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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115 Items found Print
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Art & Civilization: Renaissance
by Paul Procter, Rupert Matthews
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$14.00
Art for Children: Renaissance
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by Lillo Canto
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Artist of the Reformation
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Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
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Awakening of Europe
Story of the World Series #3
by M. B. Synge
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Bard of Avon
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Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
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Boy of Old Prague
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By England's Aid
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Dutch Color
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Exploration of North America - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
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Famous Men of the Renaissance and Reformation
by Robert Shearer
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Famous Men of the Renaissance and Reformation - Greenleaf Guide
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Farrier of Buda
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For the Heart of Holland
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Giotto
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
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Good Queen Bess
by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema
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Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day
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Helmet of Navarre
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Henry VIII
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History of the Sword - Coloring Book
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Ink on His Fingers
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Italian Renaissance
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John Calvin
Christian Biographies for Young Readers
by Simonetta Carr
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$18.00
John Calvin, Genius of Geneva
Reformation Trail Series #07
by Lawrence Penning
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John Knox
by Simonetta Carr
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Journey and Ordeal of Cabeza de Vaca
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Dover Coloring Books
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Leonardo da Vinci
by Diane Stanley
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by Janis Herbert
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Luther
by Frederick Nohl
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Luther the Leader
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Magic Tree House #38 (Merlin Mission #10) - Fact Tracker
companion to Merlin Mission #10 - Monday with a Mad Genius
by Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce
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Man Who Laid the Egg
by Louise Vernon
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Martin Luther
by Sally Stepanek
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Meet Christopher Columbus
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Meet Christopher Columbus
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Michelangelo
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Michelangelo
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
by Mike Venezia
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation - Home Teacher Manual
2nd edition from Veritas Press
Renaissance and Reformation History Curriculum for 4th-6th grade
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Morning Star of the Reformation
by Andy Thomson
from CreateSpace
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Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation
Mr. Pipes Series #2
by Doug Bond
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Murder for Her Majesty
by Beth Hilgartner
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Mystery of History Volume III
by Linda Lacour Hobar
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Night Preacher
by Louise A. Vernon
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Our Island Story
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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
by Pam Conrad
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Player King
by Avi
from Atheneum
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Queen Elizabeth I: Forging an Empire
by Elizabeth Linington, illustrated by Robert Boehmer
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Renaissance
by Linda J. Larsen
from Teacher Created Materials, Inc.
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Renaissance
by Jane Shuter
Rev Upd from Heinemann Educational Books
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Renaissance Art
by Stuart A. Kallen
from Lucent Press
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Renaissance Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
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Renaissance Town
Inside Story
by Jacqueline Morley, Mark Peppe
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River of Grace
by Joyce McPherson
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Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries - Student Manual
by Diana Waring
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Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries Volume Two
A Biblical World History Curriculum - Volume Two
by Diana Waring
2nd edition from Diana Waring History Alive!
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Saints and Heroes Since the Middle Ages
by George Hodges
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Biographies for 5th-8th grade
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Scotland's Story
by H. E. Marshall
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Scotland's Story (full-color)
by H. E. Marshall
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Scottish Seas
by Doug Jones
from Canon Press
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Second Mrs. Giaconda
by E. L. Konigsburg
from Aladdin Paperbacks
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Shakespeare Stealer
Shakespeare Stealer #1
by Gary Blackwood
from Puffin Books
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Shakespeare Trilogy
by Gary Blackwood
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Shakespeare's Scribe
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Shakespeare's Spy
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Siege: Under Attack in Renaissance Europe
by Stephen Shapiro
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Spanish Armada
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Spy for the Night Riders
TrailBlazer Books
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St. Bartholomew's Eve
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Starry Messenger
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1997 Caldecott Honor Book
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Story of Napoleon
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Tales from Shakespeare
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Tales from Shakespeare
Puffin Classics
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Tales from Shakespeare
Manhattan Young People's Library
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The Revolt
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Thomas Harriot
by Ralph Staiger
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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
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1929 Newbery Honor Book
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Trial and Triumph
by Richard Hannula
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$21.00
True Tales Complete Volume 2
by Diana Waring
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Trumpeter of Krakow
by Eric Kelly, illustrated by Angela Pruszynska
1965 Printing from Macmillan
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1929 Newbery Medal winner
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Tudor and Elizabethan Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
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$4.99
Under Calvin's Spell
Reformation Trail Series #08
by Deborah Alcock
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Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade
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$14.95
Understanding People in the Past: Renaissance
Understanding People in the Past
by Mary Quigley
from Heinemann-Raintree
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Usborne Book of Explorers
by Anne Millard, Felicity Everett & Struan Reid
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$7.00
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