,The Study of Religion in the ItaZian tinivertities. By Louis
Henry Jordan and Baldassare Labanca. (Henry Frowde. 6s. net.) —Nearly twenty years ago Professor Labanca published a pamphlet which he entitled "Early and Late Hindrances Confronting the Study of Religion in Italy." This is here republished, with explanation and comments. Professor Labanca has given his co-
operation throughout. He tells us that the situation has not r '
materially changed in the last twenty years, though he sees a slight revival in the interest shown in the subject. It is, indeed, in the lack of this interest that the difficulty of the situation is to be found. The abolition of the Theological Faculties in the Italian Universities, accomplished in 1873, represented public feeling on the subject. Nor is it difficult to see why this should be so. To the Papal Party in Italy.the study of religion means, and can mean, nothing more than the study of dogmatic theology as defined by the Tridentine Decrees. And this study is purely professional. The laity of the Church has no interest in it. Thus we get the strange result that in Italy the study of religion is confined to the professional routine which is to qualify for Orders. We should like to know a little more of Professor Labanca's religious position. He is not a Modernist, but a "Free Believer."
Previous page
