The Reformation (The Penguin History of the Church) (v. 3) [Paperback]

Owen Chadwick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 1990

The beginning of the sixteenth century brought growing pressure within the Western Church for Reformation. The popes could not hold Western Christendom together and there was confusion about Church reform. What some believed to be abuses, others found acceptable. Nevertheless over the years three aims emerged: to reform the exactions of churchmen, to correct errors of doctrines and to improve the moral awareness of society. As a result, Western Europe divided into a Catholic South and Protestant North. Across the no man's land between them were fought the bitterest wars of religion in Christian history. This third volume of "The Penguin History of the Church" deals with the formative work of Erasmus, Luther, Zwingli and Calvin, and analyses the special circumstances of the English Reformation as well as the Jesuits and the Counter-Reformation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Reverend Owen Chadwick is considered one of the foremost historians of church history. He is a former Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge and was Vice-Chancellor of the university. He is also an ordained Anglican priest.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (December 7, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140137572
• ISBN-13: 978-0140137576
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Servicable Introduction, October 2, 2003

By 

Stanford Gibson (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Reformation (The Penguin History of the Church) (v. 3) (Paperback)

A serviceable summary of one of the Church's most tumultuous periods. A pretty quick read as the text is written at a reasonable level for most introductory readers. Provides good coverage of the whole church during this period, including Catholic and Orthodox reformations. It is generally my contention that church history texts are not written for spatial or visual learners due to the common lack of maps and timelines, but this text sets a new standard as it only contains two total maps/figures/pictures. Not referenced, light recommended readings, good index. On the whole an enjoyable and helpful book for the front end of a study of the reformation, but not my favorite.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Overview, July 4, 2002

By 

"tertiumquid" (NJ ,United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Reformation (The Penguin History of the Church) (v. 3) (Paperback)

Owen Chadwick tackles the world of the 16th century. Anyone familiar with this period knows that religion, politics, and sociological factors in each of the countries in Europe created a tangled web which requires much study to understand.

Chadwick goes for the big picture, touching lightly on major factors, as well as some of the smaller people and problems. The chapters on Luther, Calvin, and radicals read quickly and enjoyably. Other chapters are complex, particularly the Reformation in England. It is easy to get lost or bored trying to follow the key people and events as the author gives the reader a barrage of information.

It appeared to me that Chadwick assumes the reader will have some knowledge of the 16th century prior to reading the book. He will at times mention someone without explaining who that person was, as he did on page 298 when he mentions Luis de Molina only by last name.

Overall, Chadwick's book presents the historical information in an interesting way. He gives you the big picture, wetting the appetite for more studies on some of the people events he discusses in his book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ...Everyone in the Western Church was crying out for reformation.", August 11, 2007

By 

China Mike (East Asia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Reformation (The Penguin History of the Church) (v. 3) (Paperback)

This begins Owen Chadwick's the Reformation and as he recounts the histories of those who either by religious conviction or by political consolidation and ambition rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church and its waning power during the 16th century. The first part provides an overview of Europe with the rise of monarchies, the corruption and inadequacies of the Roman Catholic Church, and its growing resentment among the masses of its ineffective policies and practices among a continent experiencing a renaissance. Amongst this volatile and changing civilization, Chadwick presents many individuals and their roles in bringing about the Reformation from Erasmus, Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and those in the Church of England, and the paroxysms that resulted.

In addition to the development of the Protestant Churches, there is also the struggle of national independence from the Papal Authority, and the residue of Medieval Society, which resulted in riots and wars among many countries and communities. In addition to the more prevalent churches that resulted amongst the Lutherans, the Reformed and Anglican Churches, Chadwick includes smaller radical groups of Christians that came about with very isolated followings.
Furthermore, the Council of Trent, the Jesuits, and Conquistadores in the Counter-Reformation providing the Vatican's response to the growing influence of Protestantism.
Interestingly enough one surprising fact was that the Roman Catholic Church made efforts to educate its clergy, many of whom were illiterate; this being one of the complaints of the masses of Europe. Despite the best efforts of Catholicism and Protestantism, the Reformation and subsequent events divided the European continent. Many societies were scarred by the violence and rather than receiving the liberty which is promised in the Scriptures. Chadwick alludes that Europe would attempt to find a more secular meaning in the successive Age of Reason.

This reading was a good primer for the Reformation and introduces the reader to an overview which calls for more in-depth reading to gain a fuller understanding of the times the Reformation took place. What made it difficult for me, being an American Protestant, is that there are many Europeans, which I had no familiarity, especially amongst the English Reformers. Despite this Rev. Chadwick does an adequate presentation of a complex and confusing time in European History.