Subversive Theology: The Patristic Theology of Joseph Turmel

Abstract

Among nineteenth-century Protestant theologians were those who sought to deconstruct aspects of the Patristic synthesis in order to “purify” those of the incursions of Hellenism and liberate the authentic Gospel. The Catholic Patristic scholar Joseph Turmel (1859–1943) shared the deconstructive aspect but also tried to delegitimate Christian theology more generally. He did this in major part by resorting to pseudonyms to avoid detection. His series of articles published in 1906 under Antoine Dupin formed part of this agenda. The article explores how Turmel came to adopt this larger strategy, how the Dupin series on the early theology of the Trinity contributed to it, and the multiple efforts to unmask the true author behind the pseudonym. Turmel's aims in this writing and others like it form part of the larger story of Roman Catholic Modernism.