Focus and Self-Discipline. Forms and Functions of Prayer in the long eighteenth century in Great Britain

The research project on the forms and functions of Christian prayer in the long 18th century is inherently international and multidisciplinary. Christian prayer during this era was largely shaped by three occurrences: the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the spread of the faith through colonization and missions.

My research topic is part of a partnership with Dr. Laura Stevens, University of Tulsa (Oklahoma, USA) and Prof. Dr. William Gibson (Oxford Brookes University, UK). While the initial focus is on Christian prayer in the years 1600-1800, an extension of the research field to other religions (Islam, Judaism, Hinduism) is planned for the future.

The phenomenon of prayer includes both practices and theories whose interaction and contextualisation have heretofore been insufficiently researched. Numerous theological questions as well as the history of the churches and religious cultures have so far only been addressed works on theology or the history of religion.

If we mean by prayer the attempt to enter in word and deed into a dialogical exchange with God, then it is a religious practice which fundamentally refers to human life in all its forms, whether in individual or collective terms. As prayer is not bound to social class, age, sex, education, language, or any other social markers. It can thus serve as an interface for multidisciplinary studies and should lead to a broader understanding not only of the cultural and political structures of the long 18th century, but also of the specific mental and spiritual foundations of that era. Aside from catechetical texts and a rich devotional literature and its paratexts, other artistic forms such as music, poetry, architecture and painting are an important part of this practice.

English Studies' research on literature and culture in this area must take into account on the one hand the contrast between the Anglican Church and Catholicism, and on the other hand Dissent. The crossing of boundaries resulting from the reception of devotional literature from other languages ​​and cultures also require such mediation and demarcation processes which would enable insight into the respective theological, political and mental needs of the recipient circle. In addition to my research on the libretti of Handel's sacred music, I have already been working on mediation processes such as for example the English adaptations of Francis de Sales' Catholic Introduction à la Vie Dévote for an Anglican audience.