Reformation in Europe and Britain

CH424/CH624

Columbus had just arrived in the Americas. The Turks were threatening the security of Christendom by attacking Vienna. A capitalist economy was replacing feudalism in Europe. And a monk in Germany destabilised society still more by asking questions about how Christians can really be assured that their sins are forgiven. The Reformation in the sixteenth century is simply one of the most significant moments in the development of Christian faith and theology. This unit gives students clarity in understanding the doctrines of grace, and confidence to express their own theological commitments. Great names like Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and Cranmer are discovered to be heroes with clay feet, encouraging us to believe that God can use us too in his own purposes for the world.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit, candidates should be able to:

  1. Explain the causes and nature of the Reformation in Europe and Britain;
  2. Analyse the theological and ecclesiastical outcomes of the Reformation in Europe and Britain;
  3. Apply lessons learnt from the history of the Reformation in Europe and Britain to their ministry;
  4. Interpret groups of primary historical and theological documents of the Reformation in Europe and Britain in terms of both their social/political context and their significance for today.

Content

Section A: The Reformation in its Historical Contexts
The study of at least five of the following topics:

  1. The Medieval and Renaissance background.
  2. Martin Luther and the German Reformation
  3. Huldrych Zwingli; the Anabaptists
  4. John Calvin and the Reformation in Geneva
  5. The English Church under Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I
  6. The Elizabethan Settlement; Cranmer; Puritanism; Hooker
  7. The Catholic Reformation: Council of Trent and the Jesuits
  8. The Reformation in Scotland

Section B: The Reformation – Primary Sources

  1. The study and analysis of a selection of texts, chosen from the following:
  2. Luther, Three Treatises of 1520
  3. Zwingli, Of the Clarity and Certainty of the Word of God
  4. Hubmaier, On Free Will
  5. Calvin, Ecclesiastical Ordinances, Institutes (part of Book IV)
  6. Elton, The Tudor Constitution (document numbers 174–185; 190–209)


Workload: one semester, 4 credit points, 36 contact hours
Status: elective
Pre-requisites: 16 credit points of core foundation units
Exclusions: CH421 and CH422
Who: Rhys Bezzant
When: Wednesday afternoons in Semester 2, 2011

Recommended Reading

It is recommended that you purchase the following texts:

  • Lindberg, Carter. The European Reformations. Oxford: Blackwell, 1996.
  • McGrath, Alister E. Reformation Thought: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell, 1993.
  • Calvin, John. The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Library of Christian Classics. Edited by J. McNeill. Translated by F. L. Battles. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960. [various other translations exist, including some free online, though this edition recommended for purchase and long-term reference]