What God Kept for Himself - Atheism, Sodomy, and Radical Dissent in Renaissance Italy

In early modern Italy, a wave of Inquisition trials prosecuted radical dissenters for their claims that Adam and Eve had angered God by engaging in sodomy-a sexual practice reserved for the divine. Such statements, which led to charges of atheism, played a key role in fueling broader critiques of Church corruption and Christian morality.

About the author

Umberto Grassi

Product details

• Authors: Umberto Grassi
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 17.02.2026
• EAN: 9780674302860
• ISBN: 978-0-674-30286-0
• Series: I Tatti Studies in Italian Renaissance History
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Modern era up to 1918; Europe, European History, RELIGION / Religion, Politics & State, RELIGION / Christian Theology / History, HISTORY / Modern / 17th Century, HISTORY / Europe / Italy, Italy, Christianity, General & world history, History of Religion, Religion & politics, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, General and world history, Religion and Politics, C 1600 To C 1700, European history: Renaissance, HISTORY / Europe / Renaissance