Men of Faith: Religion and Masculinity in 19th Century France

Associate Professor Tim Verhoeven  

About the project

This project aims to investigate the neglected history of men and religion in nineteenth-century France. Bound by their view that women were the key religious actors in this era, historians have largely ignored men of faith.

This project takes an innovative approach by showing how men shaped religion, and religion shaped men, across three faiths: Catholicism, Judaism and Protestantism. The expected outcomes of this project include a deeper understanding of the influence of religion as well as new tools for measuring religious commitment. Furthermore, by showing how men of faith engaged with politics in the past, the project should provide a critical historical framework for interpreting modern-day contests over faith and government.