Tuesday, May 27, 2008

One motive, three versions






Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627 - 1704) was a bishop of Meaux, France, from 1681 - 1704. He was a well-read theologian and a renowned orator and preacher. Next to that he also was a politician at the court of Louis XIV. Bossuet advocated political absolutism and argued that government was divine and that kings received their power from God. Bossuet had his share of quarrels. He found himself dragged into a fight between Louis XIV and the pope, disputed with men like Leibnitz, Simon and Malebranche and tried to re-unite the Huguenots with the Catholic Church. Bossuet also had a somewhat odious argue-o-rama with ex-pupil and co-bishop Fenelon about the love of God, which was enventually brought to an end by a decision of the Inquisition in favor of Bossuet.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also seem to remember that he was (one of) the favourite author(s) of Pius XII.

leo said...

Correct