Gower's Religions.
- Author/Editor
- Yeager, R. F.
- Title
- Gower's Religions.
- Published
- Yeager, R .F. "Gower's Religions." In Ana Sáez-Hidalgo, Brian Gastle, and R. F. Yeager, eds. The Routledge Research Companion to John Gower (Oxford and New York: Routledge, 2017), pp. 56-74.
- Review
- While staunchly orthodox, Gower's Christian faith is complex, like its counterpart today. Despite a generally Augustinian mindset, he never mentioned predestination (57). With few exceptions, he "privilege[es] the rational over the non-rational" (57), agreeing with Holcot that salvation is based on faith and good works (60). His sole foray into affective piety, the life of Mary in the MO, has the rational purpose of underscoring his "bedrock belief in the broad availability of human redemption" (61). He generally appealed to reason in refuting non-Christian faiths (61-66), allowing that misbelievers may repent and be saved (63), while more fanatically excoriating Lollardy as the devil's own work (68). [LBB. Copyright. The John Gower Society. eJGN 37.2.]
- Date
- 2017
- Gower Subjects
- Backgrounds and General Criticism
Mirour de l'Omme (Speculum Meditantis)