Religious Aspects of Romantic Thought

In the introductory section of Warren Breckman's European History, Breckman cites that "scholarly attempts to reach a neat and tidy definition of Romanticism have shattered on its contradictory diversity" (Breckman, 3). He also said that Romantics "were interested in contradiction and polarity to an analysis of their own historical period, which they judged to be divided and dualistic" (Breckman, 17). Though all of the thinkers in this book were dealing with the same ways of thought, it came out in varied interpretations. Religion and the spiritual existence of the human condition are not exempt from this conundrum. Through the use of Novalis' Christianity or Europe: A Fragment, Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand's The Genius of Christianity, Karoline von Gunerrode's Idea of Earth, and August Wihelm Schlegel's Lectures on Dramatic Art and Letters, a varying view of these topics will be seen and the core set of concerns with religion at this time will be illustrated.

In Novalis' Christianity or Europe: A Fragment, he writes of a current time where the history and beauty of the religious past has been lost to the materialism of present times. He believed that religious followers of old "died under the pressure of commercial life, whose devotion was repressed by selfish concerns" (Breckman, 49) and that the religious leaders of the time had forgotten "their proper mission to be the first among men in spirit, knowledge and education" (Breckman, 50). He is nostalgic for the times when "one Christianity" dwelled within the lands that were without worldly possessions that claimed of one sovereign, unified political force (Breckman, 48). He claims the downfall of faith derives from a deep running battle between the clergy and the intellectuals which sought to win more ground in the history of Europe by creating a period of triumphant learning. With doing this, the intellectuals sought to show the stagnation of faith and hoped to destroy it along with the Bible, Catholic belief and eventually religion itself (Breckman, 53). Novalis, through his essay, portrays the way to faith and spiritual existence is through the idea of leaving science behind. He does not mean destroy science in general, but rather a truce needs to be met between the two sides, and he believes that, "only religion can reawaken Europe and make people secure" (Breckman, 60). He has great hope for human spirituality, because he believes that all religious minds should be yearning to see heaven on Earth" (Breckman, 61).

In Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand's The Genius of Christianity, Chateaubriand seeks to depict the beauty of religion and the human satisfaction found in faith. This document came after a time of anti-clerical campaigns of the French Revolution and meant to show the individual as a "simple, solitary wanderer who was at the will of the Supreme Being". He explores a time when a ship of men sat down to pray at sunset, between day and night where "all of the colors of the prism rose from the sea, like a crystal supporting the vault of heaven" and asks how could that not be the "beauty of God" (Breckman, 86). Unlike Novalis, Chateaubriand believes that there is a connection between religion and enlightenment, stating that there is "great charm of recollections associated with religion and the history of our country. Nations do not throw away their ancient customs as they do their old clothes" (Breckman, 89). He believes that art and literature come out of the beauty of nature and that there is a harmony that rests between that and religion, and that for "man who possess faith, nature is a continual wonder" (Breckman, 90-91). A man who "shakes off the influence of religion will be seized with terror and will be ignorant of his object", meaning Chateaubriand believed that the way to intelligence was through the path of Christianity and arts and letters (Breckman, 94).

In Karoline von Gunderrode's Idea of the Earth, she explores the Romantic view of nature through the process of becoming one with it. More specifically, she states that by dying, a person is able to give back to the earth, allowing for it to absorb more enlightened forms of developed elements (Breckman, 97). She believes that through death, we are able to continue the cycle of life and help Earth realize potential. Individuals' bodies and spirits add to this potential, and only when all bodies and souls are formed together can man realize the immortal, Devine body. Her