HIST 219 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Johann Kaspar Lavater, Sabbatai Zevi, Age Of Enlightenment
Document Summary
Claims to be the messiah from abt age 21-on. Some jews could imagine life w/out rabbinic life. Sevi eventually converts to islam, some followers still believe he is the messiah tho. Enlightenment and french rev r starting point for rise of modern nation state/possibly start of modernity. Knowledge is not the product of divine revelation. Can only understand the world thru reason. Religious toleration is now a virtue, cornerstone of society, 2 b celebrated. The nature of morality--human beings hav the capacity for moral improvement. There is a small class of wealthy jews. Especially in berlin (tho berlin was not v developed/culturally rich @ the time) Attract prussian aristocracy, intellectuals, even future french revolutionaries. In salons, not abt who you are/relig, but what you think. Moses mendelssohn--uses enlightenment as a tool to raise his social status. Dark side to enlightenment--didn"t just result in acceptance. Relig truth is not contrary to reason.
