Book Description
"A wonderful book... Ginzburg is a historian with an insatiable curiosity, who pursues even the faintest of clues with all the zest of a born detective until every fragment of evidence can be fitted into place." -- New York Review of Books
Customer Reviews:
Very Interesting.......2007-07-23
Researching within the archives of the Inquisition in northeastern Italy, Ginzburg came across a set of records describing the trials of an obscure miller from the Friuli area. Menocchio, as he was known, repudiated a wide variety of conventional positions on religion, on politics, and even on cosmology. The title of the book reflects Menocchio's unusual and somewhat naturalistic idea about the origin of the universe. In Counter-Reformation Italy, these ideas were not merely unusual, they were regarded as actually dangerous. Following his second trial, in which Menocchio was found to be backsliding, he was executed.
Ginzburg presents Menocchio as an autodidact synthesizing ideas from a variety of sources. Menocchio may have acquired some ideas from Anabaptist radicals who had been active in the Friuli. Other ideas seem to have come from an eclectic, though limited, array of books. As Ginzburg points out, this is an example of the impact of printing. It brought such books as Mandeville's travels and possibly even the Koran into the hands of a lowly miller. Most controversially, Ginzburg argues that many of Menocchio's ideas result from or were influenced by a common European peasant world view whose nature has been largely lost to us. This is an interesting hypothesis which Ginzburg defends very well but it can only be a hypothesis. Neither Ginzburg nor anyone else has the data to evaluate this idea properly. It may be simply that Menocchio was a village crank; an intelligent man with relatively unique ideas.
Regardless of the final interpretation, this well written book provides an interesting view of life in Counter-Reformation Italy.
A rare view into the mind of a 16th century miller.......2007-05-30
It is rare that we can see how common people thought 500+ years ago (another source is the Icelandic Sagas). This book shows that books were read by common people, not just the leaders. In this case, this miller got into a lot of trouble by reading. Lets hope that our current freedom of thought is not restricted in the future.
Microhistory of the masses.......2004-12-13
Borne of the microhistory genre, "The Cheese and the Worms" provides a glimpse into the life of a miller in medieval Italy. No ordinary miller is 'Menocchio', however, as he is inquisitioned for his radical religious philosophies. In a time and place where Catholicism was undoubtedly the religion of Europe, Menocchio harbored unique ideas about religious doctrine, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and man's purpose. Although some of his many ideas contradict others that he had, he was well-read and surprisingly well-educated for a man of his station. As Ginzburg says, though, we must look to the Protestant Reformation and the invention of the printing press as being major catalysts for such learning and religious evolution. Within the microhistory genre, "The Cheese and the Worms" is most fascinating when we ask the question: Was this an isolated phenonmenon or was this a reflection of many people's views? The answer, I suppose, lies with Menocchio, but there is still much to be gleaned from this book.
Well written, fascinating tale.......2002-05-13
Description of a miller with an intresting ('modern') cosmological belief whose rebellion in thought is prosecuted by the Taliban of that time, the Roman Catholic Church. Forced to explain his nonAristotelian views (and, if Ginzburg is telling the truth, he responded extremely well to the inquisitors' questions!), the miller outwits his arrogant, narrow-minded judges and so wins the reward of torture and imprisonment, losing his wife, family, everything in the end. Galileo, who had a higher social position and powerful protectors, suffered no worse than house arrest, in comparison.
Keep this book in mind.......2002-03-04
Anytime you want to tell yourself that the Catholic Church isn't that bad, just keep this book in mind. It is just more proof that the church is the most corrupt institution in the history of time. . .with that in mind. The book is very interesting, it deals with the trial of a smart man at the time who was accused of heresy. So throughout the trial we begin to realize how well read this man is and how well he has developed his ideas. It is a good case study of the life of a common man in 1599.
Book Description
During the Reformation, a renewed interest in Scripture brought great light to the church and the world. In The Reformation Study Bible, general editor R. C. Sproul aims to present the light of the Reformation anew by combining an accessible translation with study notes that stand firmly in the theological tradition of the Reformation.
No other study Bible gives the reader more assistance in understanding the great doctrines and themes of the Christian faith as found in the Scriptures. Extensive notes have been researched and written by a team of more than fifty scholars, including J. I. Packer, James Boice, and Wayne Grudem.
All Christians that want to dig deeper in their study of Scripture will appreciate the bible's many features, including section introductions, book introductions and outlines, comments on the biblical text, theological notes, charts, in-text maps, and cross-references.
The first study bible based on the English Standard Version, The Reformation Study Bible is the perfect choice for men and women that want to study God's word in a language they can understand.
Features
- Thousands of study notes crucial to an in-depth study of biblical passages, verses, and words
- 96 notes on central doctrinal teachings of Scripture
- Introductions to the seven groups of biblical books, an introduction to the intertestamental period, and book introductions and outlines that detail the background, structure, and meaning of the biblical text
- Written by 48 scholars, including Sinclair Ferguson, Dennis Johnson, Simon Kistemaker, Willem VanGemeren, and Gordon Wenham.
- Edited by R. C. Sproul, assisted by Bruce Waltke (OT editor), Moises Silva (NT editor), James Boice, Edmund Clowney, and others.
- 19 in-text maps help readers follow Bible geography
- 12 charts aid visually oriented readers
- Center-column cross-references
- Concordance to the ESV
Customer Reviews:
The best available.......2007-10-03
This is the best modern translation of the scriptures and is especially good for reading aloud. The study notes are the best reflecting Reformed theology.
Great Translation and Great Study Bible.......2007-08-10
The ESV is the leading modern translation for serious students of God's Word. The study notes in this Bible are, as you would expect, from a Reformed perspective, and great benefit is to be had by reading the Word and studying along with the notes. I bought this as a gift, and now I am going to get one for myself.
A Great Study Bible.......2007-07-24
I am very pleased with this bible. Ligonier Ministries did a wonderful job. Everyone else involved did a fantastic job as well. I strongly suggest this study bible to anyone. The ESV is a great literal translation that is quickly becoming my favorite. A must have in my library to be sure.
Disappointed.......2007-07-22
This could be a great study-Bible, but its not. The ESV is the most accurate translation from the original tongues and is highly regarded as such. This version needs a great deal of "polishing up" to make a great study-Bible. The print needs to be darker for starters; the concordance is lacking; maps are very distasteful, the notes are not easy to read, and it lacks depth. I would not buy this again if I had it to do over. It is a very mediocre study-Bible as it is.
For The Next Edition.......2007-06-07
Putting aside the surprising omission of a set of maps, the content of this study bible is superb - ESV, cross references, concordance, excellent notes and very helpful theological articles.
But the book itself is large and HEAVY, not very convenient to carry around, let alone hold and read for extended periods of time.
The publishers need to get expert advice on quality issues relating to paper, printing and binding techniques to produce a more compact, lighter edition.
Book Description
Beginning with the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, this second volume of The Story of Christianity continues narrative history to the present. Historian Justo Gonzalez brings to life the people, dramatic events, and shaping ideas of Protestantism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy during this period, keynoting crucial theological developments while providing fresh understanding of the social, political, and economic forces that influenced the formation of the church. In particular, the author notes recurring themes of unrest, rebellion, and reformation.
Gonzalez presents an illuminating record of the lives, impelling ideas, and achievements of such prominent figures as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin––movers and shapers in the emerging Protestant church. His biographical insights, in conjunction with vivid historical accounts, reveal how individual lives mirror and clarify core theological concerns and developments.
The interpretive overview of The Story of Christianity includes a thorough and timely analysis of the growth and maturation of Christianity, including events in Europe, the United States, and Latin America––the latter an area too often neglected in church histories, yet increasingly vital to an understanding of Christianity's historical development, present situation, and future, options.
Gonzalez's richly textured study discusses the changes and directions of the church in the traditions of Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Christianity. The Story of Christianity covers such recent occurrences as the World Council of Churches, the Second Vatican Council, the movement toward Christian unity, and much more. It concludes with a thoughtful look at the major issues and debates involving Christians today.
Customer Reviews:
Strong historical survey.......2007-01-13
This is a very accessible, readable history, but it's extremely thorough, and useful for many applications. Highly recommended.
History of Christianity.......2006-02-21
I found this book to be a great introductory text about the history of Christianity. Gonzalez does a great job of presenting history in a thematical, narrative form that captures the mind of the reader. Very little is dry and dusty history lesson, but instead is written with ease of reading in mind. Also, one of the best things is the chronology of events for each section in the book.
Excellent historical overview.......2006-02-02
Gonzalez does it again! Like the first volume, the book covers a breadth of significant events in a manner that is readable and understandable. Well organized and indexed, it is a valuable reasource whether you are reading entire sections or just looking up a person or event. Though not in depth (hey, it's only two volumes!) the book does give an strong overview of important people and happenings.
This is a clear book.......2005-12-22
This book is much more clear and streamlined than Latourette's History of Christianity book.
Essential and fascinating.......2005-09-02
This is a very readable and detailed history (in two volumes) of the Christian religion from the time of the Apostles until 1984, when the book was published. I read this book out of general interest, although I understand that it is widely used for college courses on church history and doctrine. The history of the church is a huge topic, and Gonzalez has a real talent for summarizing complex developments and making them very accessible for a general reader. No special background in theology or history is required to appreciate this wonderful account. Gonzalez is apparently Protestant, but he gives a fair and balanced account of all denominations, including Catholic and Orthodox. He also includes mysticism and the radical sects. He is aware of the current scholarship, but he doesn't get bogged down in the numerous scholarly controversies of historians. He doesn't succumb to revisionism and p.c.; he's not afraid to call a spade a spade. But if there is genuine ambiguity and grounds for debate, he does mention that. The two volumes of this book also work well as a concise history of western civilization from year one until 1984. Gonzalez is able to identify the most important events and issues and describe them clearly and concisely. The major theological movements are described very briefly. This is not primarily a history of doctrine, but rather a history of the various Christian churches.
Footnotes are kept to an absolute minimum here, in order to avoid unnecessary distractions. Suggestions for further reading are given at the end of each section, but these are very incomplete. For example, the only suggestion for further reading on English Puritanism was published in 1912.
Gonzalez's area of special interest is Latin American Christianity, and so he devotes some space to the history of Christianity there from the time of the Spanish Conquistadores to the Liberation theology of the late 20th century. Since this book was written before the demise of the Soviet Union, I think a revised edition is in order.
Average customer rating:
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Humanists and Reformers: A History of the Renaissance and Reformation
Bard Thompson
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Europe
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General
| England
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General
| World
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Renaissance
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ASIN: 0802836917 |
Customer Reviews:
Thorough and Friendly.......2001-02-05
I have been reading sections of this book for a class in Church History that I am co-teaching this semester, and I love it. Thompson does an inspiring job at making each individual a "real person" for the reader, which is often hard to find in history texts. Also, his in-depth and thorough look at both movements and people never becomes pedantic or tiresome, but rather creates a greater context into which these elements truly make sense. His writing is reachable, clear, humorous - friendly to the casual and professional student of the Reformation. Highly recommended!
Average customer rating:
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The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation: 4-Volume Set
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0195064933 |
Book Description
In 1517, Martin Luther's legendary Ninety-five Theses set in motion a chain of events that fundamentally altered European history. The resulting Reformation of the sixteenth century proved to be one of the most important and far-reaching phenomena of an era marked by dramatic religious and social upheaval. A critical chapter in the history of Christian thought, the movement provoked political, social, and cultural transformations that profoundly changed the Western world. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation is the first major reference to cover the immense subject of the Reformation in its entirety. Setting the issues of theology and ecclesiology within the broader context of the social and intellectual history of the time, it is the most authoritative reference available on early modern European society as a whole. The Encyclopedia is a unique compendium of contemporary scholarship focusing on the complete range of religious and social changes wrought by the Reformation-- including not only issues of church polity and theology but also related developments in politics, economics, demographics, art, and literature. It is an unparalleled source of information on the personalities and events of the era, with broad coverage ranging from biographies to extensive treatments of topics such as Lutheranism, women, law, the Augsburg Confession, music, the Holy Roman Empire, peasants, the Bible, persecution, and literacy. Offering exhaustive interdisciplinary and international coverage of all aspects of the Reformation, this is the ultimate reference on the subject. Transcending the bounds of denominational encyclopedias and dictionaries of Reformation history currently available, it offers the only comprehensive picture of western Europe and the British Isles, along with southern Europe, Scandinavia, and east-central Europe in the early modern period. It is the first source scholars, students, and general readers in any discipline will reach for when studying the Reformation.
Customer Reviews:
A very fine, accurate, brief review of European History.......2007-08-04
The student above who felt this review book was too LONG completely misses the point. One does not read through a book like this as a substitute for the textbook -- which is what I imagine this poor young student though he could do. One relies on it to clarify areas of confusion. As a good reference and review book to read either before a chapter or as review afterward, this is a genuinely excellent book.
First, it's a nice size. It's smaller (height and width) than most of the enormously giant-sized review books available so it's like a real book. And it's printed on real paper, not cheap newsprint like most of the AP review books are. Small enough that you can easily grab it off the shelf or carry it around with you. And, the page layout makes it easy to find things. Everything is treated in brief paragraphs with clear topic headings. Pages are brief so you move through it page-after-page very quickly. It really couldn't be easier to use.
As a history teacher, I look into this book from time to time to double-check an historical issue or event or to check up on correct chronology of events I can't quite recall. It saves a lot of time compared to paging through much longer, denser books.
As a review book, I imagine this would be very good to refresh a student's memory of lots of important (and, frankly, many less important!) events, people, and ideas. However, students who are looking for a book to replace their textbook will be disappointed as this book assumes you have some idea what is going on historically. You could read it alone and understand the history pretty well, but I doubt you'd be very confident without the analysis of the textbook which this does not have.
The one thing most lacking from books like this is overall themes and ideas. Most review books lack this so this is not so much a criticism as something to be aware of. History has patterns, themes, and MAJOR themes to be aware of (The rise of democracy, the clash of civilizations, the struggle for equality, impact of the Enlightenment, the impact of economic changes . . . and so on). If all you know are facts, events, and dates, you will be lost--but you already knew that!
This book assumes you are aware of these themes (See your textbook or your teacher if you aren't -- believe me, they are very important) and is designed simply to remind you of all that pesky information you might not have understood so well the first time. In that respect, this is a very fine book and clearly worth the money as one of the better European History review books.
Another caveat: It is NOT designed specifically to prepare you to "ace" the AP exam. It doesn't have the usual tips and tricks stuff that most review books have. It is designed for students who want to understand and remember the history, not for students that want quick shortcuts to faking out the exam. Of course, it goes without saying that students who understand the history tend to "ace" the exam -- without shortcuts and so-called "insider" information that isn't really very useful.
4 stars only because of lack of larger themes, but I'm a very tough grader!
Must Have for the AP Euro Exam.......2007-05-14
I had one of the most boring textbooks invented for the AP Euro class. I couldn't stand reading it and as a result, I was not one of the top scorers on the tests in my class. However, I used this book to study for my in-class final and the AP exam and I did well on both. Thanks to this book, I got a 5 on the AP. The book has good information and it helped me learn things that my AP teacher did not teach in our class. I recommend that you buy this book in order to do well on the AP. My only negative comment is that it has no practice exams but since the book is not associated with AP, it is a flaw that is easy to forgive.
Modern European History.......2007-03-12
Very helpful book. It has maps in it and its written in a very good language and nothing fancy.
it's great.......2007-03-01
i just took the ap euro exam last year (got a 5) and this was my favorite prep book out of all prep books (also had barrons and REA). concise, easy to carry around, excellent index, even smells nice (if you're a weirdo like me who likes to sniff bookpaper)- mod euro history condensed my piles of lecture notes to little easy-to-read paragraphs. altho i wouldn't recommend solely studying from this book (read your textbook and notes too. make flashcards till your hand falls off.), I definitely recommend getting it.
Perfect for Reviewing for Tests.......2007-01-24
So, I just finished my AP Euro class (the class exam was last week). I managed to get an A in what is considered a highly difficult course at my school, and I can proudly say that I only read my textbook the first week of the class. While other students spent hours poring over tedious 5 pt. font pages in our convoluted textbook, I simply read this. Before every M/C test or essay, I would quickly read the chapter[s] that corresponded with whatever subject we were studying. Many times, Modern European History had answers to questions on the test that the textbook didn't even mention. It covers every topic in the textbook in appropriate depth, and makes everything truly easy to understand. I highly recommend this; it saved my life!
Book Description
The Story of Christianity, Volume 1, is an informative, interesting, and consistently readable narrative history. It brings alive the people, dramatic events, and ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of Europe, such as the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the New World. Historian Justo Gonzalez shows how various social, political, and economic movements affected Christianity's internal growth.
Gonzalez skillfully weaves in relevant details from the lives of prominent figures from the apostles to John Wycliffe, tracing out core theological issues and developments as reflected in the lives and struggles of leading thinkers within the various traditions of the church. "The history of the church, while showing all the characteristics fo human history, is much more than the history of an institution or movement," Gonzalez stresses. "It is a history of the deeds of the spirit in and through the men and women who have gone before in the faith." The Story of Christianity demonstrates at each point what new challenges and opportunities faced the church, and how Christians struggled with the various options open to them, thereby shaping the future direction of the church.
The Story of Christianity will serve as a fascinating introduction to the panoramic history of Christianity for students and teachers of church history, for pastors, and for general readers.
Customer Reviews:
Thorough and readable.......2007-09-27
As a former history major and social studies teacher I have read a lot of history books. Gonzalez's "The Story of Christinity: Vol. 1" is one of the best history books I've read b/c of its amazing readability. Like the title implies Gonzalez is telling a story and it was such a well told story that I found myself reading far ahead of the class reading assignments for my Ancient Church History class in seminary. The book covers Christian history from just after the time of the Apostles right through to the Renaissance. In addition to readability this book's main strength is that it covers Church history in Africa, Asia, and the South American in addition to Europe. This opens up a whole new world to most of us who have only heard the story of the Church in Europe. There were so many amazing stories that I want to know more and will read some of the suggested readings Gonzalez compiled at the end of each section. Lastly, this book is one of the best I've read b/c it does not shrink from telling the inspiring stories Christians need to spur us on to greater love for God, but it also tells the stories that we don't want to hear about the evil that has been done in the name of Christ by many well-meaing and not so well-meaning people through the ages. This book is a must read!
Excellent introduction to the 1st 1500 years of Church history.......2007-03-16
I read this book as a layman somewhat well-read in theology, but less so in church history. Given that, I thought Gonzalez' work fantastically fit the bill as an introduction to the growth of the church.
The book is logically broken down into several chronological segments, to include the apostolic church, the early post-apostolic church, the imperial church, and on into the medieval church. Within each of these blocks of time, Gonzalez covers the growth of the church, and the actions of Christians, through the major geographical centers and with respect to the major geopolitical events. For example: the early growth of the church through a somewhat ambivalent Roman empire, primarily between Jewish communities; the early martyrs as the Roman empire grew hostile; the growth of monasticism, encouraged by the imperial adoption of Christianity and the new "ease" of becoming a Christian; the various heresies that developed, and the responses of the various councils as doctrine was codified; and so forth.
The primary emphasis is on the Western church, ie, the Catholic Church in its centers of both Rome and Constantinople. A balanced coverage is given to the various theological centers, although the trend is westward as the church begins to split. Reasonable coverage is given to Eastern Orthodoxy, but the emphasis at the dawn of the second millenium is on the Roman Catholic Church, tracking both the honorable and less than honorable actions of popes, councils, and bishops leading toward the Reformation. In addition to the actions of the major portions of the visible church, due attention is given to various groups (eg, the Waldensians, the Hussites) whose thought was a precursor to, or even influenced, later groups such as the Reformers.
As I understand it, Gonzalez is a Protestant. This is probably detectable in the book, but all in all he gives a fair and balanced coverage of the various groups of the church. Mention is also made of other, perhaps lesser known, aspects of the church, to include the Persian church, the Indian church, and, briefly, the spread of Christianity to China. For significant depth in these areas, one would do well to continue on to other resources as well.
The only weak point I'll highlight is footnotes. Gonzalez' gives "Suggested Reading" lists at the end of each major section of the book, but footnotes would be a useful addition to highlight, for example, source materials for some of the more esoteric pieces of information about the early church.
As an intro to church history, this book is a "must read"!
Strong historical survey.......2007-01-12
This is a very accessible, readable history, but it's extremely thorough, and useful for many applications. Highly recommended.
Opening Narrative to the Story of Christianity.......2006-12-07
This is a summary of the first seventeen pages of The Story of Christianity, Volume 1, The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. This book was written by Justo L. Gonzalez. In the early chapters of this writing, it is clear that the author is writing in narrative form and that subsequent chapters merely build upon the earlier issues or incidences that occur as the history of the church is unfolded.
Firstly, the author asserts that Christians were first-century Jews. To describe Christianity, Gonzalez then goes on to examine the geography of its beginnings, the culture and politics of the day, and variations to the normal views. Palestine becomes a central location to many of the narratives concerning Christianity's growth. The author implies that Christianity spread because of the location of Palestine; and that because it was invaded regularly for its resources, that other nations were exposed to it. Despite the Hellenistic culture of the day, Christians would not bow to other gods that came with the culture and therefore became known to be obstinate. This seeming obstinance led to Roman authorities putting down the seemingly `Christian rebellion,' but more likely was a reaction to radical or Zealot Jews than to Jewish Christians. Within Judaism there were varying beliefs.....some conservative and others more liberal in their beliefs. Notably so, were the Pharisees, who believed in a final resurrection; as opposed to the Sadducees, who did not. In addition was a group called the Essenes, who were a sect that withdrew from the larger number of Jews and believed that the end of the world would be sooner than later. Because the Sadducees were more involved in the temple, their philosophy began to disappear with the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70.
Secondly, although the temple was destroyed, Christianity continued to blossom despite language barriers, counter-cultural issues, and politics. Because of new language barriers, the Hebrew Old Testament had to be translated into Greek and Aramaic. The Greek translation was known as the Septuagint, which helped spread the message to Gentiles. Some Jews fought to avert being assimilated into the Hellenistic culture, while others sought to integrate with the culture to further the recording of Jewish history. Finally, the politics of the day became troublesome for early Christians being that citizens would be required to bow to a Pantheon of gods and the Roman emperor himself. Certainly, there were advantages during the Roman rule such as protection of certain individuals under the law, the latitude that some rulers had with the law, which brought a level of `civilization' to the time. But, those same characteristics also brought abuse in some cases. That is when certain philosophical ideas would help Christians explain their faith in a climate that favored reason and logic.
This book is awesome in the way that it narrates the story of historical christianity. It makes it easy to understancd why historical personalities did what they did.
An excellent introduction.......2006-03-03
Recently I was asked to recommend some books for a burgeoning scholar of early Christianity and this was the first book I chose. It offers a very good introduction to the history of Western Christianity, treating most subjects well despite limited space. Still this book is not meant to be comprehensive, but instead to provide the basics of the Christian story in the West, and it does a fine job of this.
Book Description
A two-volume study of political thought from the late thirteenth to the end of the sixteenth century, the decisive period of transition from medieval to modern political theory. The work is intended to be both an introduction to the period for students, and a presentation and justification of a particular approach to the interpretation of historical texts. Quentin Skinner gives an outline account of all the principal texts of the period, discussing in turn the chief political writings of Dante, Marsiglio, Bartolus, Machiavelli, Erasmus and more, Luther and Calvin, Bodin and the Calvinist revolutionaries. But he also examines a very large number of lesser writers in order to explain the general social and intellectual context in which these leading theorists worked. He thus presents the history not as a procession of ‘classic texts’ but are more readily intelligible. He traces by this means the gradual emergence of the vocabulary of modern political thought, and in particular the crucial concept of the State. We are given an insight into the actual processes of the formation of ideologies and into some of the linkages between political theory and practice. Professer Skinner has been awarded the Balzan Prize Life Time Achievement Award for Political Thought, History and Theory. Full details of this award can be found at http://www.balzan.it/News_eng.aspx?ID=2474
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-08-02
This fine book is devoted to the emergence of basic political concepts during the Renaissance and Reformation. This includes Republicanism, constitutionalism, the beginnings of the idea of popular sovereignty, individual rights, religious toleration, the right to rebel against unjust rulers, and the concept of the state. Skinner's approach is a fine example of the "contextual" approach to intellectual history. Skinner analyzes not the work of major thinkers like Machiavelli and Erasmus, but also a host of less well known writers with a strong effort to recover an unanachronistic understanding of key concepts. Skinner is particularly good on the specific historic events and problems that precipitated conceptual developments. For example, initial Lutheran political writings stressed obedience to rulers, even to unjust rulers. These positions make sense in light of Luther's concern to prevent his reformation from causing social disruption and the need to secure the support of German princes. When the Lutherans were faced with the possiblity that Charles V would superimpose the Counter-Reformation by force, Lutheran thinkers began to develop rationales for justifying active resistance. These Lutheran discussions of resistance would fuel the development of the concept of the right of resistance to unjust governments, a key feature of the political theory of Locke, among others.
Another major strength of Skinner's analysis is his elucidation of the important role played by late Medieval thought in developing key concepts that would be used by Renaissance and Reformation theorists. Key ideas in the history of Republicanism, constitutionalism, and key concepts of rights are traced back to important Medieval thinkers like William of Ockham, Marsiglio of Padua, and others. Skinner shows how Renaissance and Reformation intellectuals used these ideas in the specific context of contemporary problems, what innovations were introduced, and how different traditions interacted with each other to produce modern concepts.
Skinner is a lucid writer and this book is quite well organized with a fine bibliography.
A failure of a great vision.......2007-01-31
I bought this book based on Skinner's reputation and influence. There is something "seminal" about the "Cambridge school", supposedly. After seeing one too many footnotes to Skinner in other books, I decided I nedeed to fill in the gaps.
As Skinner makes clear in his preface, his three goals in writing this two volume, very expensive paperback were (a) to offer an outline of the principal texts of late medieval and early modern political thought; (b) to use texts in order to illuminate a more general historical theme, the process by which the modern concept of the State came to be formed; and (c) to exemplify a particular way of approaching the study and interpretation of historical texts that attempts to put texts in their context (a "social and intellectual matrix"), "a history centred less on the classic texts and more on the history of ideologies, my aim being to construct a general framework within which the writings of the more prominent theorists can then be situated." When I started this book, I was most interested in (c) above, because in the abstract it seems like a difficult, but necessary project.
Skinner succeeds wonderfully in accomplishing (a) but fails in (b) and (c). Skinner covers a lot of ground, describing not only the major high water marks of the intellectual development of political theory in northern Italy and beyond. He delves into analyses of texts that often get overlooked. In this respect, it is a well-done work.
But Skinner plays fast and loose with both the time sequence of the ideas and events he describes and the connection between ideas and social, material, and political context of those ideas, making it difficult to understand what is really driving political thought.
In chapter one, Skinner does a good job of establishing part of the situation - de facto independent city-states of the Regnum Italicum of northern Italy were caught in a power struggle between the Holy Roman Empire that claimed jurisdiction to rule over the city states as part of the Empire and the Holy See in Rome that claimed a temporal authority to rule Italy. Skinner does a good job of showing how different ideologues of the time lined up on different sides of the debates to give justification to the different options - allegiance to the Empire, allegiance to the Church, or "Liberty", understood as autonomy of the cities of the Regnum Italicum. Bartolus of Saxoferrato (1314-57), a University-based jurist and scholar of Roman law, was, by Skinner's account, the architect of the arguments against the Empire in favor of city-state autonomy; a long string of what Skinner calls "lawyer-popes" elaborated a complex legalistic vision of the Church as what we would now call the "secular" ruler of Italy through a long series of papal decrees; Dante, who had been exiled from Florence by the pro-Church city rulers, in 1309-13 in his book "Monarchy" argued against the Church in favor of the Empire. And Marsiglio of Padua (1275 to 1342) in his book "The Defender of Peace" (1324) according to Skinner, was a defender of the "liberty" and jurisdiction autonomy of "faithful human legislators" of each kingdom against the alleged power and authority of the Church.
Skinner writes about these writers and their political ideas almost as if they were operating in an idea-world detached from the real world. When Skinner talks about putting ideas in context, he means simply relating those ideas to other ideas of other writers. He does not mean relating those ideas to the political, economic or social context in which they emerged. Skinner avoids the question of why any one set of ideas would be more persuasive for someone in the context of 14th century Italy: why would any citizen of any city-state choose to struggle for the autonomy of the city states, Empire rule or Church rule? Wars were fought over this question - so surely it is not a secondary question. Skinner's narrative takes at face value the idea that "liberty" is self-evidently the preferred political principle around which the Italian citizens were united. Is Dante then just a deluded marginal figure? Did anyone support the Pope's power grab? The idea that some abstract notion of "Liberty" explains why anyone would resist the Empire or the Church is not self-evident outside of Hollywood movies and other cheap narratives.
Problems in Skinner's analysis emerge once we begin Chapter two. In broad strokes Skinner tries to construct a temporal narrative, starting roughly in the middle ages and ending at the dawn of modernity. But within that large frame, he plays fast and loose with time sequence. The discussion of Bartolus, who was not even born until Dante had already written "Monarchy" comes several pages before Dante's text is even mentioned or discussed. In Chapter 1, Skinner analyzes Marsiglio's 1324 text in the context of the struggle for autonomy of city states against Church and Empire, proping Marsiglio up as a great defender of the Liberty of the city states. But Skinner begins Ch 2 by pointing out that the "brilliant flame of liberty throughout the Italian City Republics provide to be a sadly short-lived spectacle" because by the end of the 13th century despots had taken control of almost all the city states. This changes the significance of Marsiglio's writings completely but Skinner attaches no importance to this: Marsiglio was not a defender of the liberty of some self-governing republics against the kings and popes - he was the defender of the authority of local dictators. Opposition to local despots - not marginal crackpot thinking - might explain why any Italian in the early 14th century would favor more power for the pope or the emperor. But these are my conclusions having gone back and reverse engineered Skinner's narrative. Skinner does not advance this idea. The rest of the narrative continues along the same path: ideas are described in a vacuum, events, people, and texts are described out of temporal sequence and later in his narrative Skinner brings to light points that seem to change the significance of the points he made in earlier chapters.
Whether I read Volume II, based on my experience with I, is an open question still. I find it shocking that this was published in two volumes, rather than one. The book is short - 304 pages if we include the index. Volume II is about the same. They could easily have been published as a single volume. The retail price of the paperback is also somewhat outrageous. Volumes I and II together will cost over $50. This is excessive, especially for the kind of text that Skinner has produced. Apparently this sort of scholarship - "contextualization of ideas within a network of ideas" is all the rage among some historians (which is why Skinner books can fetch top dollar), but it is fundamentally flawed.
Overall, Skinner's work has left me very unsatisfied. While his reputation might justify the price tag of his books, the quality of his thinking does not. Skinner is a good historian, but his achievement in this book falls short of his aspirations and he has left way too many obvious questions unanswered.
Radical Calvinism and the Natural Right of Resistance.......2006-01-03
Out of the religious wars between the Protestants and the Catholic Church emerged a suprisingly modern theory of individual natural rights and justified violent resistance to authority. Using ancient Roman private law concepts to justify rebellion against tyrants, Radical Calvinists such as John Ponet, Christopher Goodman, George Buchanan - all of Scotland and England, contributed, while Francois Hotman, Theodore Beza and Mornay of France transformed an essentially religious duty to resist into a secular, moral, and even natural, right of resistance.
Prior to 1530, Skinner says that Lutherans and Calvinists followed a "theory of passive political obedience" and "their leaders were almost wholly unprepared to defend their Church". Calvin thought, to oversimplify a bit, that all rulers were ordained by God, good or bad, and that man, as God's subjects, must endure the Divine Plan. Luther restated his position in 1530 - "It is in no way proper for anyone who wants to be a Christian to stand up against the authority of his government, regardless of whether that government acts rightly or wrongly".
However, a few months later, the Catholics had outlawed the Lutherans (Diet of 1530) and then Gregory Bruck, Chancellor to John of Saxony, wrote his private-law theory of resistance "Whether it is lawful to resist a judge who is proceeding unlawfully". Bruck took the view that "The Emperor is seeking to impose his judgement in matters of faith" where he "has absolutely no jurisdiction at all". Then in October, as a result of a meeting at the Palace of Torgau, Luther capitulated - "until now we have taught absolutely not to resist the governing authority [because] . . . we did not know that the governing authority's law itself grants the right of armed resistance".
Skinner says "after the immediate crisis had passed, the Lutherans not only continued to endorse the private-law theory of resistance, but even began to revise and develop it", including Luther. Here Luther smacked counter to Calvin by stating in 1539 that "The Emperor is head of the body of the political realm", and as such is "a private man to whom political power is granted for the defence of the realm". The Lutherans also developed a constitutional theory of resistance in that lesser politicos are equally ordained by God and thus can outnumber an unrighteous superior, but this theory did not develop into a natural right of resistance.
However, Skinner says "the basic argument in favour of resistance advanced by the Calvinists (during the late 1540s) . . . was largely a repetition of the Lutheran constitutonal theory". He adds "When we turn, however, from the continental leaders of Calvinism to the more revolutionary protagonists of the movement in England, we find a very different situation . . . the Scots and English revolutionaries . . . began to exploit the more individualistic and radically populist implications of the private-law argument".
Ponet and Goodman abandoned "the cardinal Augustinian assumption that, even if our rulers fail to discharge the duties of their offices, they must still be regarded as powers ordained of God". Goodman used Conciliar thinking to bring him to the conclusion that "it is lawful for the people, yea it is their duty, to do it themselves", thereby ensuring that they "cut off every rotten member" and to impose the law of God "as well upon their own rulers and magistrates as upon others of their brethren". Goodman thought God would punish anyone who did not carry out their duty, and armed thus, Calvinists revolted successfully from the Catholics.
At this point in history, "the radical Calvinists of the 1530s have no such concept of political resistance as a right" apart from a religious duty. This thinking was later accomplished "by the Huguenots during the French religious wars in the second half of the sixteenth century".
Skinner says "Since [the Huguenots]. . . were in a considerable minority, they could scarcely hope to invoke the available Calvinist theory of revolution, and demand . . . that the whole body of the godly people should rise up against the congregation of Satan in order to establish the congregation of Christ. They needed to develop a revolutionary ideology capable of appealing . . . to the various Catholic malcontents".
The French monarchy "had rendered itself so unpopular in the first half of the sixteenth century", that the Huguenots sought to appeal to the general discontent. The Huguenot monarchomachs (those who argued for the right and/or duty of subjects to resist unjust rulers), best exemplified by Francois Hotman's "Franco-Gallia"(1573), concentrated on grounding their arguments on real or presumed historical precedents in French laws and institutions resulting in a rather narrowly legal and historical argument. Their conclusions and implications were limited to promoting specific liberties of various privileged orders in French society.
Skinner says "The essence of the Huguenot case is thus that the magistrates and representatives of the people have the moral right to resist tyrannical government by force, a right which is founded on the prior and natural right of the sovereign people to treat the commonwealth as a means for securing and improving their own welfare". He concludes that "with Beza, Mornay and their followers, the idea that the preservation of religious uniformity constitutes the sole possible grounds for legitimate resistance is finally abandoned. The result is a fully political theory of revolution, founded on a recognisably modern, secularised thesis about the natural rights and original sovereignty of the people".
In summary, Skinners says that Radical Calvinism developed a secular, moral, and natural right of resistance. Yet it seems to me that they did so grudgingly and never really fully grasped natural law or natural rights. J.W. Allen noted in his "A History of Political Thought in the Sixteenth Century", p314, that the language of universal natural rights "served no Huguenot purpose. It served, in truth, no purpose at all at the time, though, one day, it might come to do so".
About eight and a half stars, strictly.......2005-04-28
If you are the unlikely sort of person who buys books like this on the basis of recommendations from Amazon reviewers, then I can only reassure you that you won't be disappointed: it is of a scale with the reputation that preceeds it.
(But don't forget to buy volume two as well.)
Customer Reviews:
The Bible Of Choice.......2007-09-27
Sproul's ESV, leather-bound Reformation Bible smacks of impeccability and biblical integrity. I found that my personal experience when opening it for the first time, related to one of extreme joy, after searching for weeks and pondering the various options the Reformed Evangelical is presented with.
A quality 'God-breathed' Holy Bible.
The Reformation ESV - A Hit and Miss Project...........2007-09-22
The ESV Reformation Study Bible offered here is a very big improvement over the shoddy and ill made Crossway ESVs that we had to endure when the ESV first came out. This edition does have a better binding and the pages are sewn in signature sections and not single sheets. Also the Black Leather cover (while rather stiff and unsupple for an $80 dollar price tag) does look like it will stand up to prolonged use.
However, the paper quality of this edition leaves something left to be desired. Weighed in comparison to the Oxford Scofield III ESV the paper quality in this Bible is found to be wanting. The pages have an annoying glare or sheen when used in a brightly lit room (a dead giveaway of cheap paper). This can be very distracting to the reader and has been mentioned in other reviews of this Bible. Why Lingonier Ministries went cheap on the paper quality is obvious - cost. I guess they felt they needed to make more of a profit and skimped on the paper quality. Unfortunate.
Also, can you believe that there are NO MAPS in the back of the Bible??? I find that rather chintsy for the price that the publishers asked for this edition. Someone dropped the ball here on this one. Again, I think they just got cheap on us like they did with the paper quality.
All in all this Bible is a HIT AND MISS project. The ESV Reformation Study Bible is still better made than the cheap Bibles put out by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan - so that is a factor to consider if you like a Bible that will last more than a year of prolonged use. The study notes and commentary are on a par with those found in the Macarthur Study Bible. They do make for more useful study and exegesis of the text.
The only other ESV worth buying out there is the Oxford Scofield III Edition but the Scofield has fewer notes than the Reformation Bible.
Note on the ESV translation: The ESV is an evangelical revision of the RSV(Revised Standard Version) that corrects the non-Christian interpretations of the RSV in the Old Testament and improves the accuracy throughout with more literal renderings. It also updates the language somewhat. An example is provided below:
RSV
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a YOUNG WOMAN shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
ESV
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the VIRGIN shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The Reformation Study Bible: Englsih Standard Version.......2007-07-04
Fine leather edition; plenty big print. I have many Bibles, this is the only esv version. The print is easy to read; I would like it if the notes explaining what the actual word means (hin=4 quarts) were a little bigger. The print on the page is very clean.
Reformation Study Bible.......2007-03-09
The English Standard Version is very easy to read. The Study Notes, Charts, Maps, etc. found throughout are outstanding. I teach ladies' adult Sunday School and would not be without this.
Very fine study Bible.......2007-03-01
This is a very nice Bible. The leather cover comes soft enough to lay flat. The layout of the text of the Bible is very appealing. The font is fairly large and easy to read. The fonts the publishers used are quality and the articles are informative and presentable. There is also plenty of room to highlight and write notes. I'm very pleased. Enjoy!
Average customer rating:
- Here I Stand is an amazingly interesting read!
- A man named Martin, a Reformer named Luther
- "By faith alone..."
- Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
- Excellent Book
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Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther
Roland H. Bainton
Manufacturer: Plume
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Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
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The Bondage of the Will
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Martin Luther : Selections From His Writings
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Documents of the Christian Church
ASIN: 0452011469 |
Customer Reviews:
Here I Stand is an amazingly interesting read!.......2007-09-19
I purchased the book after watching the movie Luther with Joseph Fiennes (sp?). I usually do that in reverse order but not this time. The book very logically and clearly (and with great clarity and attention to detail) portrays the inner life and events going on at that time in Luther's life. It is a great review of history, the Catholic Church and the mind of Martin Luther.
The only downside is that you often need to read it with a dictionary present due to some of the words and context in which it is written that are not readily used in daily discussions. Great way to learn them though.
This is a wonderful read and one that I could not put down once I started. He is a very influential and fascinating historical figure.
A man named Martin, a Reformer named Luther.......2007-08-12
Martin Luther is one of the historical protagonists who has had the greatest amout of biographies written. This is a biography which displays not only the Reformer, but also the man Martin Luther. Luther's phrase, chosen as title, reveals the essence of the man: "Here I stay, I could not do differently. So help me God".
"By faith alone...".......2007-04-02
Having read Luther's "Bondage of the Will" I was interested in the Reformer's life and how God transformed him. In Roland H. Bainton's book you feel the man and his convictions. Bainton includes many lengthy quotes by Luther himself, so the reader begins to "feel" the man and his faith. The book also has many B & W wood-cut illustrations from that time, so you get to sense their history.
Bainton focuses on how Luther became a monk and from a monk to a world changing reformer. Luther's struggle with God's righteousness was so pivotal in his early days in the monastery, he was led to study of the Holy Scriptures by order of his senior. And it ultimately led to re-discovery of the Gospel -- that man is justified (declared righteous) by faith alone in what Christ has done for us. This revolutionized Luther's theology and his own life. Luther's emphasis, "by faith alone" is the heart of the gospel. He does not dismiss the importance of good works, but emphasized that good works cannot save and only faith saves. This was important distinction to him. And this book captures this fact about Luther well.
Moreover, the book pictures Luther as translator of the Bible into German language from original Hebrew and Greek. It is incredible feat by one man. He also wrote many hymns (including that famous "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God") to be sung at the church.
The book was fun to read as well. I couldn't stop reading. You will KNOW Luther in this book. Highly recommended.
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther.......2007-01-10
This is an exceptional book for objective historical and theological perspectives of the life of Martin Luther. I have read the book as part of seminary studies, though the book is written with an undertone for lay understanding. The major pluses of the book are the honest depiction of the character of Martin Luther and how his personal theology developed over his pastoral years with highlights of how his insights helped cause major reforms of theological throughout the world as well as bringing the book of the bible in a readable and understandable format to his beloved German people.
Excellent Book.......2006-11-10
The Pastor at my church referred me to this Book. And it was excellent. Very thorough on Luther's life.
Books:
- The God Delusion
- The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot
- The I Ching or Book of Changes
- The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History
- The Killer Angels
- The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
- The Last Week: A Day-by-Day Account of Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem
- The Nature of Consciousness : The Structure of Reality: Theory of Everything Equation Revealed : Scientific Verification and Proof of Logic God Is
- The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot (Destiny Books)
- The Problem of Pain
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