Are You Alone Wise?: The Search for Certainty in the Early Modern Era (Oxford Studies in Historical Theology)

The topic of certitude is much debated today. On one side, commentators such as Charles Krauthammer urge us to achieve "moral clarity." On the other, those like George Will contend that the greatest present threat to civilization is an excess of certitude. To address this uncomfortable debate, Susan Schreiner turns to the intellectuals of early modern Europe, a period when thought was still fluid and had not yet been reified into the form of rationality demanded by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.Schreiner argues that Europe in the sixteenth century was preoccupied with concerns similar to ours; both the desire for certainty -- especially religious certainty -- and warnings against certainty permeated the earlier era. Digging beneath overt theological and philosophical problems, she tackles the underlying fears of the period as she addresses questions of salvation, authority, the rise of skepticism, the outbreak of religious violence, the discernment of spirits, and the ambiguous relationship between appearance and reality. In her examination of the history of theological polemics and debates (as well as other genres), Schreiner sheds light on the repeated evaluation of certainty and the recurring fear of deception. Among the texts she draws on are Montaigne's Essays, the mystical writings of Teresa of Avila, the works of Reformation fathers William of Occam, Luther, Thomas Muntzer, and Thomas More; and the dramas of Shakespeare. The result is not a book about theology, but rather about the way in which the concern with certitude determined the theology, polemics and literature of an age. The topic of certitude is much debated today. On one side, commentators such as Charles Krauthammer urge us to achieve "moral clarity." On the other, those like George Will contend that the greatest present threat to civilization is an excess of certitude. To address this uncomfortable debate, Susan Schreiner turns to the intellectuals of early modern Europe, a period when thought was still fluid and had not yet been reified into the form of rationality demanded by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Schreiner argues that Europe in the sixteenth century was preoccupied with concerns similar to ours; both the desire for certainty -- especially religious certainty -- and warnings against certainty permeated the earlier era. Digging beneath overt theological and philosophical problems, she tackles the underlying fears of the period as she addresses questions of salvation, authority, the rise of skepticism, the outbreak of religious violence, the discernment of spirits, and the ambiguous relationship between appearance and reality. In her examination of the history of theological polemics and debates (as well as other genres), Schreiner sheds light on the repeated evaluation of certainty and the recurring fear of deception. Among the texts she draws on are Montaigne's Essays, the mystical writings of Teresa of Avila, the works of Reformation fathers William of Occam, Luther, Thomas Muntzer, and Thomas More; and the dramas of Shakespeare. The result is not a book about theology, but rather about the way in which the concern with certitude determined the theology, polemics and literature of an age. Schreiner Argues That Europe In The Sixteenth Century Was Preoccupied With Concerns Similar To Ours; Both The Desire For Certainty E̮specially Religious Certainty A̮nd Warnings Against Certainty Permeated The Earlier Era. Digging Beneath Overt Theological And Philosophical Problems, She Tackles The Underlying Fears Of The Period As She Addresses Questions Of Salvation, Authority, The Rise Of Skepticism, The Outbreak Of Religious Violence, The Discernment Of Spirits, And The Ambiguous Relationship Between Appearance And Reality. In Her Examination Of The History Of Theological Polemics And Debates (as Well As Other Genres), Schreiner Sheds Light On The Repeated Evaluation Of Certainty And The Recurring Fear Of Deception. Among The Texts She Draws On Are Montaigne's Essays; The Mystical Writings Of Teresa Of Avila; The Works Of Reformation Fathers William Of Occam, Luther, Thomas Muntzer, And Thomas More; And The Dramas Of Shakespeare. The Result Is A Book Not About Theology, But Rather About The Way In Which The Concern With Certitude Determined The Theology, Polemics, And Literature Of An Age.--jacket. Beginnings : Questions And Debates In The Fourteenth And Fifteenth Centuries -- Abba! Father! : The Certainty Of Salvation -- The Spiritual Man Judges All Things : The Certainty Of Exegetical Authority -- Are You Alone Wise? : The Catholic Response -- Experientia : The Great Age Of The Spirit -- Unmasking The Angel Of Light : The Discernment Of The Spirits -- Men Should Be What They Seem : Appearances And Reality. Susan E. Schreiner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 18 1. Beginnings: Questions and Debates in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries......Page 22 2. “Abba! Father!”: The Certainty of Salvation......Page 56 3. “The Spiritual Man Judges All Things”: The Certainty of Exegetical Authority......Page 98 4. Are You Alone Wise?: The Catholic Response......Page 150 5. Experientia: The Great Age of the Spirit......Page 228 6. Unmasking the Angel of Light: The Discernment of the Spirits......Page 280 7. “Men Should Be What They Seem”: Appearances and Reality......Page 342 Conclusion......Page 410 Notes......Page 414 C......Page 496 H......Page 497 P......Page 498 Z......Page 499 In this book Susan Schreiner analyzes the pervading questions about certitude and doubt in the terms and contexts of a wide variety of thinkers during Europe in the sixteenth century.