Crisis and Change in Post-Enlightenment Christianity and Paganism

McGinn divides the history of Christian mysticism into three successive phases. The third phase, which began in the 17th century, can be called “the age of religious crisis”. At this time, the inner crisis stemmed from an overemphasis on personal experience and inner states, resulting in a break between the mystical element and the wholeness of the Christian life scene. The external crisis came from the Enlightenment’s attack on the Christian religion, which fundamentally shook up the worldview espoused. By analyzing the rise of paganism and the crisis of Christianity in the post-Enlightenment period and discussing the relationship between the two, this article digs deeper into the inner motives behind the complex religious and cultural changes. The rational criticism of the Enlightenment led to a strong impact on Christianity’s beliefs and authority, and Christianity itself went through a process from crisis to revival. At the same time, paganism has also emerged as a kind of cultural revolt, trying to find the spiritual homeland of humanism.