Christendom and European Identity

This book critically explores the idea of Europe since the French Revolution from the perspective of intellectual history. It traces the dominant and recurring theme of Europe-as-Christendom in discourse concerning the relationship of religion, politics and society, in historiography and hermeneutics, and in theories and constructions of identity and 'otherness'. It examines the evolution of a grand narrative by which European elites have sought to define European and national identity.The book explores the positive creation of a sense of European unity, the ways in which it has been exploited for ideological purposes, and its impact on non-Christian communities within Europe.

Key features

• First volume in relaunch of the series Religion and Society (RS)
• Historical contribution to current debate on European identity

Mary Anne Perkins is currently research reader at the Centre for the Study of Religion, Ideas and Society, Birkbeck College, University of London.