Histories of Experience in the World of Lived Religion

This book explores the cultural, political, and social place of religion through the lens of experience, drawing from the Middle Ages to twentieth-century Europe. It highlights the work of Finnish historians and applies experience to empirical case studies, showing how people have made and shared their religion through experience. The book emphasizes the socially constructed and intimate nature of experience, connecting individuals to communities and shaping societies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 305 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

At a pivotal juncture in history, when religion manifests its profound social and political influence across diverse post-modern societies worldwide, this captivating compilation of studies spanning from the Middle Ages to twentieth-century Europe showcases the immense richness and groundbreaking potential of exploring individual and collective experiences in interrogating the cultural, political, and social significance of religion within society. Moreover, it unveils the pioneering vision of a group of Finnish historians, who have collaborated to shape a groundbreaking understanding of the concept of experience within the realm of historical inquiry.

This open access book serves as a theoretical primer on the history of experience, encompassing three interconnected conceptual dimensions: everyday experience, experience as a process, and experience as structure. Within its pages, chapters apply the concept of experience to empirical case studies, delving into how individuals have crafted and exchanged their religious beliefs through the lens of historical experience. This book understands experience as a multifaceted and deeply personal phenomenon that intertwines individuals with communities, linking them to past and future, thereby shaping structures that govern and direct societies. It represents a crossroads of a nascent field in the history of experience, drawing upon established traditions in the history of lived religion.

Spanning a vast temporal expanse from the fourteenth-century heretics to the religious artistry of soldiers on the frontlines of World War II, the chapters in this book offer a longitudinal perspective, traversing a range of experiences including miracles, madness, illness, suffering, prayer, conversion, and death. While primarily focused on Northern Europe, the book also incorporates materials from Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, providing a comprehensive examination of the diverse ways in which religion has been experienced and expressed throughout history.

In conclusion, this book serves as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and students interested in exploring the complex relationship between religion, experience, and society. By delving into the historical roots of religious belief and practice, it sheds light on the enduring human quest for meaning, purpose, and connection. Through its interdisciplinary approach, it fosters a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of experience and its profound impact on shaping the cultural, political, and social landscapes of our world.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030921392
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022