Running head: CHRISTIAN REFORMATION

Christian Reformation Student Name Here University affiliation

CHRISTIAN REFORMATION

Reformation is the holy rebellion, which occurred in the Western Church in the 16th century. It grew politically, socially and economically leading to Protestantism. The paper examines the role that reformation played in affecting contemporary Christianity. A history of reformation is crucial for understanding the modern Christianity. In observing the history of reformation, individuals such as Martin Luther and John Calvin played a crucial role in it. Therefore, the interconnection between these reformists and the modern Christianity needs to be analyzed. Bellitto, C.M., & Hamilton, L.I. (2005). Reforming the church before modernity: Patterns, problems, and approaches. Abingdon: Ashgate Publishing Group. The book looks at the issue of ecclesial reform in the 16th to 17th century. The difference with this book is that it looks at Christian reformation from a cultural perspective as opposed to the common institutional and historical approaches. Themes that emerge from this book are social change, peripheries and centres of change, intellectuals and monasticism and their relationship to Christian reformation. The book presents essays from renowned scholars thus make a significant contribution to the debate on reformation. Gonzalez, J.L. (2010). The Story of Christianity: The Reformation to the present day. Oxford: HerperOne. The book narrates the history of reformation up to the present. The author highlights key theological developments in several eras while giving fresh understanding of the political, economic and social forces, which influenced the reformation process, such as rebellion and unrest. The book covers recent events such as the second Vatican council and the world Council of churches, bodies that forged a way forward for contemporary Christianity.

CHRISTIAN REFORMATION

Gregory, S.B. (2012).The unintended reformation: How a religious revolution secularized society. New Jersey: Harvard University Press. The protestant Reformation is believed to be one of the monumental events in the Western world history. The author builds on this fact by arguing out the crucial contribution of the role played by reformists such as Calvin and Luther among others. The author argues that genealogical approach impacted on reformation. This means that reformation is considered roots of a Christianity tree, whose branches impact on every aspect of contemporary life. The author further rejects the supersessionist view, which asserts that modern Christianity entails a radical change in the understanding of God and the entire world. The book contributes to the understanding of the role of reformation on contemporary laws, lives and theologies. The central argument of this book is the fact that the institutional and ideological reforms that occurred centuries ago remain crucial in explaining the modern Christianity. MacCulloch, D. (2004).The reformation. Washington, D.C: Viking. The author challenges previous traditional interpretations of reformation, arguing that several reformations occurred. He arranges history of Christian reformation in chronological order and in different parts of the world. The author tries to draw a relationship between politics and geography on reformation agenda. This books relevance is its deep interpretation of reformation in the renaissance period and the cultural factors behind the reform.

Matheson, P. (2010). Reformation christianity. New York, NY: Fortress Press.

CHRISTIAN REFORMATION

This book looks at the reformation in Christianity from the vantage point of the history of a people. The author articulates a paradigm shift in Christianity over the last two millennia. The book contributes to the understanding of history of Christianity and how that led to reformation. Therefore, the book gives a new approach and showcases a current state of affairs and finally plots a trajectory of transformation into the future. The most important aspect and contribution by the author of this book is the role that reformation brought to the Christian lives. The authors attempt to give a chronology of the reformation in Christianity makes the book valuable in its contribution to the topic.