Christianopolis: An Ideal of the 17th Century

by Johann Valentin Andreae, Felix Emil Held (Translator)

Pondering the characteristics of Utopias and constructing theoretical examples of them has been an intellectual exercise to thrill thinkers at least since the time of Plato's Republic. Christianopolis is the little known Utopia created by German theologian and scholar JOHANN VALENTIN ANDREAE (1586-1654). A mysterious figure associated with alchemy, Kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, and other philosophical esoterica of the 17th century, Andreae published this intriguing guide to his "perfect" society in 1618. Informed by a rigid brand of Christian socialism, Christianopolis also features a high regard for teachers, and approaches the world from both a scientific and artistic perspective. Translated in 1916 from the original Latin by University of Miami, Ohio, professor of German FELIX EMIL HELD (1880-1944), who rounds out the volume with an extensive historical introduction, this is a highly readable work that will enthrall students of philosophy, classic literature, sociology, and metaphysics.

Genres: Philosophy, Fiction, Classics, Politics, Utopia, Christianity, Theology

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1619

About the author

Johannes Valentinus Andreae a.k.a. Johannes Valentinus Andreä or Johann Valentin Andreae, was a German theologian, who claimed to be the author of the Chymische Hochzeit Christiani Rosencreutz anno 1459 (1616, Strasbourg, the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz), one of the three founding works of Rosicrucianism.

He studied theology and natural sciences in Tübingen,obtaining a degree in 1614. He became a priest in Calw. Here he reformed the school and social institutions, and established institutions for charity and other aids. To this end, he initiated the Christliche Gottliebende Gesellschaft ("Christian God-loving Society"). In 1628 he planned a "Unio Christiana".
In 1639, he became preacher at the court and councillor of the consistory (Konsistorialrat) in Stuttgart, where he advocated a fundamental church reform. He became also a spiritual adviser to a royal princess of Württemberg. In 1650, he assumed direction of the monasterial school Bebenhausen; in 1654, he became abbot of the evangelical monasterial school of Adelberg.

His role in the origin of the Rosicrucian legend is controversial. In his autobiography he indicated the Chymische Hochzeit as one of his works—as a "ludibrium", possibly meaning "lampoon". In his later works, alchemy is the object of ridicule and is placed with music, art, theatre and astrology in the category of less serious sciences.

Reviews

[Jim Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads more like a text book than a novel. Big sections its speed read mode for me! The number of different jobs, occupations and fields of study presented in this city would better fit a town of 100k to a million. This city has a population of 400. Lots, and I mean a lot of Christian Theology. This reads more like a historic snapshot of academia of 17 century. Lets just say things have changed a lot since that time. In essence a hard read, more for research and study.

[Davis Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty wild! A totally off the radar spin on More and Bacon that deserves more prominence than it has.

[Nessa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most UTOPIAs, it needs to be read twice. Gets somewhat dull at parts but an excellent book for discussion

[Wreade1872 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utopian civilization description, build around a god-awful (pardon the pun) monastery build like a fortress. Boring as hell (oops there i go again ;) ).