Table of Contents

List of maps; Introduction: The Reformation and Europe; Part I. The Background: The religion of the people of Europe; the vulnerability of the church; 'Reform' from within and its limits; Challenges from outside and their limits; Heresy - an alternative church?; The church and the Christian soul; Part II. The Reformers and their Message: The 'Luther-Affair' and its context; The reformers message - salvation; The reformers' message - scripture; The reformers' - The church; The reformers' message - sacraments; The conversions of the reformers; Rejections of reform; Part III. Establishing the Reformed Churches: Unsuccessful 'affiliations' to the reformed cause; Self-governing towns and cities; Principalities and kingdoms; Motives for establishing the reformation?; Part IV. The Coalition of Reformers and People Breaks Down: The sects reject the 'coalition'; Crisis, survival, and compromise in politics; Reformers at odds: the 'confessional' reformationl Reformers and laymen: a conflict of priorities; Conclusion; Abbreviations; Notes; Suggestions for further reading; Index

Reviews

"A remarkably rich and successful survey textbook of the Reformation period....He has quite literally broken the mold of the traditional textbook layout for this topic; it deserves serious consideration by anyone interested in focusing a course on the religious issues of the Reformation....It is stimulating and suggestive, and is based on a truly amazing range of scholarship."--Sixteenth Century Journal"This is the first comprehensive textbook on the Reformation to take popular religion seriously. Moreover, it is not dominated by Luther and Calvin, as the radical groups and smaller sects get equal treatment. Above all, it is refreshing to find a text that does not start from the premise that protestantism was inevitable or even desired by the laity."--Mack P. Holt, George Mason University"First impressions of this book are very good. It seems to combine a thorough grounding in both traditional and modern approaches to the Reformation. The writing is clear and straightforward....I predict that this book...will be around for a long time."--Mark Noll, Wheaton College"A thorough, well-researched text. It should prove to be highly valuable as a required text in junior colleges and universities. One of the best available works."--Rev. Dr. Michael B. Simmons, Auburn University at Montgomery"Clear, decisive, scholarly, readable--this is a splendid summary of recent scholarship about the Reformation. Cameron warns that he will deal with the Reformation movements, not Europe in the age of Reform, and he does exceptionally well what he has indicated."--Philip L. Kintner, Grinell College