„A Wall Of Separation“. Die Vernichtung religiöser Ambiguität in Irland (ca. 1600 – 1640)

Abstract

Summary “A Wall of Separation”. The Destruction of Religious Ambiguity in Ireland (ca. 1600–1640) Ambiguity is a fundamental human experience. But in recent years, research in the humanities and social sciences has shown that societies have very different ways of dealing with ambiguity, and with religious ambiguity in particular: they either tolerate, moderate or seek to destroy it. In this context, Ireland is an especially telling case, as the denominational boundaries that were drawn in Early Modern Irish society seem remarkably impervious, long-lasting and hostile to any form of religious ambiguity. In this article, I argue that one of the most drastic and most enduring attempts to eradicate ambiguity in Irish society took place in the 1630 s. Clear-cut identities emerged along the confessional divide which heavily impacted everyday life. Four developments facilitated this process: 1) Educational migration to the continent led to a reshuffling of religious elites and, in turn, to a heightened sense of ...