1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910789122803321

Autore

Kurihara Ken

Titolo

Celestial wonders in Reformation Germany / / by Ken Kurihara [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

London : , : Pickering & Chatto, , 2014

ISBN

1-317-31873-0

1-315-65432-6

1-78144-068-9

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (xi, 211 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Religious cultures in the early modern world ; ; 13

Classificazione

8,1

Disciplina

200.94309031

Soggetti

Astronomy - Religious aspects - Christianity

Reformation - Germany

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015).

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction: Celestial wonders, confessional conflicts and apocalypticism -- Exploring the world of Wunderzeichen -- Lutheran clergy and Wunderzeichen discourses -- 'An eagle hurting himself' : Flacius's tract against the Interim -- Irenaeus against 'spiritual wolves' : polemical use of Wunderzeichen, I -- Irenaeus against the Concord : polemical use of Wunderzeichen, II -- Andreae's pastoral use of Wunderzeichen -- Celestial wonders under the shadow of war.

Sommario/riassunto

Celestial phenomena were often harnessed for use by clerics in early modern Germany. The clergy were the main intellectual leaders of communities, so their emphasis on these <i>Wunderzeichen</i> ('wonder-signs') would have had a significant effect on the laity. As Protestantism took hold, there was a desire among many influential theologians to underline the need for doctrinal acceptance. Divine omens or signs of apocalyptic warning were a useful way to encourage obedience and respect for clerical authority. Kurihara examines how and why interest in these events grew in this period, how the clergy exploited these beliefs and the role of sectarianism in Germany at this time.