SKU: 24839010953

Catholic Enlightenment: The Forgotten History of a Global Movement

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Catholic Enlightenment: The Forgotten History of a Global Movement"Whoever needs an act of faith to elucidate an event that can be explained by reason is a fool, and unworthy of reasonable thought." This line, spoken by the notorious 18th century libertine Giacomo Casanova, illustrates a deeply entrenched perception of religion, as prevalent today as it was hundreds of years ago. It is the sentiment behind the narrative that Catholic beliefs were incompatible with the Enlightenment ideals. Catholics, many claim, are

"Whoever needs an act of faith to elucidate an event that can be explained by reason is a fool, and unworthy of reasonable thought." This line, spoken by the notorious 18th-century libertine Giacomo Casanova, illustrates a deeply entrenched perception of religion, as prevalent today as it was hundreds of years ago. It is the sentiment behind the narrative that Catholic beliefs were incompatible with the Enlightenment ideals. Catholics, many claim, are superstitious and traditional, opposed to democracy and gender equality, and hostile to science. It may come as a surprise, then, to learn that Casanova himself was a Catholic. In The Catholic Enlightenment, Ulrich L. Lehner points to such figures as representatives of a long-overlooked thread of a reform-minded Catholicism, which engaged Enlightenment ideals with as much fervor and intellectual gravity as anyone. Their story opens new pathways for understanding how faith and modernity can interact in our own time.

Lehner begins two hundred years before the Enlightenment, when the Protestant Reformation destroyed the hegemony Catholicism had enjoyed for centuries. During this time the Catholic Church instituted several reforms, such as better education for pastors, more liberal ideas about the roles of women, and an emphasis on human freedom as a critical feature of theology. These actions formed the foundation of the Enlightenment's belief in individual freedom. While giants like Spinoza, Locke, and Voltaire became some of the most influential voices of the time, Catholic Enlighteners were right alongside them. They denounced fanaticism, superstition, and prejudice as irreconcilable with the Enlightenment agenda.

In 1789, the French Revolution dealt a devastating blow to their cause, disillusioning many Catholics against the idea of modernization. Popes accumulated ever more power and the Catholic Enlightenment was snuffed out. It was not until the Second Vatican Council in 1962 that questions of Catholicism's compatibility with modernity would be broached again.

Ulrich L. Lehner tells, for the first time, the forgotten story of these reform-minded Catholics. As Pope Francis pushes the boundaries of Catholicism even further, and Catholics once again grapple with these questions, this book will prove to be required reading.

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SKU: 24839010953

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Clockworks
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice room divider!
Color: White, Size: 8 Panel
The white panels are a nice off-white color. shipped in perfect condition. Already assembled so set up was quick. We use them to separate a photo studio from the main entry. Easily covers a 6 Ft. opening to the room. They are a woven material with wood colored sticks to support the weave. They are about 6 Ft. tall at the top of the curved section but less at the hinged sections. Light and easy to set up and take down. We are straddling two different floors so the extended legs at the bottom make this easy. Not sure how to clean them but they look great so far!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2025
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Rockermom
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Instant Privacy
Color: Beige, Size: 8 Panel
Bought this to separate a ground level living area used as an office. Works well to cover visual clutter; allows a clean look when entering the front door. Comes fully assembled. Hinges are sturdy enough, as long as the panels aren’t stretched too far; have to allow some bend between them. For the price point, quality and functionality are satisfactory.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2025
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KennyDu
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Great Divider, Just Needed Anchoring for Outdoor Use
Color: Grey, Size: 6 Panel
This room divider is very nice—stylish, lightweight, and easy to set up. I’m using it outdoors, which may not be its intended use, and I found that wind can knock it over pretty easily. Once I anchored it down, though, it worked just fine and looks great in the space. Indoors, I imagine it would be perfect right out of the box. Overall, a solid purchase with just one small adjustment needed for my setup.
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Lorene
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Good Quality
Color: White, Size: 4 Panel
They are made with good quality. However I bought them to help with blocking outside light and the white does not do that.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2026
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Cindy heller
Birmingham, US
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Good quality
Color: Chocolate, Size: 8 Panel
Very nice looking divider. We are using as a privacy divider around our hot tub. We have not left it out in the weather yet due to many storms coming through.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2026

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