Religion and the Struggle for European Union: Confessional Culture and the Limits of IntegrationIn Religion and the Struggle for European Union, Brent F. Nelsen and James L. Guth delve into the powerful role of religion in shaping European attitudes on politics, political integration, and the national and continental identities of its leaders and citizens. Nelsen and Guth contend that for centuries Catholicism promoted the universality of the Church and the essential unity of Christendom. Protestantism, by contrast, esteemed particularity and feared Catholic dominance. These differing visions of Europe have influenced the process of postwar integration in profound ways. Nelsen and Guth compare the Catholic view of Europe as a single cultural entity best governed as a unified polity against traditional Protestant estrangement from continental culture and its preference for pragmatic cooperation over the sacrifice of sovereignty. As the authors show, this deep cultural divide, rooted in the struggles of the Reformation, resists the ongoing secularization of the continent. Unless addressed, it threatens decades of hard-won gains in security and prosperity. Farsighted and rich with data, Religion and the Struggle for European Union offers a pragmatic way forward in the EU's attempts to solve its social, economic, and political crises. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adenauer Alcide De Gasperi anti-Catholic bishops Britain British Carolingian Catholic Catholic Church Catholicism century Charlemagne Christ Christendom Christian Democrat International Christian Democratic parties confessional culture conservative Continent continental cooperation Council countries create Delors Democracy Denmark Dutch early economic elites emerged emperor empire Euro Europe’s European Community European identity European Integration European Union Euroskeptical Evangelicals faith favor federal federalist flag France French Gasperi Gaulle Germany God’s groups History Holy Ibid ideology Ireland joined Konrad Adenauer leaders liberal Lutheran medieval membership minister Monnet movement nation-states national identity Netherlands Nordic Norway organization papacy papal peace People’s Party percent Pius pope postwar Protestant churches Protestantism Quoted Reformation religion religious Robert Schuman role Rome Scandinavian Schuman Schuman Declaration secular sense of community Social Democrats Socialist society sovereignty spiritual Sweden symbols Thatcher tion Treaties of Rome Treaty united Europe unity University Press Vatican vision West Western York