The Reformation of Feeling : Shaping the Religious Emotions in Early Modern Germany

In The Reformation of Feeling , Susan Karant-Nunn looks beyond and beneath the formal doctrinal and moral demands of the Reformation in Germany to examine the emotional tenor of the programs that the emerging creeds-revised Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism/Reformed theology-developed for their members. As revealed by the surviving sermons from this period, preaching clergy of each faith both explicitly and implicitly provided their listeners with distinct models of a mood to be cultivated. To encourage their parishioners to make an emotional investment in their faith, all three drew upon rhetorical elements that were already present in late medieval Catholicism and elevated them into confessional touchstones. Looking at archival materials containing direct references to feeling, Karant-Nunn focuses on treatments of death and sermons on the Passion. She amplifies these sources with considerations of the decorative, liturgical, musical, and disciplinary changes that ecclesiastical leaders introduced during the period from the late fifteenth to the end of the seventeenth century. Within individual sermons, Karant-Nunn also examines topical elements-including Jews at the crucifixion, the Virgin Mary's voluminous weeping below the Cross, and struggles against competing denominations-that were intended to arouse particular kinds of sentiment. Finally, she discusses surviving testimony from the laity in order to assess at least some Christians' reception of these lessons on proper devotional feeling. This book is exceptional in its presentation of a cultural rather than theological or behavioral study of the broader movement to remake Christianity. As Karant-Nunn conclusively demonstrates, in the eyes of the Reformation's formative personalities strict adherence to doctrine and upright demeanor did not constitute an adequate piety. The truly devout had to engage their hearts in their faith. Susan Karant-Nunn argues that the 16th-century Reformation movement sought not only to modify people's doctrinal convictions and their behavior but to root these changes in altered sentiment. She finds evidence for this thesis in all of the media employed by ecclesiastical authorities within Catholicism, Lutheranism, and the Reformed churches - including sermons, catechetical materials, liturgical modifications, the decoration of sanctuaries, and hymns and their lyrics. She focuses especially on the content of preaching on the Passion during Holy Week as well as treatments of the good Christian death. She finds that in late medieval through 17th-century Catholicism, hearers were enjoined to cultivate a profound identification with Jesus in his agony, as he makes his way from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross. Indeed, the pious ought to feel his suffering in their own bodies. She traces the emergence of Lutheran restraint and emphasis on the accomplished atonement of Christ for human sin. Sorrow must be present, but quickly gives way to the consolation of God's love. The Reformed preachers (Zwinglian and Calvinist), however, while agreeing that Christ's suffering benefited all of the elect, enjoined self-condemnation on all their hearers - the recognition that no one deserved God's gratuitous gift of eternal life. She looks at the awareness of preachers from all three groups of the emotional difference that set them apart from the others. Clergymen's training in rhetoric, she shows, attuned them to the goal of undergirding intellectual persuasion with feeling In The Reformation of Feeling, Susan Karant-Nunn looks beyond and beneath the formal doctrinal and moral demands of the Reformation in Germany to examine the emotional tenor of the programs that the emerging creeds--revised Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism/Reformed theology--developed for their members. As revealed by the surviving sermons from this period, preaching clergy of each faith both explicitly and implicitly provided their listeners with distinct models of a mood to be cultivated. To encourage their parishioners to make an emotional investment in their faith, all three groups drew upon rhetorical elements that were already present in late medieval Catholicism and elevated them into confessional touchstones. This book is exceptional in its presentation of a cultural rather than theological or behavioral study of the broader movement to remake Christianity. As Karant-Nunn conclusively demonstrates, in the eyes of the Reformation's formative personalities strict adherence to doctrine and upright demeanor did not constitute an adequate piety. The truly devout had to engage their hearts in their faith. Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1. The Emotions in Early-Modern Catholicism......Page 26 2. The Lutheran Churches......Page 74 3. The Reformed Churches......Page 112 4. Condemnation of the Jews......Page 144 5. The Mother Stood at the Foot of the Cross: Mary’s Suffering as Incentive to Feel......Page 170 6. Proper Feelings in and around the Death-Bed......Page 200 7. The Formation of Religious Sensibilities: The Reception of Recommendations for Proper Feeling......Page 226 8. The Religious Emotions: Conclusions......Page 256 Notes......Page 268 A......Page 341 C......Page 342 E......Page 344 G......Page 345 I......Page 346 M......Page 347 O......Page 348 P......Page 349 S......Page 351 U......Page 352 Z......Page 353 Susan Karant-nunn Argues That The 16th-century Reformation Movement Sought Not Only To Modify People's Doctrinal Convictions And Their Behavior But To Root These Changes In Altered Sentiment. The Emotions In Early-modern Catholicism -- The Lutheran Churches -- The Reformed Churches -- Condemnation Of The Jews -- The Mother Stood At The Foot Of The Cross : Mary's Suffering As Incentive To Feel -- Proper Feelings In And Around The Death-bed -- The Formation Of Religious Sensibilities : The Reception Of Recommendations For Proper Feeling -- The Religious Emotions : Conclusions. Susan C. Karant-nunn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Catholic preaching The Lutheran churches The Reformed churches The Jews The Virgin Mary Dying and death Lay reception.