Reformations: A Radical Interpretation of Christianity and the World, 1500-2000

With a narrative rich in historical detail, cultural insight and wit, two British historians--one Roman Catholic, the other Evangelical Protestant--demolish the notion that ""the Reformation"" was a singular paroxysm of reformist fervor. Rather, they argue, it is a dynamic period that began long before the 16th century and continues today, ""embracing the common religious experiences of Christians of different traditions worldwide."" Luther, Calvin and Zwingli reshaped Christian tradition, but so did Wycliffe before them, Wesley later and luminaries such as Martin Luther King Jr. in our own age. The battles fought on today's front pages--reconciling ancient belief with modern culture and locating the roots of Christian orthodoxy--are, in their essence, centuries old, the authors ably demonstrate. As sects and secularism pinch from both sides, today's Christians struggle to maintain their long-fought tradition and identity. But, the authors argue that such a long and ecumenical view of Christian religious history is essential to an understanding of how that tradition and identity evolved. (Apr.)