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Chapter 7 - Religion

from Part I - Life and Times

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

By
Yael Almog
Edited by
Charlotte Lee
Charlotte Lee
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

Chapter 7 examines Goethe’s unconventional attitudes to religion and religious authority, and their influence on his creative work. It emphasises that, despite his opposition to institutionalised Christianity, Goethe remained interested in Christian beliefs and convinced of the value of scriptural reading. The chapter details his engagement with Spinozist Pantheism (the view of God as embodied in the world), with Judaism and the Hebrew Bible, and with Islam. It argues that we should see in Goethe’s approach not the rejection of religious narratives, but their reframing and rewriting.

Keywords

GoethereligionGodChristianitySpinozapantheismJudaismIslam
Type
Chapter
Information
Goethe in Context , pp. 66 - 74
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Religion
  • Edited by Charlotte Lee, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Goethe in Context
  • Online publication: 16 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009036436.010
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  • Religion
  • Edited by Charlotte Lee, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Goethe in Context
  • Online publication: 16 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009036436.010
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Religion
  • Edited by Charlotte Lee, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Goethe in Context
  • Online publication: 16 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009036436.010
Available formats
×