Apr 2, 2015

Christian History announces a four-issue series on the Reformation

Come along with us as we explore the events set in motion in October 1517

By Jennifer Woodruff Tait

On a quiet October Wednesday morning in 1517, a young Augustinian monk and theology professor creeps to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg and, with one nail, strikes a death blow to medieval Catholicism. That’s the story we think we know of Luther, his 95 theses, and the beginning of the Reformation. But is it the whole story?

In 2017, we’ll arrive at the momentous 500th anniversary of October 31, 1517.  To celebrate and to explore the story in more depth, Christian History magazine is planning a series of four issues focusing on the Reformation. The first, out later this year, will focus on the story of Luther. (We’ve also talked about that story in two previous issues, 34 and 39, and we’ll reprint a few classic articles from those issues.) What urges for reform preceded him?  How did his life story unfold? Who helped him, and who opposed him? What were the things he changed and the things he didn’t? 

The second issue, in early 2016, will talk about people who took Reformation ideas into the political realm— the Peasant’s Revolt, Anabaptists, Zwingli, the English Reformers. We’ll follow that with an issue in late 2016 about what happened when all the fluid divisions and changing allegiances of the movement’s early years began to harden and solidify into separate “confessions:” Reformed, Lutheran, Anabaptist. Calvin will make an appearance for sure, and we’ll look at how the Church of England resisted the process of looking as "Reformed" as folks on the Continent and created something new as a result. Divisions hardened politically, too, as cities and nation-states declared for the Catholic or Protestant side.

Finally, in 2017 itself we’ll complete our series with an issue on the Catholic Reformation (sometimes called the “Counter-Reformation”), which grew out of the Catholic response to the new Protestant movements—especially the Council of Trent. We’ll explain what happened in Catholicism between Trent (1545-63) and Vatican II (1962-65) and what the prospects are today for ecumenical conversations and cooperation.

We hope you’ll come along and join us for all four issues: the summary here can't begin to do justice to this complex and intriguing story! What happened in 1517 permanently altered the theological and political landscape of Western Europe and had a profound impact around the world through Catholic and Protestant missionaries. Come see how that distant past shaped our present and shapes our future. Subscribe today at https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/donation/subscribe/

Those interested in partnering or advertising opportunities for these upcoming projects may contact Christian History Institute at Dawn@ChristianHistoryInstitute.org.

Tags Luther • Lutheranism • Calvin • Calvinism • Anglicanism • Anabaptists • Reformation • 95 theses

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