A Linguistic Analysis of the Peace Symbol in the Religious Rhetoric of Erasmus of Rotterdam

FAIN: FT-12366-75

James E. Biechler
La Salle University (Philadelphia, PA 19141-1108)

To analyze the major writings of Erasmus of Rotterdam in the light of recent methodological developments in the history of religion and linguistic philosophy. Immediate scope is a linguistic analysis of the "Peace" symbol in its religious aspect as expressing the ideal of interreligious harmony or toleration. This project was part of a larger project already in progress studying the universalistic symbols in the religious language of Renaissance humanism. The first phase of the project, that which dealt with Cusaaus, already has been largely completed. Successful completion of the entire project should make a significant contribution to Renaissance studies and to the developing methodology of the history of religion.