Egyháztörténeti Szemle 17. (2016)
2016 / 1. szám - SUMMARIES IN ENGLISH - Rada János: Pamphlets on Church Criticism in Hungary, 1867-1895 (Interpretations, Phraseology and Conceptual Background of History)
Summaries in English Pamphlets on Church Criticism in Hungary, 1867-1895 (Interpretations, Phraseology and Conceptual Beground of History) Rada János My study examines the anti-clerical literature of the era. The Hungarian tractate literature of church criticism created a complex language with a unified phraseology. In the interpretation of these texts, the ultimate goal of ecclesiastical policy reforms was to establish the state's sovereignty from the church and the pope - similarly to the ‘Kulturkampf ideology in Germany. The authors supported the idea of a religiously neutral state and religious liberty, however, made a firm distinction between the notions of church and religion, hence - in their interpretation - the liberty of one did not necessarily mean the same for the other. They advocated the state's tutelage over the church and urged the state to interfere in topics such as abolishing celibacy or monasticism. While the classic liberalism - that had a great influence on one of the era’s great statesman, Ferenc Deák also - opposed the state’s extensive authority, the anti-clerical literature was backened by the idea of a state- centered liberalism - deeming the state responsible for initiating reforms in almost all areas. In the 1890s - during the times of the Hungarian ‘Kulturkampf - the anti-clerical literature had also been impacted by the intensifying Hungarian nationalism. Strong religious beliefs were accused of undermining the nation's integrity. These texts can not be considered as being atheist or materialist: most of the authors have accepted the importance of religion - and confronted the institution of the catholic church with the pristine form of Christianity of Jesus Christ.
