Reform and Conflict

Heinze, Rudolph. Reform and Conflict: from the Medieval World to the Wars of Religion, Ad 1350-1648. The Baker History of the Church, Volume four. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2005.

I own several books on the history of reformation and counter-reformation, but this is sure the most valuable.

As a big exception to books about that period, it is not immediately or very soon obvious which denomination the author belongs to - he keeps the neutral viewpoint of the historian throughout. For once, Luther, Calvin, and Loyola are not described by either a fan or an enemy. Several chapters are opened by two contrasting quotes on the subject, e.g.

The Impact of the Reformation

Can we doubt that there has ever been any age which has seen so many admirable things in so short a time? So many changes in kingdoms, religions and estates? Johann Sleidan

Recent research is leading us to such a different understanding of the Reformation, that many . .. common notions about its impact should be drastically revised. R. W. Scribner

The book offers not only a history of the reformation times, but also a historians evaluation of the literature about these times starting with contemporaries of Luther and Calvin up to the 21th century. There is an extensive collection of primary and secondary works for each chapter.

The book offers the big picture from every angle, including some which are not usually included.

• Women and the Reformation shows the impact of reformation on women and provides three exemplary biografies of Wibrandis Rosenblatt, wife of Oecolampadius, Capito, and Bucer, of Catherine Zell, co-worker in the ministry of her husband and a rare example of tolerance in that times, and Vittoria Colonnas connection to reforming movements in the Catholic church.
  
  
• Theological Conflict, Confessions, and Confessionalization gives an overview not only of the external but also of the internal theological conflicts within the Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic confessions, which did set off very soon after the confessional split.
  
  
• The Impact of the Reformation includes Art and Music, Literature, Science, Economics and Politics and discusses the question of success or failure of the reformation.

It is not an edifying book glorifying spiritual giants in a spiritual romanticism, but a book about humans with their good and bad points - not closing the eyes on the bad consequences. It definitely debunks any ideas about the Reformers "saving Christianity from Catholicism", showing the drawbacks of the new churches and of the medieval and reformed Catholic Church as well as the negative consequences of the schism for Christianity.

By its impartial assessment of all the parties involved, this book contributes in my eyes to an ecumenical view of Christianity - it leaves in the aftermath of the reformations no confession or denomination which got it 100% right or 100% wrong (or even in a 80/20 split) and it shows very clearly the bad effects of violent denominational strife (physically or mentally) on Christianity as a whole.

I think this book should be read aside with any other account on the reformation to avoid a biased view.

Daniel B. Clendenin (ed.): Eastern Orthodox Theology

Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader
2003, ISBN 0-8010-2651-2

Helps to understand the way, the Orthodox see and do theology and to see some of the pronounced differences between Orthodox theology and classical and modern Catholic and Protestant theology.

The book is a collection of essays on the important features of Eastern Orthodox theology written by leading Eastern Orthodox theologians of the 20th century:

• Sergius Bulgakov
  
• George Florovsky
• John Karmiris
  
• Vladimir Lossky
  
• John Meyendorff
• Bradley Nassif
• Leonid Ouspensky
  
• Alexander Schmemann
• Christoforos Stavropoulos
  
• Timothy (Kallistos) Ware
• Timothy P. Weber

The book covers four areas with several essays by different authors:

• Theology as Worship: Liturgy and Sacraments: liturgy, sacraments, icons, the Virgin, saints, angels
  
• Theology as Tradition: Councils and Fathers: tradition, authority, ecclesiology
  
• Theology as Encounter: God, Christ, and Humanity: apophasis, trinity, the filioque, theosis
  
• Theology as Mission: Orthodoxy and the West: ecclesiology, ecumenical relations, conversions
  

Eastern Orthodox Theology is written by Eastern Orthodox theologians for western readers, The editor selected aspects which are important for westerners, but they are described as seen by the Orthodox.

The book shows that orthodox theology is not monolithic and very much alive in our time. Most of the essays are understandable for a non-specialist like me, though some aspects of the trinity theology did take me out of my depth.

Many essays demonstrate that western theological and ecclesiological categories often do not fit for the orthodox church - an aspect the western church is usually not even aware of in ecumenical relations.

I'd consider this book mandatory reading for any westerner who is in contact with Orthodoxy, especially in ecumenical relations.

Meic Pearse: The Age of Reason

The Baker History of the Church, Vol. 5,
ISBN 0-8010-1278-3, 2006

The Age of Reason describes the church history from the Wars of Religion to the French Revolution, , covering the time period from 1570 to 1789.

Highly recommended - an eye-opener.

This is not an edifying book, on the contrary: it's mainly the history of fights between and within churches and denominations. The book makes very clear that the age of reason was not an age of Christian tolerance and it is honest about it - there is no covering up of the "not so nice" behavior of Christians of all creeds during that time. And that makes it, in my view, a very important book to read: to get an honest look without at where one's own denomination (whichever it is) is coming from.

I own quite some books on church history, but none of them did treat this era as thoroughly and impartially as this one, most have a tendency to treat only the nicer or the more heroic parts (whichever those are in their view).

The book is written more from an historical than from a theological point of view. Not only historical but also theological developments are described historically - there is no right or wrong creed.

This history of the church has a feature rarely found in church histories: it is not written from a denominational viewpoint, at least it was not possible for a (critical) reader to find out which that could be. The positive and problematic aspects of the denominations during that time are shown impartially - which can make it difficult but also eye-opening for people who like to see theology and history exclusively or mainly from the viewpoint of their own denomination.