The Reformation for Armchair Theologians

Review by George R Dekle for The Reformation for Armchair Theologians
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This is the third book in the “Armchair Theologian” series which I have read, and it won’t be the last. The series seeks to give an accessible, readable rendition of the theology of major figures in Christian history. Other books include Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Augustine, and Aquinas. This is the only book which deals, not with an individual, but with a movement.

Sunshine begins by setting the stage for the Reformation, then gives a sketch of Luther’s career. Popular humorists have God changing the course of events by tossing lightning bolts around, but apparently the course of history was changed by a lightning bolt. Luther, a law student, got knocked off his horse by a lightning bolt and got back on it determined to become a monk. From that point forward, Luther’s pathway to the founding of a new religion was an exercise in Murphy’s Law. His 95 theses weren’t a declaration of religious independence, they were simply a modest call for debate. When his challenge was answered, his able opponent maneuvered him into admitting that he held views that had gotten another theologian, Jan Hus, burned at the stake. Next came his famous declaration (which he really would rather not have had to make) at the Diet of Worms, and the rest is history.

Sunshine next looks at Zwingli, probably the only Reformation theologian who died in battle and in armor, and then turns his attention to Calvin. Calvin comes across as a much more sympathetic figure than the rigid, dictatorial killjoy of popular legend. Calvin was another lawyer who, much against his will, got coerced into founding a church in Geneva. Calvin wanted to go to Strasbourg and pursue a career as a writer, but events compelled him to go to Geneva and oversee the birth pangs of Calvinism.

Geneva wasn’t a theocratic totalitarianism. Calvin actually promoted a (for that day and age) radical separation of church and state. He did, however, insist that in matters of religion it was “my way or the highway.” The darkest blot on Calvin’s record is the execution of Severetus, whose ideas about the Trinity were somewhat odd. Although Calvin gave evidence against Severetus, he heartily disapproved of the punishment meted out and refused to become involved in the execution. (He preferred beheading to burning at the stake. If I had been Severetus, I would have endorsed Calvin’s viewpoint).

From Calvin, Sunshine goes to the Counter-Reformation, Phillip II, Elizabeth I, the Invincible Armada, Henry VIII, the Thirty Years War, and the interminable bloodshed that closed out the Reformation. The book closes with the Treaty of Westphalia.

The awful paradox of the Reformation is this: When an oppressed religious minority gained ascendancy, instead of eschewing oppression, it almost invariably became an oppressor itself, persecuting not only its former persecutor, but also its fellow persecuted religions. It seems to me that a group which has just fought so hard to win religious freedom should treasure it to this extent: that they should allow it to other religious minorities. Rodney Stark explains this phenomenon in “One True God,” but even understanding the rationale for such behavior doesn’t make it any more palatable. As the cartoon character Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Review by Kersi Von Zerububbel for The Reformation for Armchair Theologians
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This book is quite a page-turner when it comes to history of the Reformation. I was hooked right from page one. Various historical characters come into play with the main performers being Luther and Calvin.

When it comes to the theological ideas of the times the book misses its mark. I do understand that the text is meant for “armchair theologians”, but even “armchair guys” need some meat in the soup. There is nary a one Bible reference to corroborate or demolish any of the theological ideas introduced. This was a disappointment.

It would be more appropriate to title this text as “The Reformation for Armchair Historians”.

Review by Dr. W for The Reformation for Armchair Theologians
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Glenn Sunshine’s book covers both religious and historical content, and does so in a readable, yet thorough manner.

One its strengths is its placement of the religious upheaval into historical (political and geographic) context. For example, an entire chapter is devoted to Spain and the Dutch Revolt. Before you think that a book giving a whole chapter to such a topic is beyond you, think again! Sunshine explains the relevance of the revolt to the Reformation and vice versa (Protestant capitalist Dutch threw off Catholic absolutist Habsburg rulers, initiating patterns of international relations) in a few pages; most scholarly treatments of the subject, in contrast, fill gigantic tomes of writing with not much more insight to the casual reader or even the educated reader, while most textbooks or surveys fail to mention key players and events that make understanding the Reformation so interesting and engaging. Sunshine’s book finds a perfect middle ground.

The book goes into just enough detail, but it is also comprehensive. Consider its various historical chapters: Eve of the Reformation, Spain and the Dutch Revolt, the Reformation in England and Scotland, the Reformation in France, and the Thirty Years’ War. In addition, its religious or doctrine-focused chapters cover not only Luther, but Zwinglianism and Calvinism. It even poses one of the essential questions regarding Catholicism: “Catholic Reform or Counter-Reform?”

At the end of each chapter, the author includes a series of open-ended questions for discussion.

In sum, it’s short and sweet, and somehow packs the details that you’d have to take a university course to find. It would be great reading for a high school student studying for AP exams, a college student in any number of religion or history classes, for a casual reader curious as to the nature and history of the Reformation, or for a teacher or professor interested in seeing all the pieces fit together in one place.(Plus, any book with a chapter entitled “The Empire Strikes Back,” must have something good going for it!)

Review by Gerald Zertuche for The Reformation for Armchair Theologians
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I read this book all in one night, the night I bought it. It provides an excellent introduction into Reformation history and some Reformation theology. The book is helpful for an introduction to the Reformation and is quite humorous with its cartoons and puns. I would give this book a five, but I thought the book delved to much into exquisite details about the history of the Reformation and there should have been more theology. It is true though, that there was much political agendas set with the onset of the Reformation, but in some chapters, the book presented mainly history and not enough theology. A good buy!

Review by C. Stephans for The Reformation for Armchair Theologians
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Glenn Sunshine writes exceptionally well for the “Armchair” series, combining scholarly discussions with simple language and doses of wit. This book will serve as an introduction to the Reformation or a refresher and another perspective for those more familiar with it. I have no doubt all readers will take away new insights. I think Sunshine devouts adequate space to the politics, theology, institutions and influential people of the Reformation.

Readers will come away having a good grasp of the nuances of Roman Catholic beliefs and the Protestant beliefs of Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and Arminius, as well as some other lesser known religious leaders. I would have liked to see more on Thomas Cranmer and the theology of the English Reformation, but that reveals my own bias, too. Sunshine adroitly summarizes some core commonalities among the above and some of their sharp differences that led to conflicts. He follows their influences and relationships to various states and rulers.

As much as this is a book about theology, it is also about the history of the states and their internal and external conflicts. Religion of the Reformation era was closely tied to the politics and, as this book shows, an historical author really cannot focus on one at the exclusion of the other. A few times the book gets bogged down in the political history, especially in the discussion of the Thirty-years war, but I think that is a hazard of the subject and not a fault of the writer.

Sunshine does a thorough job of being precise about the beliefs of the theologians as opposed to what theology was later developed by their followers. He does not gloss over negative actions of folks like Luther or Calvin either. He shows these heroes of the Reformation in their sinfulness and saintliness.

I was very impressed with Sunshine’s ability to write simply and eloquently about complex subjects. He also seems to have a talent for pruning out the excess material to focus on key elements, something crucial to a book like this one.