Seventeenth-Century Cultural Discourse - Religion and Society

Using a wealth of previously neglected sources, this book is a case study of early 17th century preaching, and one that sheds new light on the religious history of France.;Analyzing the pulpit discourses of Bishop Camus, the study employs an interdisciplinary approach that integrates literature, history, culture, religion, politics, and gender studies.;In light of this book, some well-known theses on early modern Catholicism may need qualification. Delumeau's depiction of a pervasive dialectic between fear of hell and a sentiment of security finds little corroboration.;Bossy's perspectives on eclipse of the 'Seven deadly sins' by the "Decalogue", and on replacement of a communal church by more private Christianity, find few echoes.;Though some scholars have pointed to a growing hostility toward the poor in the 17th century, Camus called the poor 'images of Christ'. Thus Camus provides important evidence for a new assessment of religion and society in old regime of France.