with local political authorities and city councils, reform-minded ministers and lay leaders shaped a variety of institutions to address the problem of poverty and to promote social and communal responsibility. As religious options multiplied within Christianity, one's understanding of community determined the boundaries, albeit contested and sometimes fluid, of responsible poor relief. This goal of communal care would be especially relevant for religious refugees who as foreigners and strangers became responsible for caring for their own group.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Chung-Kim, Esther

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtswissenschaft Allgemein
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Soziale Ungleichheit, Armut, Rassismus
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Kirchengeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Acknowledgements

- Abbreviations

- List of Figures

- Introduction: Religious Foundations of Reform

- Chapter 1: Wittenberg Reformers: Critique as Catalyst

- Chapter 2: Johannes Bugenhagen: Diplomat of Poor Relief

- Chapter 3: Heinrich Bullinger: Preacher for Poverty Prevention

- Chapter 4: Migration and Religious Refugees: Poor Relief in Crisis

- Chapter 5: John Calvin: Refugee Pastor and Promoter of the French Fund

- Chapter 6: Swiss Brethren and Dutch Mennonites: Networks of Mutual Aid

- Chapter 7: Hutterites in Moravia: Communal Property

- Conclusion: Religious Reformers as Practical Visionaries

- Bibliography

- Index

Über Autor(innen)

Esther Chung-Kim is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California and the Associate Director of The Gould Center for Humanistic Studies.