1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910720092703321

Autore

Lucas Edward

Titolo

Early British Socialism and the ‘Religion of the New Moral World’ [[electronic resource] /] / by Edward Lucas

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer Nature Switzerland : , : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan, , 2023

ISBN

9783031239403

9783031239397

Edizione

[1st ed. 2023.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (283 pages)

Collana

Palgrave Studies in Utopianism, , 2946-448X

Disciplina

941

Soggetti

Great Britain—History

Religion—History

Social history

Intellectual life—History

World politics

History of Britain and Ireland

History of Religion

Social History

History of Ideas

Political History

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

1. Introduction -- 2. The State of the Literature -- 3. Reconceiving Religion -- 4. Owenite Socialism in Religious Context -- 5. Owenite Religion as a Socialite Religion -- 6. Religion and the History of Socialism -- 7. Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

This book challenges existing accounts of the role of religion in early-nineteenth-century British socialism. Against scholarly interpretations which have identified Owenite socialists as anti-religious or as imitating Christianity, this book argues that Owenites offer a re-conception of the nature of ‘religion’ as advanced through knowledge of the natural and social world, as a prospective source of solidarity which could serve as the unifying bond for communities, and as



constituted by ethical conduct. It shows how this re-conception was formed through a sincere and considered reflection upon the problem of religious truth and was shaped by the particular religious context of early-nineteenth-century Britain. It then demonstrates the importance of this reimagination of religion to their understanding of socialism. Their religious interests were not an eccentric adornment to their socialism, an outdated residue yet to be shed and encumbering the development of a mature socialism, or merely instrumental to their temporal goals. Instead, Owenite ambitions of religious reform were grounded in the philosophical preoccupations which animated their socialism. Edward Lucas completed his DPhil at the University of Oxford, UK and now works for the UK government.