La thématique de la dignité de l'homme en France dans la seconde moitié du XVIe siècle
Institution:
Paris 12Disciplines:
Directors:
Abstract EN:
In the second half of the 16th century france witnessed a period of strife that we will later identify as the "wars of religion". Catholics and calvinist reformers violently confronted each other over their opposing conceptions of the dignity of man. Even though they agreed on the glory of man as a special creation of god, the two groups were deeply divided over the significance of original sin, its consequences and its irremediable nature. The catholics believed that the sacrifice of christ which atoned for their sins and the baptism which washed away sin would, when acting according to god's laws, restore their human dignity which, in turn, would allow them to win the esteem of their fellow man in this world, and earn eternal salvation in the here after. The protestants recognized their natural impurity and their inability to do good. They gave themselves completely to god who, in giving them faith, revealed that they were predestined for salvation. Thankful protestants would endeavour to demonstrate in this world not the dignity of man but the dignity of man chosen by god.
Abstract FR:
La france, dans la seconde moitie du xvie siecle, vit une periode de troubles que l'on appellera plus tard "guerres de religion". Le catholicisme traditionnel et la reforme calviniste s'opposent violemment sur la difficile question de la dignite de l'homme. Pleinement d'accord sur la splendeur de la nature humaine sortant des mains de son createur, ils sont profondement divises sur l'ampleur du peche originel ses consequences et son caractere irremediable. Les catholiques considerent que le sacrifice du christ, qui les a rachetes, et le bapteme, qui les a laves du peche, leur ont redonne une "dignite humaine" suffisante pour qu'ils puissent, en agissant bien, gagner l'estime de leurs semblables ici-bas et meriter dans l'au-dela le salut eternel. Les protestants se reconnaissent indignes de nature et incapables de faire le bien. Ils s'en remettent totalement a dieu qui, en leur donnant la foi, les informe qu'il les a predestines au salut. Reconnaissants ils s'efforcent alors de manifester ici-bas non la dignite de l'homme mais la "dignite de l'elu".