Weigelt Migration and Faith

The Migrations of the Schwenkfelders from Germany to America – Risks and Opportunities
1. Auflage 2017
ISBN: 978-3-647-56435-7
Verlag: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Kein

E-Book, Englisch, Band 110, 230 Seiten

Reihe: Forschungen zur Kirchen- und Dogmengeschichte

Migrations are a phenomenon that can be traced back to the beginning of the history of mankind. In modern times, especially in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, numerous migration movements took place from Europe to North America. It was also at this time that the migrations of the Schwenkfelders, followers of Caspar Schwenckfeld?s teachings, from Silesia – then belonging to the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy – to Pennsylvania took place. On the basis of their spiritualistic theology as well as their intense, personal piety, they rejected some essential doctrines of Christianity and ecclesiastical institutions. Therefore governmental and ecclesiastical authorities meted out severe punishments to them. However, it was not until the establishment of a Jesuit Mission for their catholicization in 1719 that more than two hundred of them left Silesia for the sake of their faith. They emigrated first to the Electorate of Saxony and several years later to Pennsylvania, where they settled scattered widely northwest of Philadelphia between 1731 and 1737. In this multireligious, multicultural, and multiethnic English colony they become acquainted with other religious beliefs and forms of piety. Here, moreover, they were challenged by other social, political, and cultural circumstances. This monograph is the first to pursue, in detail, the effects of these acquaintanceships and challenges on the faith of the Silesian refugees. These effects ranged – as becomes clear – from declines and multifarious alterations (modifications, changes, or even revisions) to the strengthening and deepening of their traditional faith and piety. However, the study shows, for most of the Schwenkfelders the migrations did not primarily involve risks. Rather they opened up great opportunities for their religious development and their individual and community life. Without doubt, the Schwenkfelder migrations are characterized by uniqueness; nevertheless certain features can also be detected in other religious migrations. Therefore their migrations represent in certain ways a paradigm, for this time and beyond.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Weigelt, Horst

Weitere Mitwirkende

Viehmeyer, L. Allen

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Historische Migrationsforschung
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Kirchengeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christliche Kirchen, Konfessionen, Denominationen Protestantismus, evangelische und protestantische Kirchen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Title Page;4
2;Copyright;5
3;Table of Contents;6
4;Body;10
5;Foreword;10
6;Introduction;12
6.1;1. Guiding Cognitive Interest;12
6.2;2. Outline;14
6.3;3. Text Style, Footnotes, List of Archival Materials, Bibliography, List of Illustrations, and Indices;17
6.3.1;3.1 Text Style;17
6.3.2;3.2 Footnotes;18
6.3.3;3.3 List of Archival Materials, Bibliography, and List of Illustrations;18
6.3.4;3.4 Indices;19
7;I. Schwenkfeldianism in Silesia from Middle of 16th to Beginning of 18th Century;20
7.1;1. Schwenkfelders until End of Thirty Years War;21
7.1.1;1.1 Residences, Living and Economic Conditions, Theology and Religious Life;21
7.1.2;1.2 Criticism of Church and Ecclesiastical Doctrines;24
7.1.3;1.3 Disciplinary and Punitive Measures by Governmental and Ecclesiastical Authorities;25
7.2;2. Schwenkfelders from Second Half of 17th to Beginning of 18th Century;27
7.2.1;2.1 Between Religious Isolation and Openness;27
7.2.2;2. 2 Procedures of Governmental and Ecclesiastical Authorities;34
7.2.3;2.3 Establishment of a Jesuit Mission for Catholicization;36
8;II. Schwenkfelders’ Search for Asylum in Germany and the Netherlands;46
9;III. Flight of Schwenkfelders from Silesia to Upper Lusatia in Electorate of Saxony;54
9.1;1. Asylum in the Trade Town of Görlitz and Vicinity;55
9.2;2. Sojourn on Zinzendorf’s Estates in Herrnhut and Berthelsdorf;61
10;IV. Expulsion of Schwenkfelders from Upper Lusatia — Decree by Elector Frederick August II of Saxony;68
11;V. Schwenkfelders’ Various Endeavors for an Asylum in Europe or America;74
12;VI. Schwenkfelder Migrations from Saxony to Pennsylvania;82
12.1;1. Organization and Route of the Main Emigration and Events during the Transatlantic Passage;82
12.2;2. Smaller Emigration Groups;93
13;VII. Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania — From Immigration to Beginning of the Revolutionary War;96
13.1;1. Settlement and Economic Circumstances;97
13.1.1;1.1 Scattered Settlements Northwest of Philadelphia;98
13.1.2;1.2 Economic and Labor Conditions;102
13.2;2. Religious Life — From Privacy to Communality;103
13.2.1;2.1 Religious Life during the Early Settlement Years;103
13.2.2;2.2 Spangenberg’s and Zinzendorf’s Attempts at Influencing Schwenkfelders’ Religious Life;109
13.2.3;2.3 Emergence of the Society of Schwenkfelders — Gradual Formation of Organizations and Institutions;115
13.3;3. Social and Political Engagement during French and Indian War;124
14;VIII. Schwenkfeldianism in Silesia under Prussian Sovereignty;134
14.1;1. Guarantees for Individual Freedom of Faith and Conscience — Edicts of King Frederick II of Prussia;134
14.2;2. Religious and Social Life of a Shrinking Minority;137
14.3;3. Extinguishment of Schwenkfeldianism in Silesia;145
15;IX. Migration and Faith Risks and Opportunities;148
15.1;1. Giving up Schwenkfelder Faith — Betrayal and Abandonment;149
15.1.1;1.1 Betrayal — Breach of Fidelity and Apostasy;149
15.1.2;1.2 Abandonment — Forsaking and Jettisoning;150
15.2;2. Alterations of Faith — Modification, Change, and Realignment;152
15.2.1;2.1 Modification;154
15.2.2;2.2 Change;157
15.2.3;2.3 Realignment;166
15.3;3. Deepening and Strengthening Faith and Piety;177
15.3.1;3.1 Reasons and Impulses;177
15.3.1.1;3.1.1 Encounters with Beliefs of other Denominations and Christian Communities;178
15.3.1.2;3.1.2 Scattered Settlements and Conditions of Life in a Multicultural Society;180
15.3.1.3;3.1.3 Social and Political Challenges during the French and Indian War;180
15.3.2;3.2 Realization in Everyday Life — Charitable and Social Commitment, Tolerance;182
16;Epilogue;188
17;Summary in German;192
18;Summary in Polish;196
19;List of Archival Materials, Bibliography, List of Illustrations, and Indices;200
19.1;1. List of Archival Materials in Archives and Libraries;200
19.2;2. Bibliography Primary and Secondary Literature;202
19.3;3. List of Illustrations;220
19.4;4. Index of Abbreviations;222
19.5;5. Index of Bible Passages;224
19.6;6. Index of Persons;225
19.7;7. Index of Places;229

Über Autor(innen)

Weigelt, Horst
Dr. theol. Horst Weigelt ist emeritierter Professor an Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg.

Dr. theol. Horst Weigelt ist emeritierter Professor an Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg.