""Bourgeois: Catholicism vs. Capitalism in Eighteenth-Century France"" is a profound sociological and historical analysis of the ideological shift that transformed French society during the Enlightenment. Bernard Groethuysen explores the tension between the traditional spiritual authority of the Catholic Church and the emerging economic values of the merchant class. As the capitalist spirit began to flourish, the French bourgeoisie found themselves navigating a complex path between ancient religious doctrines and a new, secular world defined by industry, property, and reason.
Through a careful examination of contemporary sermons, theological debates, and social records, Groethuysen illustrates how the middle class gradually detached themselves from the world-renouncing ethics of the clergy to create a moral framework suited to their professional lives. This work offers a compelling look at the birth of the modern secular consciousness and the cultural developments that laid the groundwork for the French Revolution. It remains a seminal text for those interested in the history of ideas, the evolution of social classes, and the intersection of faith and economic theory in European history.
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