“Historically, of course, as has been pointed out by such thinkers as Marcel Gauchet and George Weigel Christianity had much to do with the notion of the autonomous, sacrosanct individual, with the preservation of a sphere beyond the state that anticipated civil society, with the notion of elected leadership, and with holding rulers accountable to higher powers.”

—  Michael Burleigh

Source: Sacred Causes: The Clash of Religion and Politics, From the Great War to the War on Terror (2006), p. xv

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Historically, of course, as has been pointed out by such thinkers as Marcel Gauchet and George Weigel Christianity had …" by Michael Burleigh?
Michael Burleigh photo
Michael Burleigh 17
American historian and writer 1955

Related quotes

Emma Goldman photo

“‎Civilization has been a continuous struggle of the individual or of groups of individuals against the State and even against "society," that is, against the majority subdued and hypnotized by the State and State worship.”

Emma Goldman (1868–1940) anarchist known for her political activism, writing, and speeches
Robert N. Proctor photo

“The ideal of value neutrality is not a single notion, but has arisen in the course of protracted struggles over the place that science should have in society.”

Robert N. Proctor (1954) American historian

Source: Value-free science?: Purity and power in modern knowledge, 1991, p. 262

Boris Sidis photo

“The recognition, the diagnosis, and the preservation of psychopathic individuals account for the apparent increase of neurotics in civilized communities.”

Boris Sidis (1867–1923) American psychiatrist

Source: Nervous Ills their Cause and Cure (1922), p. 275

“The notion that the church, the press, and the universities should serve the state is essentially a Communist notion. In a free society these institutions must be wholly free – which is to say that their function is to serve as checks upon the state.”

Alan Barth (1906–1979) American journalist

The Rights of Free Men: An Essential Guide to Civil Liberties (1984).

Simone de Beauvoir photo

“The point is not for women simply to take power out of men’s hands, since that wouldn’t change anything about the world. It’s a question precisely of destroying that notion of power.”

Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986) French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist, and social theorist

“The single most important factor that has undermined the notion of inspiration is the rise of an historical consciousness.”

Roger Haight (1936) American theologian

Source: Dynamics Of Theology, Chapter Five, The Status of Scripture in the Church, p. 91

Jim Webb photo

“Our country is in the middle of a profound crisis. This crisis has many causes, but much of it has been brought about by poor leadership decisions at every level of government. In addition, our electoral process is dominated by financial interests that are threatened by the very notion of reform.”

Jim Webb (1946) American politician, military officer and author

"What It Takes To Be a Leader" in Parade magazine (May 18, 2008)

Joseph Massad photo

“Israeli Jewish society in Israel, as well as the Israeli leadership, continues to uphold Jewish supremacy as sacrosanct and non-negotiable.”

Joseph Massad (1963) Associate Professor of Arab Studies

Ibid.
"The Ends of Zionism: Racism and the Palestinian Struggle"

Calvin Coolidge photo

“This was an age-old conflict. At its foundation lies the question of how can the Government govern and the people be free? How can organized society make and enforce laws and the individual remain independent? There is no short sighted answer to these inquiries. Whatever may have been the ambiguity in the Federal Constitution, of course the Union had to be supreme within its sphere or cease to be a Union. It was also certain and obvious that each State had to be sovereign within its sphere or cease to be a State.”

Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American politician, 30th president of the United States (in office from 1923 to 1929)

1920s, Freedom and its Obligations (1924)

“The notion of a Christian commonwealth, should be exploded forever.”

John Leland (Baptist) (1754–1841) American Baptist minister

The Virginia Chronicle (1790)
Context: A national church takes in the whole nation, and no more; whereas, the Gospel Church, takes in no nation, but those who fear God, and work righteousness in every nation. The notion of a Christian commonwealth, should be exploded forever. (p. 107)

Related topics