Project

Alfred Loisy as a comparative historian of religions. An investigation of Loisy’s position within early 20th century and current comparative methodology

Code
3E009412
Duration
01 October 2012 → 12 May 2020
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund, Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • History and foundations
  • Humanities and the arts
    • History
    • Theology and religious studies
Keywords
scientific networks comparative history of religions Early Christianity Alfred Loisy early 20th century history of science pagan mystery cults German English French Italian 19th Century 20th Century Late Antiquity Comparative Language and text analysis Ancient mystery cults Franz Cumont Historiography History of religions Belgium Western Europe Secularization Religion History
 
Project description

This project aims at investigating the methodological contribution to the early 20th century comparative study of religion of Alfred Loisy (1857-1940), professor of History of Relgions at the Collège de France, and analyzing the impact of his comparative work on current studies of the origins of Christianity. It will also investigate the sociological context (scientific networks) in which Loisy worked.