Category: History

Gregory, Rebel in the Ranks

Thursday’s Podcast: Sola Scriptura and Christian Unity

November 2, 2017

Is the Protestant principle of sola scriptura antithetical to Christian unity? That’s the argument of Catholic historian Brad Gregory, in his newest book: “Though it liberated evangelicals from the Roman Church, [“scripture alone”] also plunged them into the beginning of an unwanted Protestant pluralism. What lay behind these church-dividing disagreements was the very thing that had launched the Reformation … More Thursday’s Podcast: Sola Scriptura and Christian Unity

Werner, "Luther at the Diet of Worms"

The Reformations, 1517-1546

October 31, 2017

To mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, I spent the better part of today tweeting quotations, images, and links from the Reformation — covering each year from 1517 until Luther’s death in 1546. Luther and the German Reformation was my focus, but I also touched on the Swiss Reformation, the Radical Reformation, … More The Reformations, 1517-1546

Wakseyoum Idosa Negeri in 2012

What Has Wittenberg To Do with Addis Ababa?

October 30, 2017

Tomorrow’s 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses has inspired so many books, articles, blog posts, and other reflections that you might think there’s nothing new to say about the Protestant Reformation. Until, that is, you’re prompted to consider its relationship to African Christianity, both historical and contemporary. First, the history — courtesy of McCormick … More What Has Wittenberg To Do with Addis Ababa?

Painting of Luther posting the 95 Theses

3 Ways to Remember the Reformation

October 29, 2017

Since today is a particularly significant Reformation Sunday, I’m going to forego my usual weekend links wrap and instead repost an updated version of my most recent piece for The Anxious Bench. “A red-letter date looms,” wrote Tal Howard in one of his many recent books, “31 October 2017, the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation, the widely recognized … More 3 Ways to Remember the Reformation

Eire, Reformations

Thursday’s Podcast: Could the Reformation Have Happened Without Luther?

October 26, 2017

It’s counterfactual week on The Pietist Schoolman Podcast, as Sam and I conjure up thought experiments in which the Reformation either happens before Martin Luther comes on the scene, or proceeds in a timeline from which he’s been somehow removed. Featured Book Carlos Eire, Reformations: The Early Modern World, 1450-1650 Other Readings It doesn’t touch on the Reformation, but … More Thursday’s Podcast: Could the Reformation Have Happened Without Luther?

Crystal ball

Do Historians Predict the Future… or “Remember” It?

October 25, 2017

So here’s something I’ve been contemplating for about two months now: Do their studies equip historians to predict the future? Back in early September, labor historian Jefferson Cowie reflected on recent political events for The Chronicle of Higher Education. Mostly, his piece was a critique of how scholars in his field fail to understand the working … More Do Historians Predict the Future… or “Remember” It?

Armstrong, Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians

Thursday’s Podcast: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians

October 19, 2017

The newest episode of The Pietist Schoolman Podcast is now available! It features Sam and me talking about the Christianity that lies on the other side of 1517: the faith of the Middle Ages. We covered everything from grace and penance to Incarnation and sacramentalism, plus medievals’ relationship to the past. Our featured book this week is … More Thursday’s Podcast: Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians

Silk, Spiritual Politics

The Anti-Fascist Origins of “Judeo-Christian Values”

October 16, 2017

On Friday, President Trump told participants in the Values Voter Summit that “We are stopping cold the attacks on Judeo-Christian values.” Now, critics found it hard to take the “Judeo” part seriously, given that Trump immediately followed that line with another version of his pledge to restore “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.” And it’s … More The Anti-Fascist Origins of “Judeo-Christian Values”

Howard, Remembering the Reformation

Season 3 of The Pietist Schoolman Podcast: The Reformation at 500

October 12, 2017

If Beyoncé and Wilco can drop surprise albums, I can drop a surprise podcast season… After taking some time off to turn our second season into this book, I’m happy to announce the sudden return of The Pietist Schoolman Podcast for a special third season: six or seven episodes clustered around the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. That is: … More Season 3 of The Pietist Schoolman Podcast: The Reformation at 500