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The Genius of Christianity
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The Genius of Christianity

work by Chateaubriand
Also known as: “Le GĂ©nie du christianisme, ou beautĂ©s de la religion chrĂ©tienne”(Show More)
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History

The Genius of Christianity, five-volume treatise by François-Auguste-RenĂ© Chateaubriand, published in French as Le GĂ©nie du christianisme, ou beautĂ©s de la religion chrĂ©tienne in 1802. It included the novels Atala (1801) and RenĂ© (1805, with a revised edition of Atala). Written shortly after the death of his mother, the work reveals Chateaubriand’s own struggle to reconcile rationalism and religion and his eventual return to traditional Christianity. In response to the rationalism of Enlightenment writers, Chateaubriand defends Christianity by stressing its capacity to nurture and stimulate European culture, architecture, art, and literature.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.