Gothic Religion: Changing Attitudes, Changing Art

The Gothic movement in literature is associated with death, doom, the macabre, and a gloomy atmosphere. The religious debate around the existence of God was in direct conflict with scientific progress, particularly Darwinism and the establishment of psychology in the 19th century. This led to a perceived existential crisis, which Gothic authors, particularly Christian authors, expressed through the presence or absence of religion in their works. For example, in Bram Stoker's Dracula, God seems strangely absent, and His power seems limited to material shapes and symbols. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, God is sidelined, and His importance is challenged by science and technology. In their subversion of dominant religious beliefs, Gothic authors presented Christianity as dubious, powerless, shallow, and corrupt.

Religion's deviation from rationality

The Gothic movement in literature is associated with death, doom, the macabre, and the supernatural. During the emergence of the Gothic movement, there was a religious debate centred on the existence of God, which was perceived as conflicting with scientific progress, particularly Darwinism and the establishment of psychology. This conflict is known as the "death of God".

As a result, religion in Gothic literature is often evaluated in terms of its deviation from rationality. For example, in Matthew Lewis' The Monk (1796), the clergy are portrayed as either powerless, evil, complicit in terrorism, or violent in their sexual depravities. The novel also includes references to paganism and idolatry, with members of the church focusing on physical and expensive representations of religious icons. Lewis evokes the pagan rites of the past, questioning the practice of religion itself as it was increasingly asked to compete with other forms of truth-seeking, such as science.

Similarly, in Bram Stoker's Dracula, religion features prominently in the fight against the vampire, with characters frequently invoking God and using religious symbols. However, there is also a sense that God is absent or distant, and His power seems limited to material shapes and symbols. Religion is reduced to transferable property, critiquing its relevance in an age of scientific and technological progress.

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Biblical allusions to God as a Creator are juxtaposed with the transgression of Victor Frankenstein as a mad scientist. God is only invoked when a threat is identified, further questioning the power and relevance of religion in the face of scientific advancement.

Gothic literature, therefore, presents Christianity in a dubious light, portraying it as powerless, shallow, corrupt, or insufficient to explain the mysteries of modern times. It holds a mirror to society, presenting the unorthodox and unconventional views that religion makes people believe and how it can fuel illogical behaviour.

Religion vs. science

The Gothic movement in literature is associated with death, doom, the macabre, and the supernatural. The religious debate during this period centred around the existence of God, which was perceived as being in direct conflict with scientific progress. This conflict is often referred to as the "death of God".

The scientific progress of the 19th century, including the discovery of fossils, Darwinism, and new psychological paradigms, questioned God's central importance in everyday life. This led to a crisis of faith for many, and the rise of existentialist questions about life after death.

Gothic authors, particularly Christian authors, reflected this crisis in their works by exploring the presence or absence of religion, as well as the contrast between the supernatural and the divine. For example, in Bram Stoker's "Dracula", religion features prominently in the fight against the vampire, with characters frequently invoking God and religious symbols for protection. However, there is also a sense that God is absent or distant, and His power seems limited to material shapes and symbols.

In Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", God is sidelined, and the Biblical allusions to God as Creator are juxtaposed with the transgression of Victor Frankenstein as a "mad scientist". Here, science and technology have assumed prominence, challenging the beliefs of Christianity and questioning its relevance.

Gothic literature often presents Christianity in a dubious light, portraying it as powerless, shallow, corrupt, or insufficient to explain the mysteries of modern times. Authors of Gothic literature hold up a mirror to society, presenting unconventional views of the world and demonstrating how religion can influence human behaviour and action.

The conflict between religion and science during this period fuelled the Gothic movement, with authors exploring the tension between faith and reason, the supernatural and the divine, and the presence and absence of God in an increasingly scientific world.

Religion's role in education

The Gothic movement in literature is associated with death, doom, the macabre, supernatural beings, and a characteristically gloomy and often foreboding atmosphere. The religious debate centred around the existence of God during this period was perceived as conflicting with scientific progress, particularly Darwinism and the establishment of psychology in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

In the 19th century, scientific progress and discoveries in fields like psychology questioned God's central importance in everyday life, leading to what was termed the "death of God". This, in turn, sparked more questions about life after death and the potential consequences of humanity's pursuit of scientific progress.

Art and literature of the time reflected these psychological and moral preoccupations, with elements of the paranormal and themes such as the darkness of the soul, fate, damnation, mystery, nostalgia, and agony. In literature, religion was often present but portrayed as powerless, shallow, or corrupt, reflecting the authors' own existential crises and questioning of the relevance of religion.

In England during the 1940s, religious education was given legal standing, with every county school in England and Wales required to provide it. The Education Act of 1944 defined religious education as comprising two parts: collective worship and religious instruction according to an agreed syllabus. However, the requirement for prayer was controversial, and it was often downplayed by schools. As a result, religious education became largely equivalent to religious instruction, referring specifically to the subject taught in state schools.

In the United States, the term "religious education" emerged in the 1890s as Protestant educators attempted to bring religion and education into a new dynamic relationship. However, despite the ecumenical intentions, the movement became largely equivalent to liberal Protestant education, with Catholic and Jewish educators mostly declining to join.

Religion's absence in Gothic literature

The Gothic movement in literature is associated with death, doom, the macabre, supernatural beings, and gloomy atmospheres. During the emergence of the Gothic movement, scientific progress and discoveries in fields like psychology were challenging God's central importance in everyday life. This shift in attitude, known as the "death of God", fuelled questions about life after death and the possibility of having "killed" God through scientific advancement.

These psychological and moral preoccupations of the time influenced art and literature, with Gothic authors exploring the perceived existential crisis through the presence or absence of religion in their works. The absence of religion in Gothic literature is a notable aspect, often accompanied by a sense of God's distance or powerlessness. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, for example, Biblical allusions to God as the Creator are juxtaposed with Victor Frankenstein's transgression as a "mad scientist", highlighting the powerlessness of religion in the face of scientific advancement.

In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the characters frequently invoke God, seeking divine aid against the vampire. Yet, there is a sense that God is strangely absent or distant, and His power seems limited to material shapes and symbols. The religious motifs in Dracula become reduced to transferable property, critiquing the notion of religion.

Matthew Lewis' The Monk (1796) is another early example of a Gothic novel investigating religion. Set in a monastery, the novel explores the absence of God and the presence of Lucifer, who takes credit for the wickedness that occurs. The clergy are portrayed as powerless, evil, complicit in terrorism, or violent in their sexual depravities, with their practices bordering on paganism and idolatry. Lewis critiques the fascination with reliquaries and ostentatious displays of wealth, reflecting the competition religion faced from other forms of truth-seeking, such as science.

Through the absence of religion in their works, Gothic authors presented unorthodox and unconventional views, demonstrating how religion can influence unusual behaviour and how the supernatural can impact human life. This mirrors the societal transformations occurring due to the increasing prominence of science and technology, which challenged the beliefs and relevance of religion, especially Christianity.

Religion's powerlessness in Gothic literature

The Gothic movement in literature is associated with death, doom, the macabre, supernatural beings, and a foreboding atmosphere. During the emergence of the Gothic movement, scientific progress and new psychological paradigms questioned God's central importance in everyday life. This became known as the "death of God". As a result, religion was transformed into a fuel that motivated people to act in illogical ways.

Gothic literature, therefore, demonstrates how religion makes people act in unusual ways, how the supernatural influences human life, and how writers use religious symbols and motifs in their stories. In Gothic literature, religion is often evaluated in terms of its relative deviation from rationality. For example, Methodists, who exhibited too much passion and fervor in their religious ecstasies, were considered improper.

In Matthew Lewis' The Monk (1796), the clergy are portrayed as powerless, evil, complicit in widespread terrorism, or violent in their sexual depravities. The novel is set in a church, monastery, convent, and cemetery, with the most despicable acts occurring beneath the feet of the faithful. While God seems to be absent, Lucifer himself shows up at the end to take credit for the wickedness.

Similarly, in Bram Stoker's Dracula, God's power seems limited and contained within material shapes and symbols. Religion becomes reduced to transferable property. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, God is sidelined, invoked only when there is an immediate threat.

As science and technology assumed prominence, Gothic authors questioned the relevance of religion, presenting Christianity in a dubious light—present yet altogether powerless, shallow, possibly corrupt, and insufficient to explain modern mysteries.

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