Catholic Thought in the Late Eighteenth Century

Abstract

The chapter features the work of Bishops George Hay (1729–1811) and John Geddes (1735–99) as exemplars of the extent to which Scottish Catholic thought was in dialogue with the ‘enlightened’ culture of the eighteenth century. A shared theological lexicon allowed for sophisticated discourse with representatives of other religious and philosophical persuasions. Commentary on a range of works by both Hay and Geddes demonstrates the extent to which they addressed timeworn theological and devotional themes, such as miracles and the Last Things, but were influenced by modern authors in their treatments. Hay is presented as the more systematic of the two but Geddes was equally, if not more, respected in contemporary literati circles. Particular attention is given to both writers’ perspectives on the role of the papacy in the Church of their day.