The idea of Germany in religious, educational and cultural thought in England, c.1830-1865
This dissertation argues that an idea of Germany played a large and hitherto unappreciated role in English religious, educational and cultural thought in the mid-nineteenth century. Through selected case studies, it asks why different groups in English society referred to Germany in domestic religious, educational and cultural debate. It concludes that an idea of Germany was closely connected with a critique of English spiritual shortcomings materialism, ignorance, neglect of the Bible's message- and the desire to see them redressed. The first section, comprising three chapters, examines the reaction of different English religious groups- Anglicans, orthodox nonconformists and Unitarians- to German Protestantism. Together they show how they shared a common interest, which to some extent transcended denominational allegiances, in learning from German theology and biblical criticism how to defend and promote English Protestantism. The second section looks at the idea of the German primary school in English debates about education. The fourth chapter shows that radicals held up Prussian national education as an example of how the state could directly moralise and civilise the people. Though the Prussian administrative
Ledger-Lomas, Michael Charles
The idea of Germany in religious, educational and cultural thought in England, c.1830-1865. This dissertation argues that an idea of Germany played a large and hitherto unappreciated role in English religious, educational and cultural thought in the mid-nineteenth century. Through selected case studies, it asks why different groups in English society referred to Germany in domestic religious, educational and cultural debate. It concludes that an idea of Germany was closely connected with a critique of English spiritual shortcomings materialism, ignorance, neglect of the Bible's message- and the desire to see them redressed. The first section, comprising three chapters, examines the reaction of different English religious groups- Anglicans, orthodox nonconformists and Unitarians- to German Protestantism. Together they show how they shared a common interest, which to some extent transcended denominational allegiances, in learning from German theology and biblical criticism how to defend and promote English Protestantism. The second section looks at the idea of the German primary school in English debates about education. The fourth chapter shows that radicals held up Prussian national education as an example of how the state could directly moralise and civilise the people. Though the Prussian administrative
idea germany religious_educational cultural thought england argues idea germany play large hitherto unappreciated role english religious_educational cultural thought select_case study ask different_group english_society refer germany domestic religious_educational cultural debate concludes idea germany closely connect critique english spiritual shortcoming materialism ignorance neglect bible message desire see redress first_section comprise_three examine reaction different english religious groups orthodox nonconformist unitarians german protestantism together show share_common interest extent transcend denominational allegiance learning german theology biblical criticism defend promote english protestantism second_section look idea german primary_school english debate education fourth show radical hold national education example state could directly civilise people though administrative