From Divine Intervention to Empirical Logic: The Change in Jesuit Missionary Discourse Between the 17th and 18th Centuries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/intellectus.2025.86701Keywords:
Jesuit Province of Paraguay, Jesuit missions, Modern scienceAbstract
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Jesuit intellectual production reflected a significant transition, shifting from a narrative marked by apparitions and natural wonders to an approach grounded in emerging scientific objectivity. Initially, native customs and practices, as well as indigenous thought, were interpreted in missionary accounts through theological rhetoric, often associated with acts of infidelity. However, with the advancement of scientific thought, these native acts began to be seen as manifestations of a distorted reality that needed to be countered with scientific logic. The Jesuits endeavored to adapt their approaches to align with new scientific theories, incorporating modern references without abandoning the dogmatic principles of the order. This article aims to demonstrate that the missionary work in the Jesuit Province of Paraguay sought to promote the conversion and integration of the natives into Christian logic through a combination of catechetical and scientific efforts.
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