Enlightenment and reformation in the historical writings of Thomas M'Crie
Author(s)
Advisor
Leighton, Cadoc D.Date
2007Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
There are a limited number of studies of post-Enlightenment Scottish
historiography and these are mainly concerned with the imaginative literature
products of the period. However, there were many reflections of the conflicts and
discussions about religious, political and social matters in the historiography of
period from the Enlightenment to the separation of the Evangelicals from the
Established Church of Scotland in the Disruption of 1843.
My research aims at investigating the outstanding themes in the works of a
post-Enlightenment Scottish history-writer, Thomas M’Crie. The reception of the
Enlightenment ideas—as we perceived it in the texts—by an early nineteenth century
Scottish historian and divine will not only show the perception of these ideas by an
individual but also will bring forward to the much neglected issue of the relationship
between the Enlightenment and the Evangelical movement within and outside the
Church of Scotland. M’Crie’s historical works are very important for their depiction of a particular contribution, made most firmly by the Seceders to the intellectual
environment and religio-political discussions of the time. His works were an attempt
to restore the estimation of the Scottish Reformation past in reaction to an
Enlightenment historiography, which attacked this heritage as a hindrance to
progressive ideas and fuller integration into the British state. His restorationist and
Counter-Enlightenment view was a Scottish manifestation of a movement in Europe
at large responding to the dangerous ideas disseminated by Enlightenment thinkers
and actions of the French Revolutionaries.
Keywords
Thomas M’CrieCounterEnlightenment
Restoration
Evangelicals
Church of Scotland
Scottish History-Writing
Nineteenth Century
Reformation
Enlightenment