The European Wars of Religion : An Interdisciplinary Reassessment of Sources, Interpretations, and Myths

In recent years religion has resurfaced amongst academics, in many ways replacing class as the key to understanding Europe's historical development. This has resulted in an explosion of studies revisiting issues of religious change, confessional violence and holy war during the early modern period. But the interpretation of the European wars of religion still remains largely defined by national boundaries, tied to specific processes of state building as well as nation building. In order to more thoroughly interrogate these concepts and assumptions, this volume focusses on terms repeatedly used and misused in public debates such as "religious violence" and "holy warfare" within the context of military conflicts commonly labelled "religious wars". The chapters not only focus on the role of religion, but also on the emerging state as a driver of the escalation of violence in the so-called age of religious war. By using different methodological and theoretical approaches historians, philosophers, and theologians engage in an interdisciplinary debate that contributes to a better understanding of the religio-political situation of early modern Europe and the interpretation of violent conflicts interpreted as religious conflicts today. By adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, new and innovative perspectives are opened up that question if in fact religion was a primary driving force behind these conflicts. In Recent Years Religion Has Resurfaced Amongst Academics, In Many Ways Replacing Class As The Key To Understanding Europe's Historical Development. This Has Resulted In An Explosion Of Studies Revisiting Issues Of Region, Confessional Violence And Holy War During The Early Modern Period. But The Interpretation Of The European Wars Of Religion Still Remains Constrained By National Boundaries, Tied Into The Process Of State Building As Well As Nation Building. In Order To Untangle This Complex Web And More Thoroughly Interrogate These Concepts And Assumptions, This Volume Focusses On Terms Repeatedly Used And Misused In Public Debates Such As 'religious Violence' And 'holy Warfare' Within The Context Of Military Conflicts Labelled 'religious Wars'. The Chapters Not Only Focus On The Role Of Religion, But Also On The Emerging State As A Driver Of The Escalation Of Violence In The Age Of Religious War-- Introduction / Wolfgang Palaver, Harriet Rudolph & Dietmar Regensburger -- Religion And Violence In The Hussite Wars / Pavel Soukup -- Religion, War And Violence In The Swiss Confederation / Thomas Lau -- Were The French Wars Of Religion Really Wars Of Religion? / Philip Benedict -- Religious Wars In The Holy Roman Empire? : From The Schmalkaldic War To The Thirty Years War / Harriet Rudolph -- England's Wars Of Religion : A Reassessment / Charles W. A. Prior -- Justifying Force In Early Modern Doctrines On Self-defence And Resistance / Luise Schorn-schütte -- Secularization Of The Holy : A Reading Of The Wars Of Religion / William T. Cavanaugh -- The Modern State Or The Myth Of Political Violence / Paul Dumouchel -- The Modern Military-humanitarian Hybrid State : A Response To Paul Dumouchel / Bruce Ward -- Confessional Wars And Religious Violence In Christianity From A Theological Viewpoint / Ralf Miggelbrink -- Religion And Violence : The Case Of Wars In Former Yugoslavia / Janez Juhant -- The Debate About The European Wars Of Religion As A Challenge To Interdisciplinary Cooperation / Wolfgang Palaver. Edited By Wolfgang Palaver, Harriet Rudolph, Dietmar Regensburger. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In recent years religion has resurfaced amongst academics, in many ways replacing class as the key to understanding Europe's historical development. This has resulted in an explosion of studies revisiting issues of region, confessional violence and holy war during the early modern period. But the interpretation of the European wars of religion still remains constrained by national boundaries, tied into the process of state building as well as nation building. In order to untangle this complex web and more thoroughly interrogate these concepts and assumptions, this volume focusses on terms repeatedly used and misused in public debates such as 'religious violence' and 'holy warfare' within the context of military conflicts labelled 'religious wars'. The chapters not only focus on the role of religion, but also on the emerging state as a driver of the escalation of violence in the age of religious war. By using different methodological and theoretical approaches historians, philosophers, and theologians engage in an interdisciplinary debate that contributes to a better understanding of the religio-political situation of early-modern Europe and the interpretation of violent conflicts interpreted as religious conflicts today. By adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, new and innovative perspectives are opened up that question whether in fact religion was a primary driving force behind these conflicts