The Protestant ethic and the spirit of authoritarianism : puritanism, democracy, and society / Milan Zafirovski.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zafirovski, Milan, 1958-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Puritan movements--Influence--History.

Puritan movements.

Christianity and politics--Protestant churches--History.

Christianity and politics.

Authoritarianism--Religious aspects--Protestant churches.

Authoritarianism.

Christianity and politics--Protestant churches.

History.

Physical Description:

xix, 337 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York ; London : Springer, [2007]

Summary:

Perhaps no conventional wisdom is more common and enduring in Western societies, especially America, than that of Protestant Puritanism as the source of modern liberty and democracy. "Puritans" may have become an extinct or endangered species in the original sense by the early 21st century, but continue to be honored as both the creators and the destiny of these societies, primarily America and secondarily Great Britain. "Puritans are dead as a name, long live Puritans as a concept and legacy"-that is how Puritanism can be described in America at the threshold of the third millennium. This book critically reexamines the link of Puritanism and liberty in historical and comparative perspective. The book exposes "Puritanism and liberty" as a cherished myth or "sweet lie", suggesting that the Puritan "emperor has no clothes", in historically Protestant societies, particularly America. It shows that "Puritanism and liberty" turns out to be the exact opposite, enduringly in America and temporarily in Great Britain. If Puritanism is as American as the apple pie, then it is the "apple pie" of authoritarianism and theocracy rather than of liberty and democracy.

Contents:

1 Puritanism and Authoritarianism 1

Puritanism 1

General Puritanism 1

Protestant Puritanism 3

Pre-Protestant and Protestant Puritanism 9

The "Spirit of Authoritarianism" 15

The General "Spirit of Authoritarianism" 16

Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism 18

The "Spirit" of Political and Social Authoritarianism 19

Puritanism and Authoritarianism: Authoritarian Mastery of the Social World 21

2 Puritanism and Political Authoritarianism: Authoritarian Mastery of Politics 26

Puritan Political Authoritarianism: General Considerations 26

Political Antiliberalism and Nondemocracy 27

Antiliberalism and Antipluralism 27

Anti- and Quasidemocratic Tendencies 30

Political Extremism 35

Radicalism and Absolutism 36

Political Intolerance 39

Authoritarian Control and Repression 40

Repressive Laws and Draconian Sanctions 44

Historical-Empirical Cases of Puritan Authoritarian Control and Repression 46

Antiegalitarianism: Inequality as Divinely Ordained Destiny 55

Economic Antiegalitarianism: Providential Wealth Inequality 57

Sociopolitical Antiegalitarianism: Providential Hierarchy in Polity and Society 64

Militarism, Nationalism, and Expansionism 67

Militancy and Militarism 68

Nationalism and Nativism 70

Expansionism and Imperialism 76

3 Puritanism and Social Authoritarianism: Authoritarian Mastery of Civil Society 80

Puritan Social Authoritarianism: General Considerations 80

Moral Authoritarianism 82

Oppressive Moralist Discipline 83

Moral Intolerance and Imposition of Morality 86

Instances of Moral Authoritarianism 98

Religious Authoritarianism 106

Religious Intolerance 106

Religious Radicalism and Fundamentalism 119

Theocracy: The Ideal and System of Church-State 123

Puritan Theocracy in the Past, Present, and Future 124

New England's and Southern "Biblical Commonwealths" Reconsidered 133

4 Puritanism and Social Authoritarianism Continued 143

Artistic-Cultural Authoritarianism 143

Authoritarian Suppression of the Arts 143

Antagonism to Secular Culture 147

Educational and Scientific Authoritarianism 150

Authoritarian Uses of Science and Technology 161

Authoritarian Antihumanism 164

Against Secular Humanism 164

Inhumanity 171

Barbarism and Inhuman Primitivism 178

Other Nonhumanist Dimensions 181

Non-Christian? 185

Puritanism and Non-Christian Religions 189

5 Neo-Puritanism and Authoritarianism 200

From Paleo-Puritanism to Neo-Puritanism 200

Puritanism Deja Vu 200

Neo-Puritanism and New Puritan Authoritarianism 206

Puritan Revivals and Perpetuation of Theocratic Authoritarianism 207

America's Perrenial Puritan Revival-The Great Awakenings Reconsidered 215

New Puritanism, Old Authoritarian Habits 221

Puritanism and Contemporary Authoritarianism 224

Puritanism and Fascism 224

Puritanism and Communism 243

6 Authoritarian Legacy of Puritanism in Contemporary Society 246

The Puritan Authoritarian Legacy: General Considerations 246

Rediscovering the Puritan Authoritarian Legacy in American Society 250

Elements of the Puritan Authoritarian Legacy 261

Moral and Political Repression 261

Religious and Political Extremism 271

Culture Repression and Regression 282

Pervasive Antihumanism 293

The Authoritarian Legacy of Puritanism in Global Perspective 300

Great Britain versus America 302.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780387493206

0387493204

0387493212

9780387493213

OCLC:

145385243