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The Reformation: A History
List Price: $34.95 Our Price: $23.07
Hardcover - 03 May, 2004
Viking Books
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Author: Diarmaid MacCulloch
ISBN: 0670032964
Number of Media: 1
More books by Diarmaid MacCulloch
Related Areas: Christianity, Christianity - History - General, Europe - Great Britain - General, Reformation, Religion, Religion - Church History
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| Hardcover Description Diarmaid MacCulloch wrote what is widely considered to be the authoritative account of the Reformation-a critical juncture in the history of Christianity. "It is impossible to understand modern Europe without understanding these sixteenth-century upheavals in Latin Christianity," he writes. "They represented the greatest fault line to appear in Christian culture since the Latin and Greek halves of the Roman Empire went their separate ways a thousand years before; they produced a house divided." The resulting split between the Catholics and Protestants still divides Christians throughout the Western world. It affects interpretations of the Bible, beliefs about baptisms, and event how much authority is given to religious leaders. The division even fuels an ongoing war. What makes MacCulloch's account rise above previous attempts to interpret the Reformation is the breadth of his research. Rather than limit his narrative to the actions of key theologians and leaders of the era-Luther, Zingli, Calvin, Loyola, Cranmer, Henry VIII and numerous popes-MacCulloch sweeps his narrative across the culture, politics and lay people of Renaissance Western Europe. This broad brush approach touches upon many fascinating discussions surrounding the Reformation, including his belief that the Latin Church was probably not as "corrupt and ineffective" as Protestants tend to portray it. In fact, he asserts that it "generally satisfied the spiritual needs of the late medieval people." As a historical document, this 750-page narrative has all the key ingredients. MacCulloch, a professor of history as the Church of Oxford University, is an articulate and vibrant writer with a strong guiding intelligence. The structure is sensible-starting with the main characters who influenced reforms, then spreading out to the regional concerns, and social intellectual themes of the era. He even fast forwards into American Christianity-showing how this historical era influences modern times. MacCulloch is a topnotch historian-uncovering material and theories that will seem fresh and inspired to Reformation scholars as well as lay readers. --Gail Hudson |
| Customer Reviews
A point of interest It may seem petty, but I think it would be of interest to at least my fellow evangelicals that Mr MacCulloch is (by his own admission in the book) not a believer. He sees that as a distinct advantage, and I can definitely see how it would foster objectivity, but perhaps something is lost as well.
A great book, but buy the hardcover edition I wasn't sure I would ever make it through this book, but it kept me interested through the three months it took me to read it. My only recommendation is to buy the hardcover, not the paperback as I did. First, it's a book worth keeping. Second, the small format and tiny print of the 700 page paperback was difficult to deal with. I would recommend this book to even casual readers of history.
Great Book! Diarmaid MacCulloch is an excellent writer and story teller. I highly recommend this book for it's broad coverage of the reformation.
Throughout the book, the reformation is viewed as a theological power struggle that often involved preoccupations with rules that people wanted, not rules that always made rational sense. It is true, as other reviewers have pointed out, that the book places emphasis on the ideas of the reformers and counter-reformers, which surely was important in causing such popular swings of religious viewpoint. Additionally, the printing revolution is emphasized as a primary reason for the reformation. The economic situation is only lightly touched on as a major factor.
I personally feel that author did an outstanding job of remaining unbiased throughout this book, which is especially hard to find in history involving religious ideas. As a Roman Catholic, I also think that the author did a tremendous job covering Catholic theology. Although it is touched on very lightly throughout this book, which is my only complaint. Catholic theology is something that most non-Catholic journalists nearly always screw up, and for this reason, it was a pleasant surprise to find the Catholic theology outlined accurately.
This book covers the reformation period from the late 15th century to the beginning of the 18th century. Many aspects are touched upon throughout, including the reformer's long beards. MacCulloch brings an expert's insight to a subject that few know much about today. A summary of the historical conclusions made by MacCulloch is found in the final pages of the book. One such conclusion, summarized below, illustrates a common misperception about the reformation, and one that the author is quick to point out.
"We have no right to adopt an attitude of intellectual or emotional superiority, especially in the light of the atrocities that twentieth-century Europe produced because of its faith in newer, secular ideologies."
5 stars for The Reformation by Diarmaid MacCulloch |
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