earticle

영어

This essay explores Saint Joan in terms of anti-clericalism and anti-jingoism to reveal how institutional religious hypocritical society is irreligious compared to Joan's individualism and protestantism as a savior and agent of life force. She finds herself to save conventional society and humanity through self-recognition as an agent of new religion. By Joan's merciful morality of new religion, instead of institutional religious authority, humankind can be saved and reached further development for the betterment of humanity, which is the elements of unconventional religion what Shaw and Butler insist throughout their views. Shaw's criticism of orthodox religion in the nineteenth century is generally similar to that of Samuel Butler. Both Shaw and Butler were opposed and attacked ethical dualism and hypocritical conventionality of Christianity. Instead, for the modern religion, they emphasized evolutionism with purposive creative force. They regarded men as instruments carrying on the purpose of life and aim of humanity by fulfilling their religious duties. Accordingly, Saint Joan is the play which carries out that purpose most effectively.