The Rise and Decline of Anglican Idealism in the Nineteenth Century

Scientific and historical studies in the Nineteenth-century challenged Christian believers to restate their faith in ways which took account of new knowledge. An example of this is the influence of philosophical idealism on a generation of writers and theologians, principally centred around the University of Oxford. However, these optimistic and socially-privileged men and women failed to come to terms with the mass movements and rapid changes in fin-de-siècle England. The Church moved out of touch with national life and is reaping the consequences today. Are scientific and historical discoveries a threat to Christianity? In the nineteenth century a group of men and women, focused principally around Oxford, believed that they could meet this challenge by using a framework of philosophical idealism being championed by Thomas Hill Green at Balliol College. Reflecting the ever-expanding British Empire, these privileged, influential and optimistic Christians believed they could fill the universe with Christ-centered spiritual meaning. But their mission was undermined by a failure to take seriously the rapid changes in fin de siecle culture. The rise of early media, new developments in analytic philosophy, questions about 'progress' and the development of militant nationalistic rhetoric, all undermined the comfortable world of academic privilege and romantic idealism. The Church signally failed to respond to this changing culture, and still faces the consequences today Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Reaction to Reform — The Legacy of Newman and Arnold....Pages 1-8 The Formation of ‘Parties’....Pages 9-16 Essays and Reviews....Pages 17-22 The Rise of British Idealism....Pages 23-39 Idealism Embraced: Thomas Hill Green....Pages 40-63 Idealism Popularised: Mrs Humphry Ward....Pages 64-81 Idealism Assimilated: Frederick Temple....Pages 82-108 Idealism Transcended: Aubrey Moore....Pages 109-133 Idealism Marginalised: Charles D’Arcy....Pages 134-146 Idealism Assaulted — Realism and Aestheticism....Pages 147-174 Gathering Up the Fragments....Pages 175-194 Epilogue....Pages 195-197 Back Matter....Pages 198-235 Scientific and historical studies in the Nineteenth-century challenged Christian believers to restate their faith in ways which took account of new knowledge. However, these optimistic and socially-privileged men and women failed to come to terms with the mass movements and rapid changes in fin-de-siecle England.