The Church, Hypocrisy and Dissimulation: Volume 60

Volume 60 of Studies in Church History examines the theme of hypocrisy in the Church. This theme touches upon tensions at the heart of Christian teaching and experience: the distance between ideal and lived practice, and conflicts between sincerity of faith and the demands of society and the state. To explore the place of hypocrisy in Christian thought is to highlight issues of deception, dissimulation and double standards – rich themes in Christian history and discourse, encompassing a wide range of topics such as casuistry and priestcraft. The articles in this volume raise questions about the importance of external ritual in relation to internal belief and of dualist approaches to religion in which evil has no conceivable place in the good. They highlight anxieties around the discernment of sin and virtue and explore historical responses to the ethical question of whether lies and deception can ever be deployed for good ends.