Calvinism

Calvinism is the first single-volume history of Reformed Protestantism, tracing its origins from the sixteenth century to the present day. This briskly told history takes these churches through their entire 500-year journey—from sixteenth-century Zurich and Geneva to modern locations as far flung as Seoul and São Paulo.

D. G. Hart explores the social and political developments that enabled Calvinism to establish a global presence. His approach highlights significant episodes in the institutional history of Calvinism that shaped its contemporary profile. He traces the political and religious circumstances that initially created space for Reformed churches in Europe and later contributed to Calvinism’s worldwide expansion.

Hart delves into the effects of the American and French Revolutions on ecclesiastical establishments, as well as the nineteenth- and twentieth-century communions in Scotland, the Netherlands, the United States, and Germany, which directly challenged the church's dependence on the state. In doing so, he raises important questions about secularisation, religious freedom, the privatisation of faith, and the place of religion in public life.

This book will appeal not only to readers interested in the history of religion but also to those intrigued by the role of religion in political and social life today.