Reformation Histories and Theologies (CH9010Y)

Content

This is an examination of the reform movements in the Western European Church during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with special attention to the interactions between theology and history. Building on religious practice in the late medieval era, this unit moves through the major theological and political issues raised by figures like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cajetan, examining in detail their theological positions, writings and the reactions which they sparked. This material will be located in its socio-political contexts to demonstrate the mutual effect of religion and politics upon each other.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

CH8001Y or equivalent 15 points of elective units from fields B or C

Pedagogy

Lectures

Indicative Bibliography

• Bagchi, David and David C. Steinmetz, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Reformation Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
• Collinson, Patrick. The Reformation: A History. New York: Random House, 2006.
• Dixon, C. Scott. Contesting the Reformation. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
• Heal, Felicity. Reformation in Britain and Ireland. Oxford: OUP, 2003.
• Jones, M. D. W. The Counter-Reformation: Religion and Society in Early Modern Europe. Oxford: OUP, 1995.
• Lindberg, Carter, ed. The European Reformations Sourcebook. Oxford: Blackwell, 2014.
• ———. The Reformation Theologians: An Introduction to Theology in the Early Modern Period. Oxford: Blackwell, 2002.
• MacCulloch, Diarmaid. Reformation: Europe’s House Divided 1490-1700. London: Penguin, 2004.
• McGrath, Alister E. Reformation Thought: An Introduction. Rev. ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 1999.
• Po Chia Hsia, R. The World of Catholic Renewal, 1540-1770. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Assessment