Sin and Fear: The Emergence of a Western Guilt Culture, 13th–18th Centuries

By Jean Delumeau Translated by Eric Nicholson

A landmark work of cultural and religious history, Sin and Fear examines how concepts of guilt, fear, and moral anxiety shaped Western society from the late Middle Ages through the early modern period. Jean Delumeau traces the influence of the Church, sermons, art, and social control in cultivating a culture deeply concerned with sin, damnation, and salvation. Scholarly yet accessible, this book offers profound insight into how fear became a central organizing force in Western thought, influencing behavior, belief systems, and collective psychology for centuries. Ideal for readers interested in religious history, cultural studies, and the historical roots of moral anxiety.