Renaissance & Reformation

It was no accident that the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation were largely concurrent movements. Renaissance is a term meaning "re-birth," and in such pseudo-religious terms it described a conscious return to the humanism of the Classical period; Reformation, on the other hand, referred to a revitalization of true Christian doctrine and practice in the face of Catholic apostasy.

The Renaissance celebrated the works of men—art, invention, poetry, political science, philosophy and architecture. Here, all the foundations of the Enlightenment were laid, from the emphasis on human knowledge and progress, to the near-worship of the Classical Age and blatant imitation of its forms and ideals.

On the other hand, the Protestant Reformation celebrated God's truth. Orthodox doctrines were recovered and codified, and those who rejected the corruption within the European state churches separated from them, often at risk of safety and even life. It was a rebirth of the Church, a revitalization and rescue from the influence of humanism and a bent Gospel.

These two movements set the course for modern civilization. It was not a new tension by any means, but the form it would take in future discourse was determined: human reason vs. divine revelation, the philosophy of men against the truth of Yahweh. The scorn with which secular intellectuals treat Christianity is directly linked to Renaissance humanism, which arbitrarily determined that God's authority was not enough, and only man's efforts were capable of satisfying his own desire for understanding.

A proper Christian response is similarly rooted in the ideals of the Reformation: the primacy of Scripture, the doctrine of salvation by faith through grace, the necessity for repentance and good works as an outworking of faith but by no means a basis for salvation, etc. This is the wisdom of God which godless man meets with scorn, but which sustains and motivates His people to holiness and evangelism.

It's essential that we understand these immensely important turning points, both the Renaissance and the Reformation, if we intend to understand and be effective in our own time. If the world doesn't understand them properly, we have an advantage in evangelism and apologetics; if they do, then at least we'll be able to communicate clearly. Either way, our Christian duty is to spread Christ's Gospel untainted by humanism and true to the pure faith of our spiritual fathers, whether Reformers or otherwise.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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83 Items found Print
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Art & Civilization: Renaissance
by Paul Procter, Rupert Matthews
from Peter Bedrick Books
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$14.00
Art for Children: Renaissance
Art for Children
by Lillo Canto
from Chelsea House Publishing
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Artist of the Reformation
by Joyce McPherson
from Greenleaf Press
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Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
by M. B. Synge
from Yesterday's Classics
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Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
by M. B. Synge
from Living Book Press
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Bard of Avon
by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema
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Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
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Betrayer's Fortune
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Dutch Color
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Famous Men of the Renaissance and Reformation
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Farrier of Buda
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For the Heart of Holland
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Good Queen Bess
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John Calvin
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John Calvin, Genius of Geneva
Reformation Trail Series #07
by Lawrence Penning
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John Knox
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Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca
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1997 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
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Luther the Leader
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Man Who Laid the Egg
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Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation - Home Teacher Manual
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Morning Star of the Reformation
by Andy Thomson
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Murder for Her Majesty
by Beth Hilgartner
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Mystery of History Volume III
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by Louise A. Vernon
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Our Island Story (B&W Edition)
by H. E. Marshall
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Our Island Story (Color Edition)
by H. E. Marshall
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Pedro's Journal
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Player King
by Avi
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Renaissance Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
from Dover Publications
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River of Grace
by Joyce McPherson
2nd edition from Greenleaf Press
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Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages
by George Hodges
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Scotland's Story
by H. E. Marshall
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by H. E. Marshall
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Scottish Seas
by Doug Jones
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Second Mrs. Giaconda
by E. L. Konigsburg
from Aladdin Paperbacks
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Shakespeare Stealer
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by Gary Blackwood
from Puffin Books
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Shakespeare's Scribe
Shakespeare Stealer #2
by Gary Blackwood
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Shakespeare's Spy
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by Gary Blackwood
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Siege: Under Attack in Renaissance Europe
by Stephen Shapiro
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Spy for the Night Riders
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St. Bartholomew's Eve
by G. A. Henty
from Robinson Curriculum
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$20.00
Starry Messenger
by Peter Sis
from Square Fish Publishing
Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade
1997 Caldecott Honor Book
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$8.99
Story of Napoleon
The Children's Heroes Series
by H. E. Marshall
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Tales from Shakespeare
by Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb
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Tales from Shakespeare
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The Revolt
by Douglas Bond
from P&R Publishing
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Through Stress and Strain
Emma Leslie Junior Church History Series
by Emma Leslie
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Thunderstorm in Church
by Louise Vernon
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Tod of the Fens
by Elinor Whitney Field, Illustrated by Warwick Goble
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1929 Newbery Honor Book
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Trial and Triumph
by Richard Hannula
from Canon Press
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$21.00
Tudor and Elizabethan Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
from Dover Publications
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$4.99
Under Calvin's Spell
Reformation Trail Series #08
by Deborah Alcock
from Inheritance Publications
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$14.95
Understanding People in the Past: Renaissance
Understanding People in the Past
by Mary Quigley
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$9.49 $6.50 (1 in stock)
Usborne Book of Explorers
by Anne Millard, Felicity Everett & Struan Reid
from Usborne
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$7.00
Warhorse
by Don Bolognese
from Simon and Schuster
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$9.99
Warriors Through the Ages - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Bruce LaFontaine
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$4.99
When Lightning Struck!
by Danika Cooley
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When the Morning Came
Struggle for Freedom Series #1
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Whipping Boy
by Sid Fleischman
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade
1987 Newbery Medal winner
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William of Orange
by W. G. Van de Hulst
from Inheritance Publications
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William Shakespeare and the Globe
by Aliki
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$8.99