Politics as Religion Emilio Gentile. Transl. by George Staunton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gentile, Emilio, 1946-

Contributor:

Staunton, George.

Gentile, Emilio, 1946-

Language:

English

Italian

Subjects (All):

Political psychology.

Religion and politics.

Ideology--Political aspects.

Ideology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxiii, 168 pages)

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton Univ. Press, 2006.

Language Note:

In English, translated from the Italian.

Summary:

Emilio Gentile, an internationally renowned authority on fascism and totalitarianism, argues that politics over the past two centuries has often taken on the features of religion, claiming as its own the prerogative of defining the fundamental purpose and meaning of human life. Secular political entities such as the nation, the state, race, class, and the party became the focus of myths, rituals, and commandments and gradually became objects of faith, loyalty, and reverence. Gentile examines this "sacralization of politics," as he defines it, both historically and theoretically, seeking to identify the different ways in which political regimes as diverse as fascism, communism, and liberal democracy have ultimately depended, like religions, on faith, myths, rites, and symbols. Gentile maintains that the sacralization of politics as a modern phenomenon is distinct from the politicization of religion that has arisen from militant religious fundamentalism. Sacralized politics may be democratic, in the form of a civil religion, or it may be totalitarian, in the form of a political religion. Using this conceptual distinction, and moving from America to Europe, and from Africa to Asia, Gentile presents a unique comparative history of civil and political religions from the American and French Revolutions, through nationalism and socialism, democracy and totalitarianism, fascism and communism, up to the present day. It is also a fascinating book for understanding the sacralization of politics after 9/11.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION. The Sacralization of Politics

CHAPTER 1. A Never-Never Religion, A Substitute for Religion, or a New Religion?

CHAPTER 2. Civil Religions and Political Religions: From Democratic Revolutions to Totalitarian States

CHAPTER 3. The Leviathan as a Church: Totalitarianism and Political Religion

CHAPTER 4. The Invasion of the Idols: Christians against Totalitarian Religions

CHAPTER 5. Toward the Third Millennium: The Sacralization of Politics in States both New and Old

CHAPTER 6. Religions of Politics: Definitions, Distinctions, and Qualifications

Notes

Notes:

"First published in Italian under the title Le religioni della politica: fra democrazie e totalitarismi"--T.p. verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [147]-168).

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781400827213

1400827213

OCLC:

1181845219