Books and Edited Volumes by Lucinda Martin
Jacob Böhme (1575–1624) has been recognized as one of the internationally most influential German... more Jacob Böhme (1575–1624) has been recognized as one of the internationally most influential German authors of the Early Modern period. Even today, his writings continue to impact fields as diverse as literature, philosophy, religion and art. Yet Böhme and his reception remain understudied. As a lay author, his works were often suppressed and circulated underground.
Borrowing Böhme’s idea of “three worlds” or planes of existence, this volume traces the transmission of his thought through three stations: from his first underground readers in Central and Eastern Europe, to the Netherlands, where most of his writings were first published, to Britain, where early translations made him a popular author for generations to come.
Drawing on the work of both established and younger researchers from around the world, this volume charts new territory. It fills many lacunae and reveals a number of exciting discoveries, especially regarding the production and diffusion of manuscripts and previously overlooked sites of engagement. This book will be of interest to a wide range of scholars interested in the development of philosophical, religious, literary and artistic thought from the 17th century to the present day. The book:
Presents newly discovered manuscripts
Extends the boundaries of Böhme research to Eastern Europe
Reveals surprising examples of Jacob Böhme's impact in the modern era
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Quaerendo 53, 3-4, 2023
This special issue of Quaerendo marks the addition of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica in A... more This special issue of Quaerendo marks the addition of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica in Amsterdam to the UNESCO Netherlands Memory of the World Registry. At articles in the issue all treat items in the BPH collection. Authors include Lucinda Martin, Lawrence M. Principe, Thomas Hofmeier, Cis van Heertum, Gwendolyn Verbraak, Andreas Pietsch and José Bouman.
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This catalog accompanying the exhibition of the same title (25 May-11 September 2022) in Wroclaw,... more This catalog accompanying the exhibition of the same title (25 May-11 September 2022) in Wroclaw, Poland contains both Polish and English essays. It treats Böhme's history and his thought, with a special focus on his early contacts in Silesia and Lusatia.
ISBN 978-3-95498-693-4
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Jacob Böhme and His World seeks to demystify Böhme by focusing on aspects of his immediate cultur... more Jacob Böhme and His World seeks to demystify Böhme by focusing on aspects of his immediate cultural and social context and the intellectual currents of his time, including Böhme’s writing as literature, the social conditions in Görlitz, Böhme’s correspondence networks, a contemporary “crisis of piety,” Paracelsian and kabbalistic currents, astrology, astronomy and alchemy, and his relationship to other dissenting authors. Relevant facets of reception include Böhme’s philosophical standing, his contributions to pre-Pietism, and early English translations of his works.
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Church History and Religious Culture 98.1, 2018
Special issue of the journal Church History and Religious Culture, guest edited by Lucinda Martin.
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This publication accompanies the exhibition "Light in Darkness: The Mystical Philosophy of Jacob ... more This publication accompanies the exhibition "Light in Darkness: The Mystical Philosophy of Jacob Böhme, held 29 April-5 July 2019 in Coventry Cathedral. The volume includes sections about Böhme's life, his main philosophical concepts and his reception, particularly in the English-speaking world. A short selection of passages from Böhme's "Aurora" is also offered, together with explanatory notes.
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Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism 18, No. 1 (2018)
Special issue guest edited ... more Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism 18, No. 1 (2018)
Special issue guest edited by Lucinda Martin
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(1575-1624) is een van de belangrijkste Duitse denkers. Zijn werken hebben ver voorbij de landsgr... more (1575-1624) is een van de belangrijkste Duitse denkers. Zijn werken hebben ver voorbij de landsgrenzen invloed uitgeoefend op de literatuur, filosofie, religie en kunst, vanaf zijn eigen tijd tot de dag van vandaag. Honderd jaar na het begin van de protes-tantse Reformatie-aan de vooravond van de Dertigjarige Oorlog-wilde Böhme uitdrukking geven aan de behoefte aan een diepgaande spirituele en filosofische vernieuwing. In een reeks tentoonstellingen-in Dresden, Coventry, Amsterdam en Wrocław-herdenken de Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden deze oncon-ventionele denker, wiens ideeën over de relatie tussen wetenschap en geloof, tussen mens en natuur, tussen man en vrouw heden ten dage actueler zijn dan ooit. F. W. J. S c h e l l i n g (17 7 5-18 5 4) " M a n k a n n n i c h t u M h i n v o n J a c o b b ö h M e z u s a g e n , e r s e i e i n e W u n d e r e r s c h e i n u n g i n d e r g e s c h i c h t e d e r M e n s c h h e i t, u n d b e s o n d e r s i n d e r g e s c h i c h t e d e s d e u t s c h e n g e i s t e s. " P h i l o s o P h i e d e r o f f e n b a r u n g G e o r g C h r i s t o p h L i c h t e n b e r g (17 4 2-17 9 9) " d i e W e r k e J a c o b b ö h M e s s i n d e i n e a r t P i c k n i c k , W o d e r a u t o r d i e W ö r t e r b e r e i t s t e l l t u n d d e r l e s e r d i e b e d e u t u n g. " a P h o r i s M e n K a r l Ma r x (18 18-18 8 3) " d e r s c h u s t e r J a c o b b ö h M e Wa r e i n g r o s s e r P h i l o s o P h. M a n c h e P h i l o s o P h e n v o n r u f s i n d n u r g r o s s e s c h u s t e r. " d e b at t e n ü b e r P r e s s e f r e i h e i t OOG VOOR DE WE RE LD De visionaire denker S A N D S T E I N G .W. F. He g e l (17 7 0-18 3 1) " J a c o b b ö h M e i s t d e r e r s t e d e u t s c h e P h i l o s o P h. " v o r l e s u n g e n ü b e r d i e g e s c h i c h t e d e r P h i l o s o P h i e S a m u e l Ta y l o r C o l e r i d g e (17 7 2-18 3 4) " J a c o b b ö h M e , t h e P h i l o s o P h e r , s u r P r i s e s u s J u s t a s M u c h a s b ö h M e , t h e v i s i o n a r y, h a s a s t o u n d e d o r P e r P l e x e d u s. " M a r g i n a l i a F r i e d r i c h S c h l e g e l (17 7 2-18 2 9) " b ö h M e i s t o h n e z W e i f e l d e r u M f a s s e n d s t e , r e i c h h a l t i g s t e u n d M a n n i g f a l t i g s t e v o n a l l e n M y s t i k e r n. " P h i l o s o P h i s c h e v o r l e s u n g e n , 1 8 0 4-1 8 0 6 Wi l l i a m B l a k e (17 5 7-18 2 7) " P a r a c e l s u s & b ö h M e a P P e a r ' d t o M e. " l e t t e r t o J o h n f l a x M a n , 1 2 s e P t e M b e r 1 8 0 0
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The catalog for the 2017 Exhibition, "All in All: The Conceptual World of the mystical Philosophe... more The catalog for the 2017 Exhibition, "All in All: The Conceptual World of the mystical Philosopher Jacob Böhme" contains sections on Böhmes thought, his context and his later reception by visual artists. In the first section, Lucinda Martin and Cecilia Muratori engage intensively with Böhme's central concepts. The section on Böhme's context includes contributions on the political, scientific and artistic environment within which Böhme wrote, while the part on Böhme's reception deals especially with his influence on the artists of the German Romantik movement, the English artist and poet William Blake and the modernist painters Wassily Kandinsky and Jean Arp.
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This volume gathers an international team of scholars to present the thought of the philosopher a... more This volume gathers an international team of scholars to present the thought of the philosopher and mystic Jacob Böhme through his core concepts. One of the most important German thinkers, Böhme made an impact on philosophy, art, literature and religion that resonated well beyond seventeenth-century Germany and that still persists today. Böhme sought a universal theory that would reconcile religion and the natural philosophy of his time. To this end, he drew on discourses as diverse as Christian devotional literature, alchemy and kabbala. This collection of essays (some in German, some in English) takes up the challenge of focusing on Böhme’s key terms in chapters on Creation, the Three Principles, the Qualities, Light, Darkness, Birth, Rebirth, Pilgrimage, Philosophia and even Sound. Böhme developed a dense language rich in visual metaphors and the chapters are lavishly illustrated. This book helps to establish Böhme as one of the most significant and innovative thinkers of the Early Modern world and it will be fundamental to any future study of his philosophy.
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The study identifies three main phases in German Pietism and demonstrates how women's participati... more The study identifies three main phases in German Pietism and demonstrates how women's participation was crucial for each phase: an early, prophetic phase, in which women were the most important prophets; a consolidation phase in which wealthy female patrons donated the money for the building of Pietist institutions; and a churchly phase, in which women worked alongside men in established structures. The study relies upon hundreds of pages of previously unstudied manuscript sources, especially relating to Johanna Eleonora Petersen, Princess Elisabeth of the Pfalz and Anna Nitschmann, figures that Martin takes as illustrative case studies. The study won the University of Texas Dissertation Award and was named by the Council of Graduate Schools as one of the five best dissertations in the United States in 2003.
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Translation by Lucinda Martin
Jacob Boehme’s Of the Three Principles of Divine Being, 1619, is vital for understanding his work... more Jacob Boehme’s Of the Three Principles of Divine Being, 1619, is vital for understanding his work as a whole, its relationship to its epoch, and its role in intellectual history. Reproduced here using the methods of critical edition, the original of the work and its adjacent translation, together with an extensive introduction and commentary, provide unprecedented access to this essential work of early modern thought and cast a fresh light on the revolutionary theological, philosophical, and scientific developments coinciding with the start of the Thirty Years’ War.
The 1730 edition is annotated with reference to the manuscript sources to clarify ambiguities so that the translation can interpret the text without refracting its meaning. This makes it possible to interpret Boehme’s complex theories of the origin of the divine being and of nature, the human creature, and the female aspect of divinity.
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Published Articles by Lucinda Martin
Quaerendo, 2023
The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica collection focuses on the discourses and traditions of Pla... more The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica collection focuses on the discourses and traditions of Platonic-Hermetic thought. When the Corpus Hermeticum and other ancient texts were translated into Latin in the mid 15 th century, they helped to spur the Renaissance. Ideas such as the concept that philosophy amounts to striving after God and that the cosmos is an outflowing of the Divine stimulated developments in Christian mysticism, Jewish Kabbala, alchemy, astrology, magic, Christian theosophy and Rosicrucianism. Although of great cultural significance, these streams of thought were long neglected or suppressed. Now, academia is recognizing the importance of this thought. The BPH pioneered this field of study and helped establish it. In November 2022, the library was added to the UNESCO Dutch Memory of the World Register. The committee recognized that authors in this library took positions that, while controversial for their time, were progressive steps on the path to modern human rights.
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Zeitschrift für Literaturwissenschaft und Linguistik, 2023
In the Early Modern period, many professions, including theology, did not yet have systems to val... more In the Early Modern period, many professions, including theology, did not yet have systems to validate expertise. Some laypeople were able to acquire deep theological knowledge or have more impact than church-ordained theologians. The Reformation promoted the idea of a »Priesthood of Believers,« but it remained little developed, since clergy continued to administer sacraments. Lay activity surged in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries under the influence of spiritualists, who believed that all things are connected by the Divine, and thus, that people do not need clergy to access God. Christian theosophers saw nature as divine revelation, and their study of the natural world also began to undermine traditional theology. Since through confessionalization, state and church power were deeply intertwined, the state tried to enforce adherence to confession. The attempts of the early modern state to define who could act as a theologian have left traces in modern historiography.
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De Boekenwereld, 2022
in: De Boekenwereld 38 (2), 2022, (Special issue on Hermetism), 4-11.
The article (in Dutch) out... more in: De Boekenwereld 38 (2), 2022, (Special issue on Hermetism), 4-11.
The article (in Dutch) outlines the history and holdings of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (so-called Ritman Library) in Amsterdam. The library helped to establish the academic field of "Western Esotericism" and, relying on illustrations from books and manuscripts in each collecting field, the article surveys not only the library's collections but at the same time the main sub-fields of Western Esotericism.
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in: Das Haar als Argument, Ed. Martin Mulsow [Gotha: Steiner Verlag, 2022, 211-236; ISBN 978-3-51... more in: Das Haar als Argument, Ed. Martin Mulsow [Gotha: Steiner Verlag, 2022, 211-236; ISBN 978-3-515-11660-2
In the late 17th century and extending into the 18th century, Pietist reformers argued about so-called adiaphora, or “middle things,” practices neither forbidden nor encouraged by Scripture. Theological discussions about fashion, art and leisure activities that had roots in the Protestant Reformation resurged in the 1670s in Pietism, often taking on new social and political meanings. For Pietists, clothing and hairstyles signified one as a “child of the world” or a “child of God”. Yet within Pietism, a range of positions were justified. Some saw fashionable hair styles as a symbol of the corrupt “world” while others believed that aristocrats should wear elaborate hair styles to reflect their “God-given” status as rulers. Hair and beard styles thus came to be seen as a marker for acceptance or rejection of the existing social and political order.
Im späten 17 Jahrhundert und bis ins 18 Jahrhundert hinein stritten sich pietistische Reformer über die sogenannten Adiaphora oder ‚Mitteldinge' , Praktiken, die in der Schrift weder verboten noch für gut befunden wurden Theologische Diskussionen über Mode, Kunst und Freizeitaktivitäten, die ihre Wurzeln in der protestantischen Reformation hatten, lebten in den 1670er Jahren im Pietismus wieder auf und bekamen häufig eine neue soziale und politische Relevanz Für Pietisten markierten Kleidung und Frisuren einen Menschen als ein ‚Kind der Welt' oder ein ‚Kind Gottes' Unter Pietisten gab es jedoch eine Reihe von unterschiedlichen Positionen Einige sahen modische Frisuren als ein Symbol der korrupten ‚Welt' , während andere glaubten, dass Adlige aufwändige Frisuren tragen sollten, um ihren ‚gottgegebenen' Status als Herrscher widerzuspiegeln Haar-und Bartstile wurden somit als Zeichen für die Akzeptanz oder die Ablehnung der bestehenden sozialen und politischen Ordnung angesehen
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Einladende Buch-Anfänge: Titelbilder des Wissens in der Frühen Neuzeit, Ed. Stefan Laube, Wolfenbütteler Forschungen 170, 2022
From the seventeenth century through the first decades of the eighteenth century, a wave of mille... more From the seventeenth century through the first decades of the eighteenth century, a wave of millenarianism swept Europe. A range of authors across the religious spectrum discussed the coming „Final Judgement“ and offered competing scriptural interpretations about the „end of times.“ Some of the most popular books were those of so-called Philadelphians, who wanted to build a community of brotherly love in anticipation of the New Jerusalem. The frontispieces of certain Philadelphian books made visual arguments that seemed to prove the interpretations presented in the books. This article presents some of these frontispieces and focuses in particular on the large copperplate engraving in Johanna Eleonora Petersen’s opulent „Anleitung zu gründlicher Verständniß der Heiligen Offenbahrung“ of 1696. In one image, this artwork expresses all of the central Philadelphian tenets, including the fall of Babylon, a coming 1000-year reign of Christ, the union of righteous Jews and Christians and the doctrine of a female person in the godhead.
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Daphnis 48, 2020
The article traces the influence of Jacob Böhme's concept of "Sophia," a female element in the go... more The article traces the influence of Jacob Böhme's concept of "Sophia," a female element in the godhead, from 1600 into the eighteenth century. Based on Böhme's concept , different groups within the dissenting milieu offered competing plans for the organization of society. To overcome gender difference, some implemented sexual-religious rituals, while others promoted celibacy. The previously unresearched correspondence of Anna Magdalena Francke with the "Angelic Brethren" reveals that such ideas were not limited to a radical fringe, but reached into the heart of the powerful Franckesche Stiftungen.
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Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism 18.1 (2018), 3-20.
The article discusses the... more Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism 18.1 (2018), 3-20.
The article discusses the historiographic neglect of one of Germany's most influential authors, Jacob Böhme. Seventeenth-century philosophers such as Leibniz and Henry More recognized Böhme as a philosopher and scholars of the period included him in lexica of the "Republic of Letters." Yet later histories either ignore Böhme or dismiss him as a "fanatic." The article traces this treatment of Böhme not to the content of his thought, but to his status as a lay philosopher and theologian, who lacked the approval of the state church and university.
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Church History and Religious Culture 98.1, 2018
Histories of Early Modern religion in Europe typically contrast the activities of ordained theolo... more Histories of Early Modern religion in Europe typically contrast the activities of ordained theologians with those of laity. The thought and writings of the former usually constitute " theology " and those of the latter " piety. " The result has long been a divided history. Confessional church historians have written histories that were essentially genealogies of (male) officer holders, while scholars of folklore, culture or literature analyzed the contributions of laity. Since the so-called cultural turn, the contributions of laity as organizers, transmitters and patrons of Early Modern religious movements are being recognized. What has been less studied are the intellectual achievements of laity, many of whom possessed deep knowledge of theology, history, and ancient languages and played important roles in Early Modern religious history. This article provides an overview of the main issues and the development of lay theology in the period and argues for increased study of the phenomenon.
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Books and Edited Volumes by Lucinda Martin
Borrowing Böhme’s idea of “three worlds” or planes of existence, this volume traces the transmission of his thought through three stations: from his first underground readers in Central and Eastern Europe, to the Netherlands, where most of his writings were first published, to Britain, where early translations made him a popular author for generations to come.
Drawing on the work of both established and younger researchers from around the world, this volume charts new territory. It fills many lacunae and reveals a number of exciting discoveries, especially regarding the production and diffusion of manuscripts and previously overlooked sites of engagement. This book will be of interest to a wide range of scholars interested in the development of philosophical, religious, literary and artistic thought from the 17th century to the present day. The book:
Presents newly discovered manuscripts
Extends the boundaries of Böhme research to Eastern Europe
Reveals surprising examples of Jacob Böhme's impact in the modern era
ISBN 978-3-95498-693-4
Special issue guest edited by Lucinda Martin
Translation by Lucinda Martin
The 1730 edition is annotated with reference to the manuscript sources to clarify ambiguities so that the translation can interpret the text without refracting its meaning. This makes it possible to interpret Boehme’s complex theories of the origin of the divine being and of nature, the human creature, and the female aspect of divinity.
Published Articles by Lucinda Martin
The article (in Dutch) outlines the history and holdings of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (so-called Ritman Library) in Amsterdam. The library helped to establish the academic field of "Western Esotericism" and, relying on illustrations from books and manuscripts in each collecting field, the article surveys not only the library's collections but at the same time the main sub-fields of Western Esotericism.
In the late 17th century and extending into the 18th century, Pietist reformers argued about so-called adiaphora, or “middle things,” practices neither forbidden nor encouraged by Scripture. Theological discussions about fashion, art and leisure activities that had roots in the Protestant Reformation resurged in the 1670s in Pietism, often taking on new social and political meanings. For Pietists, clothing and hairstyles signified one as a “child of the world” or a “child of God”. Yet within Pietism, a range of positions were justified. Some saw fashionable hair styles as a symbol of the corrupt “world” while others believed that aristocrats should wear elaborate hair styles to reflect their “God-given” status as rulers. Hair and beard styles thus came to be seen as a marker for acceptance or rejection of the existing social and political order.
Im späten 17 Jahrhundert und bis ins 18 Jahrhundert hinein stritten sich pietistische Reformer über die sogenannten Adiaphora oder ‚Mitteldinge' , Praktiken, die in der Schrift weder verboten noch für gut befunden wurden Theologische Diskussionen über Mode, Kunst und Freizeitaktivitäten, die ihre Wurzeln in der protestantischen Reformation hatten, lebten in den 1670er Jahren im Pietismus wieder auf und bekamen häufig eine neue soziale und politische Relevanz Für Pietisten markierten Kleidung und Frisuren einen Menschen als ein ‚Kind der Welt' oder ein ‚Kind Gottes' Unter Pietisten gab es jedoch eine Reihe von unterschiedlichen Positionen Einige sahen modische Frisuren als ein Symbol der korrupten ‚Welt' , während andere glaubten, dass Adlige aufwändige Frisuren tragen sollten, um ihren ‚gottgegebenen' Status als Herrscher widerzuspiegeln Haar-und Bartstile wurden somit als Zeichen für die Akzeptanz oder die Ablehnung der bestehenden sozialen und politischen Ordnung angesehen
The article discusses the historiographic neglect of one of Germany's most influential authors, Jacob Böhme. Seventeenth-century philosophers such as Leibniz and Henry More recognized Böhme as a philosopher and scholars of the period included him in lexica of the "Republic of Letters." Yet later histories either ignore Böhme or dismiss him as a "fanatic." The article traces this treatment of Böhme not to the content of his thought, but to his status as a lay philosopher and theologian, who lacked the approval of the state church and university.
Borrowing Böhme’s idea of “three worlds” or planes of existence, this volume traces the transmission of his thought through three stations: from his first underground readers in Central and Eastern Europe, to the Netherlands, where most of his writings were first published, to Britain, where early translations made him a popular author for generations to come.
Drawing on the work of both established and younger researchers from around the world, this volume charts new territory. It fills many lacunae and reveals a number of exciting discoveries, especially regarding the production and diffusion of manuscripts and previously overlooked sites of engagement. This book will be of interest to a wide range of scholars interested in the development of philosophical, religious, literary and artistic thought from the 17th century to the present day. The book:
Presents newly discovered manuscripts
Extends the boundaries of Böhme research to Eastern Europe
Reveals surprising examples of Jacob Böhme's impact in the modern era
ISBN 978-3-95498-693-4
Special issue guest edited by Lucinda Martin
The 1730 edition is annotated with reference to the manuscript sources to clarify ambiguities so that the translation can interpret the text without refracting its meaning. This makes it possible to interpret Boehme’s complex theories of the origin of the divine being and of nature, the human creature, and the female aspect of divinity.
The article (in Dutch) outlines the history and holdings of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (so-called Ritman Library) in Amsterdam. The library helped to establish the academic field of "Western Esotericism" and, relying on illustrations from books and manuscripts in each collecting field, the article surveys not only the library's collections but at the same time the main sub-fields of Western Esotericism.
In the late 17th century and extending into the 18th century, Pietist reformers argued about so-called adiaphora, or “middle things,” practices neither forbidden nor encouraged by Scripture. Theological discussions about fashion, art and leisure activities that had roots in the Protestant Reformation resurged in the 1670s in Pietism, often taking on new social and political meanings. For Pietists, clothing and hairstyles signified one as a “child of the world” or a “child of God”. Yet within Pietism, a range of positions were justified. Some saw fashionable hair styles as a symbol of the corrupt “world” while others believed that aristocrats should wear elaborate hair styles to reflect their “God-given” status as rulers. Hair and beard styles thus came to be seen as a marker for acceptance or rejection of the existing social and political order.
Im späten 17 Jahrhundert und bis ins 18 Jahrhundert hinein stritten sich pietistische Reformer über die sogenannten Adiaphora oder ‚Mitteldinge' , Praktiken, die in der Schrift weder verboten noch für gut befunden wurden Theologische Diskussionen über Mode, Kunst und Freizeitaktivitäten, die ihre Wurzeln in der protestantischen Reformation hatten, lebten in den 1670er Jahren im Pietismus wieder auf und bekamen häufig eine neue soziale und politische Relevanz Für Pietisten markierten Kleidung und Frisuren einen Menschen als ein ‚Kind der Welt' oder ein ‚Kind Gottes' Unter Pietisten gab es jedoch eine Reihe von unterschiedlichen Positionen Einige sahen modische Frisuren als ein Symbol der korrupten ‚Welt' , während andere glaubten, dass Adlige aufwändige Frisuren tragen sollten, um ihren ‚gottgegebenen' Status als Herrscher widerzuspiegeln Haar-und Bartstile wurden somit als Zeichen für die Akzeptanz oder die Ablehnung der bestehenden sozialen und politischen Ordnung angesehen
The article discusses the historiographic neglect of one of Germany's most influential authors, Jacob Böhme. Seventeenth-century philosophers such as Leibniz and Henry More recognized Böhme as a philosopher and scholars of the period included him in lexica of the "Republic of Letters." Yet later histories either ignore Böhme or dismiss him as a "fanatic." The article traces this treatment of Böhme not to the content of his thought, but to his status as a lay philosopher and theologian, who lacked the approval of the state church and university.
After comparing the two communities in general, the essay analyses the correspondence of one sub-group within the Invisible Church, the Philadelphians, to illustrate how they used correspondence networks as a discursive space in ways that paralleled practices in the Republic of Letters. The Philadelphians, whose most important leaders in the German territories were Johann Wilhelm Petersen and Johanna Eleonora Petersen, had a massive impact on nonconformists from London to Zurich. The letters of the group show that the key doctrine of apokatastasis panton or universal salvation was worked out in a multi-party conversation in letters. The doctrine paved the way for a more „enlightened“ approach to religion that did not center on eternal damnation. The group’s correspondence also served as an alternative site of education for participants.
Finally the essay questions the way that historians have traditionally labelled some individuals as „scholars“ and others as religious „radicals“. Often these designations have mainly to do with the individuals‘ institutional status. „Radical Pietists“ who fled persecution and settled in North America provide an example. So long as they were in opposition to the German state church, they were labelled as fringe figures, but upon arrival in North America some could be re-categorized as „scholars“. In light of such contradictions and of the many overlaps between the two communities, the essay calls into question a strict division between the Republic of Letters and the Invisible Church.
This essay draws on unpublished manuscript sources in the Archive of the Franckeschen Stiftungen in Halle as well as relevant studies by other scholars of Pietism. Illustrating Pietism’s deep debt to Anabaptism in Bern, the essay calls for increased study of the relationship of the two groups to one another, not just as belief systems, but especially as social and cultural movements.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kim-mccaul/episodes/56---The-Embassy-of-the-Free-Mind-with-Dr-Lucinda-Martin-e207a93/a-a9fk2vo
Link: https://shwep.net/2022/12/14/lucinda-martin-on-the-bibliotheca-philosophica-hermetica-past-and-future/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPGzHA5XFAM&feature=youtu.be
https://www1.wdr.de/radio/wdr5/sendungen/zeitzeichen/gichtel-100.html
Photos can be seen at:
https://claudiafriedrichblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/21/johann-georg-gichtel/
An interview with Lucinda Martin about the Jacob Böhme exhibition, "Light in Darkness, published as an episode of "The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast" on May 16, 2019. The interview ranges from Böhme's theosophical writings to Christian Kabbala to Böhme's influence on figures such as William Blake and early Quakers.
https://www.faz.net/-in4-9q0o1
Schlesisches Museum, Görlitz, Germany, 30 August 2024 - 2 February 2025
Curators: Lucinda Martin and Claudia Brink
The world around 1600 was rocked by turbulence. Wars, religious strife, and plagues led many people to believe that the end of time was at hand. The shoemaker and lay philosopher and theologian Jacob Böhme (1575-1624) responded to this situation with a series of writings that have influenced philosophy, religion, art and literature for over 400 years.
Böhme’s controversial writings have often been banned, but in the 17th century, readers in Silesia secretly circulated handwritten copies, keeping his thought alive. Now, the Schlesisches Museum in Görlitz, Böhme’s hometown, is devoting an exhibition to Böhme and the Lusatian and Silesian networks that kept his writings alive.
Although he lived in a time of political and religious unrest, Böhme foresaw the dawn of renewal. The lily is a symbol of new life and hope, so Böhme called this coming era of peace, “the time of the lily.” Böhme’s appeal for humanity to come together to meet the challenges it faces is just as relevant today as it was 400 years ago.
Wrocław University Museum, Poland, May 25-September 11, 2022. Curated by Lucinda Martin and Claudia Brink.
For the last five years, the Dresden State Art Collections have partnered with the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica and Embassy of the Free Mind in Amsterdam to present a series of exhibitions on the work and influence of Jacob Böhme (1575-1624). After stops in Dresden (2017) and Coventry and Amsterdam (2019), the next exhibition is taking place at the University Museum of Wrocław.
Böhme’s thought has had a lasting influence on literature, philosophy, religion and art over the centuries. His work arose during a time when Europe was shaken by great turmoil. Wars, religious conflicts and epidemics led many people to believe that the end of time was near. In this situation, the shoemaker and lay philosopher from Görlitz tried to provide answers to existential questions. Boehme's writings were controversial and at times even banned, but his writings survived, mainly thanks to his supporters in Silesia and Lusatia, who made handwritten copies of his writings and circulated them underground in their networks. In this way, Boehme's works eventually reached the Netherlands in the 17th century, where they were printed for the first time, translated into other languages, and disseminated more widely.
The history of Jacob Böhme's writings is connected with the war in several ways. After the authorities banned Böhme from writing, he initially obeyed. On the eve of the Thirty Years' War, however, he resumed his writing in light of the time of crisis. During the Second World War, it was again Boehme’s supporters ideas who secretly preserved his manuscripts in the German town of Linz on the Rhine. Since the Nazis suspected forbidden ideas in them, the writings were confiscated. However, Böhme experts succeeded in having the confiscated works transferred to his hometown of Görlitz. There they were brought to safety from the destruction of the war in places on both sides of the Neisse, which is why today they are partly in Germany and partly in Poland. However, some writings were lost.
The exhibition at the University Museum in Wrocław presents Boehme's basic ideas, outlines his beginnings as a mystical philosopher in Görlitz, and sheds light on his networks in Silesia and Lusatia. The reception of his works in the Netherlands and England is also a topic, as are the winding paths through which his manuscripts reached their present-day repositories in the 20th century. An important collection is located in the Wrocław University Library. The exhibition shows important documents from this collection, supplemented by loans from the Oberlausitzische Bibliothek der Wissenschaften in Görlitz and the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica in Amsterdam.
Even though Böhme lived in a time of great political and religious turmoil, he did not doubt the beginning of renewal. In reference to the lily as a symbol of hope and new life, he called the coming era of peace the "time of the lily." His appeal to people to face the challenges of their time is as relevant today as it was 400 years ago.
14 December 2019 - 14 March 2020
Opening 13 December 2019, 7 p.m.
(1575-1624) zählt zu den wichtigsten deutschen Denkern, der die Literatur, Philosophie, Religion und Kunst über die Landes-grenzen hinweg nachhaltig geprägt hat. In einer Zeit, in der das traditionelle Weltbild durch bahnbrechende wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse ins Wanken geraten war, suchte Böhme nach einer universellen Theorie, um Religion und Wissenschaft miteinander in Einklang zu bringen. Für die Verbreitung seiner Ideen kam der Stadt Amsterdam im 17. Jahr-hundert eine große Bedeutung zu, denn während seine Werke in Deutsch-land meist nur als Abschriften unter der Hand zirkulierten, konnten sie in den Niederlanden in gedruckter Form erscheinen. Eine umfangreiche Sammlung der Schriften Böhmes befindet sich heute in der "Embassy of the Free Mind" in Amsterdam, deren Grundstock durch Böhmes Erstlings-werk "Aurora" gelegt wurde.
One of the most important German thinkers, the philosopher and mystic Jacob Böhme (1575-1624) made an Impact on literature, philosophy, religion and art that resonated well beyond German borders and that persists even today. One hundred years after the Reformation -- on the eve of the Thirty Years' War -- Böhme wanted to give voice to the need for a far-reaching spiritual and philosophical renewal. He was active in many different disciplines, promoting inter-connections and asking questions which are still remarkably relevant today. With the exhibition "All in All" the palace chapel of the Dresden Royal Palace functions as a museum space for the first time. Graphics, paintings, scientific instruments and handcrafted objects are exhibited alongside selected manuscripts and printed editions of Böhme's works. Since the floor plan of the exhibition follows Böhme's "philosophical sphere," a model for the workings of the cosmos, visitors are able to enter and walk through his world.
All of the major cultural exchanges in history required translation – the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Enlightenment are obvious examples. Yet Translation Studies have been little interested in history and most historians still treat translation as an invisible given, as if a translated text were “the same” as the original. Recently, scholars such as Peter Burke and R. Po-chia Hsia have urged increased study of the role of translation in cultural encounters in the Early Modern period. They point in particular to the need for studies on religious translation, since translators do not just translate linguistic items but religion itself.
In 2017 a conference at the Research Centre Gotha sought to answer this call by Burke and Hsia by focusing on the translations, transformations and adaptations of religious texts across cultural and national boundaries in the Early Modern period. The conference was highly productive, but focused mainly on exchange between different European actors. Now, a new conference is expanding the boundaries of the first conference to include interactions involving non-European and non-Christian actors: What negotiations and compromises did translators make? What did they translate and what did they omit? How did they transform meaning through interventions, abridgements, or amplifications? Did these transformations amount to misunderstandings or could they be perceived as enrichments? How did translators make material familiar or attractive for recipients? How did they “translate” material into visual art or into other contexts, such as natural philosophy? Did translations result in new practices or rituals? Why were certain texts or ideas interesting to a certain culture or sub-culture at a given time? How did international religious exchange contribute to early forms of globalization?
Religious translations served individuals and communities in a variety of ways, from missionizing to polemical purposes to the defense of persecuted minorities and beyond. In some cases, texts underwent multiple translations, often through a “bridge” language and culture. Multiple layers of decontextualisation and recontextualisation created displacements. Translations designed to spread meaning thus also changed it, and indeed, translators’ goals often diverged from those of the original authors, as when Christian scholars repurposed Jewish and Islamic texts to “prove” aspects of Christianity. Religious communities, translators, publishers and patrons thus implemented conscious translation strategies to accomplish their goals, achieving both foreseen and unforeseen shifts in the cultural landscapes of the Early Modern world.
One of the most important German thinkers, the philosopher and mystic Jacob Böhme (1575 - 1624) made an impact on literature, philosophy, religion and art that resonated well beyond German borders and that persists even today. Focussing on central concepts in Böhmes work, the Dresden State Art Collections are devotingan exhibition to Böhme in the autumn of 2017 because, despite the fact that Jacob Böhme held a great fascination for writers and artists of later generations, his work is little-known today.