Promouvoir le «vrai christianisme». La question religieuse et l'Aufklärung dans les communautés catholique de Trêves et protestante des Deux-Ponts

A comparison of the writings on religious questions among two local commu¬ nities of Aufklàrer brings out many similarities across the religious divide. They are in the main hostile to deism and in search of a 'reasonable5 Christianity compatible with the anthopology and ideals of the Enlightenment, founded on the refusal of despotism and acceptance of social ethics. This results in a dynamic and practical vision of religion at the basis of numerous proposals to reform church structures, pastoral activity and religious practice ; although their applications and modalities differ according to each church's particular organisation and culture, these reform proposals have identical motivations and objectives. Thus, religious denomination cannot be seen as a fundamental characteristic differentiating the process of Enlightenment, which is above all a conception of intellectuality and thus, by definition, above religious differences.Drut-Hours Marie. Promouvoir le «vrai christianisme». La question religieuse et l'Aufklärung dans les communautés catholique de Trêves et protestante des Deux-Ponts. In: Dix-huitième Siècle, n°34, 2002. Christianisme et Lumières, sous la direction de Sylviane Albertan-Coppola et Antony McKenna. pp. 41-52