Ronald van Raak publishes book: Het begon in Deventer - De waarden van de Moderne Devotie | Erasmus School of Philosophy

Professor of Erasmian Values Ronald van Raak publishes book Het begon in Deventer: De waarden van de Moderne Devotie

The Modern Devotion: a way of thinking

The Modern Devotion was an influential movement that spread from Deventer across Europe. At its foundation were women, who developed their own thinking in communities. Independent thinking, but always in communion with others. This original teaching produced popular books, such as The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, and influenced famous philosophers, including Cusanus and Erasmus. Her ideals of simplicity and study even penetrated Rome with the originally Dutch Pope Adrian VI (1459 - 1523).

Freedom is only possible in union

In It began in Deventer, professor of Erasmian Values Ronald van Raak describes how devotional thinking arose, between the Hanseatic trade routes and the threat of the plague, and why it was attractive to the laity in the late Middle Ages. He shows that the ideals of modern devotees, however different they thought, can still be relevant to readers today, at a time when many people are searching for meaning and purpose.

CV

Ronald van Raak is professor of Erasmian values at Erasmus University Rotterdam and is a council member of the Council for Public Administration. In 2024, he published Spelen met waarden, betalen met gedachten. Erasmus, Spinoza en dat wat ons bindt.

Professor Ronald van Raak, in the 19th Rotterdamlezing, answers the question of how we can still speak to each other in these times of increasing polarisation.