Peace of Augsburg and the Meckhart Confession: Moderate Religion in an Age of Militancy

This book explores the underappreciated role of local clergy in mediating and interpreting the Peace of Augsburg in the decades following its 1555 enactment, focusing on the efforts of Johann Meckhart and his heirs to blunt the cultural impact of confessional religion.

Format: Hardback
Length: 342 pages
Publication date: 08 March 2019
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the overlooked significance of local clergy in the mediation and interpretation of the Peace of Augsburg in the years following its 1555 enactment, with a particular focus on the endeavors of the preacher Johann Meckhart and his heirs in mitigating the cultural impact of confessional religion. It contends that the true essence of confessionalization lay not in the grand battles between princes and theologians, nor even in the conflicts between religions, but rather in the daily struggles of clerics in the trenches of their ministry. As they faced mounting pressures to choose between doctrinal purity and civil peace, these clergy members navigated a complex web of political, social, and religious dynamics, striving to uphold the principles of the Peace while preserving the harmony of their communities. Through a rich blend of historical analysis, theological reflection, and personal anecdotes, this book sheds light on the complex and often fraught relationship between religion and politics in early modern Europe, highlighting the crucial role played by local clergy in shaping the course of religious history.

Taking the religiously diverse city of Augsburg as its focus, this book explores the underappreciated role of local clergy in mediating and interpreting the Peace of Augsburg in the decades following its 1555 enactment, focusing on the efforts of the preacher Johann Meckhart and his heirs in blunting the cultural impact of confessional religion. It argues that the real drama of confessionalization was not simply that which played out between princes and theologians, or even, for that matter, between religions; rather, it lay in the daily struggle of clerics in the proverbial trenches of their ministry, who were increasingly pressured to choose for themselves and for their congregations between doctrinal purity and civil peace.

This captivating book delves into the overlooked significance of local clergy in the mediation and interpretation of the Peace of Augsburg in the years following its 1555 enactment, with a particular focus on the endeavors of the preacher Johann Meckhart and his heirs in mitigating the cultural impact of confessional religion. It contends that the true essence of confessionalization lay not in the grand battles between princes and theologians, nor even in the conflicts between religions, but rather in the daily struggles of clerics in the trenches of their ministry. As they faced mounting pressures to choose between doctrinal purity and civil peace, these clergy members navigated a complex web of political, social, and religious dynamics, striving to uphold the principles of the Peace while preserving the harmony of their communities. Through a rich blend of historical analysis, theological reflection, and personal anecdotes, this book sheds light on the complex and often fraught relationship between religion and politics in early modern Europe, highlighting the crucial role played by local clergy in shaping the course of religious history.

Weight: 608g
Dimension: 160 x 235 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367204495