Religion and Ecstasy in Seventeenth Century Italy
Emilija Babich
Inquiry@Queen's Undergraduate Research Conference Proceedings February 5, 2016 DOI: 10.24908/iqurcp.8298 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key points | Argues that in seventeenth-century Rome, depictions of martyrdom and religious ecstasy were intimately related and, when rendered in the magnificent and splendid Baroque style, functioned as powerful tools of propaganda for the Catholic Church. Bernini's sculptures of St. Lawrence, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, and the Blessed Ludovica Albertoni are examined as key examples. |
Abstract
In the seventeenth century, the supremacy of the Catholic Church was being threatened both by science and by the growth of Protestantism. Rome, as the only remaining centre for Catholicism, needed to reassert its authority and reclaim those who had lost their faith. As a result, religious artistic production of the seventeenth century took on a spectacular and theatrical character that sought to inspire awe and reverence in its audience. There was a renewed interest in depicting martyred saints, encouraging the laity to look upon them as models of Catholic piety who were willing to give their lives for the faith. However, there was also a growing cult of interest in the mystical aspects of Catholicism. Figures such as Saint Teresa of Avila, who experienced visions and ecstatic unions with Christ, encouraged a renewed interest in Catholicism and promoted a much more personal and private connection with Christ. Thispresentation will investigate the growing interest in and conceptions of martyrdom and religious ecstasy. In particular, it will examine Gianlorenzo Bernini’s sculptures of St. Lawrence, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, and the Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, ultimately demonstrating that the two concepts were intimately related and, when depicted with the magnificence and splendour of the Baroque style, were powerful tools of propaganda for the Catholic Church.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens | 1986 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Background and Chemistry of MDMA | 1986 | Historical analysis | |
| The origin of MDMA (ecstasy) revisited: the true story reconstructed from the original documents* Original documents in Merck's historical archive in Darmstadt, Germany, years 1900–1960 | 2006 | Historical analysis | |
| Distinct neural mechanisms for the prosocial and rewarding properties of MDMA | 2019 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How could MDMA (ecstasy) help anxiety disorders? A neurobiological rationale | 2009 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |