Reformation in interpretation of enlighteners of the 18th century
Reception of the Reformation in views of enlighteners of the 18th century became an important component of the negative myth about a thousand-year era of the Middle Ages. In spite of the fact that the Reformation is regarded as the beginning of destruction of traditional society in Europe, the spiritual authority of church, the activity of reformers is deprived of heroic lines and is considered in a critical sense. The rationalistic method which adopted by the enlighteners concerning the Reformation did not allow opening fully its sources and many-sided manifestations, but in many respects laid the foundation of further studying of this phenomenon as a historical and cultural phenomenon. The place of the Reformation in a historical picture of enlighteners is defined by its progressive value in transition from the Middle Ages to the era of Modern period. However, path of the European Reformation, and its anthropology are devoid of spiritual search of the age of Enlightenment, therefore this subject has not received deep and comprehensive study. At the same time, both politicians and philosophers of the 18th century drew certain lessons from the all- European past. The skeptical relation to religion was extend to its history. The claim of enlighteners for formation and representation of European intellectual life promoted maintaining this tradition which survived the “Ancien Régime”.