Early British Socialism and the 'Religion of the New Moral World'

In: Palgrave Studies in Utopianism Series

Abstract

Intro -- Contents -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- Chapter 2: The State of the Literature -- 2.1 Owenism and Religion -- 2.1.1 Denominational Identities and Doctrinal Commitments -- 2.1.2 Owenites as Anti-Religious -- 2.1.3 Owenites as Borrowing from the Christian Tradition -- 2.1.3.1 Millennialism -- 2.1.3.2 Owenism as (Akin to) a Sect -- 2.1.3.3 Protestant Communalism -- 2.1.4 Rational Religion -- 2.1.4.1 Rational Religion as Morality -- 2.1.4.2 Rational Religion and Competition for Authority -- 2.1.4.3 Rational Religion as Secular Religion -- 2.2 Owenism as Socialism and Trade Unionism -- Chapter 3: Reconceiving Religion -- 3.1 Conceptual Innovation -- 3.2 Religion and Knowledge -- 3.3 Religion as Solidarity -- 3.4 Religion and Morality -- Chapter 4: Owenite Socialism in Religious Context -- 4.1 Challenges and Deficiencies -- 4.1.1 Division and Conflict -- 4.1.2 Church Conservatism -- 4.1.3 Evangelicalism -- 4.2 Theological Resources -- 4.2.1 Natural Theology -- 4.2.2 Deism -- 4.2.3 Popular Religion -- 4.2.4 Rational Dissent -- Chapter 5: Owenite Religion as a Socialist Religion -- 5.1 Religiosity as Un-socialist or Unimportant -- 5.1.1 Religiosity as Eccentric -- 5.1.2 Religiosity as Outdated -- 5.1.3 Religiosity as Instrumental -- 5.2 Socialists as Religious Reformers -- 5.2.1 Religious Progress and Social Change -- 5.2.2 Rivals to Socialism -- 5.3 Objection -- 5.4 Religious Reform Essential to Socialism -- 5.4.1 Religious Critique Grounded in Socialism -- 5.4.2 False Religion an Obstacle to Socialism -- 5.4.3 Socialism and True Religion -- Chapter 6: Religion and the History of Socialism -- Chapter 7: Conclusion -- 7.1 Politics and Religion -- 7.2 Practice in the History of Political Thought -- 7.3 Owenism's Influence on Subsequent Socialism -- 7.4 History of Socialism -- 7.5 Lessons for Contemporary Socialists -- Bibliography.