Religion and Popular Religion and Popular CultureCulture

The institutional church The institutional church

Despite the critical spirit of the Despite the critical spirit of the Enlightenment, the local parish church Enlightenment, the local parish church remained important in daily life, and the remained important in daily life, and the priest or pastor was the link between the priest or pastor was the link between the people and the church hierarchy. people and the church hierarchy.

The Protestant belief in individualism in The Protestant belief in individualism in religion was tempered by increased state religion was tempered by increased state control over the church and religious life. control over the church and religious life.

Catholic monarchs also increased state Catholic monarchs also increased state control over the church, making it less control over the church, making it less subject to papal influence. subject to papal influence.

Spain took control of ecclesiastical Spain took control of ecclesiastical appointments and the Inquisition and, appointments and the Inquisition and, with France, pressured Rome to with France, pressured Rome to dissolve the Jesuits. dissolve the Jesuits.

In Austria, Maria Theresa and Joseph II In Austria, Maria Theresa and Joseph II greatly reduced the size and influence of greatly reduced the size and influence of the monasteries and convents.the monasteries and convents.

Protestant revival Protestant revival The complacency of earlier The complacency of earlier

Protestantism ended with the advent of Protestantism ended with the advent of "Pietism," which stressed religious "Pietism," which stressed religious enthusiasm, popular education, and enthusiasm, popular education, and individual religious development. individual religious development.

In England, Wesley was troubled by In England, Wesley was troubled by religious corruption, decline, and religious corruption, decline, and uncertainty. uncertainty.

His Methodist movement rejected the Calvinist idea His Methodist movement rejected the Calvinist idea of predestination and stressed salvation through of predestination and stressed salvation through faith. faith.

Wesley's ministry brought on a religious awakening, Wesley's ministry brought on a religious awakening, particularly among the lower classes.particularly among the lower classes.

Catholic piety Catholic piety

In Catholic countries the old religious In Catholic countries the old religious culture of ritual and superstition culture of ritual and superstition remained popular. remained popular.

Catholic clergy reluctantly allowed Catholic clergy reluctantly allowed traditional religion to survive.traditional religion to survive.

Leisure and religion Leisure and religion

Carnival time saw a combination of Carnival time saw a combination of religious celebration and popular religious celebration and popular recreation, often giving common people a recreation, often giving common people a chance to release their frustrations and chance to release their frustrations and aggressions. aggressions.

Brazil’s Carnival

In the eighteenth century leisure tended In the eighteenth century leisure tended to become more commercialized, to become more commercialized, including profit oriented spectator sports.including profit oriented spectator sports.

Blood sports, such as bull baiting and cock Blood sports, such as bull baiting and cock fighting, were popular.fighting, were popular.

The educated elites and the clergy led an The educated elites and the clergy led an attack on popular entertainment --hence attack on popular entertainment --hence a wedge was driven between common a wedge was driven between common people and the educated public.people and the educated public.