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Lecture

The Christian roots of Europe

The history of a political myth from the French revolution to today

When

14 October 2024

14:30 - 16:00 CET

Where

Sala Belvedere

Villa Schifanoia

Join this book presentation as author Sante Lesti shares insights on the myth of 'the Christian roots of Europe' and its historical impact.
The myth of ‘the Christian roots of Europe’ is one of the great myths of our time – it has even been argued that it is the only political myth currently existing about Europe. Despite what is commonly believed, this is not a recent myth, born in reaction to the Islamic terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda in the early 2000s. On the contrary, the myth of ‘the Christian roots of Europe’ dates back to the French Revolution and has deeply marked the cultural and political history of Europe from that time until today. Sante Lesti’s book The Christian Roots of Europe. The History of a Political Myth from the French Revolution to Today (Einaudi, 2024) is the first history of this myth. On one hand, it reconstructs the numerous political visions nurtured by the myth of the Christian roots of Europe throughout its history; on the other hand, it shows that this myth was mainly used to give the Church and Catholics a special status in Europe.

Scientific Organiser

Olivier Roy

EUI - SPS/RSCAS

Speaker

Sante Lesti

University of Pisa

Contact

Valentina Gorgoni

Send an email

Discussant

Michael Sanfey

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