Protestants

Starred review from February 13, 2017
This volume is an excellent addition to the publishing lists for the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Lutheran reformation. Ryrie (Being Protestant in Reformation Britain), an expert on the Reformation and winner of the Society of Renaissance Studies’ 2014 book prize, aims for a biography of Protestantism itself, rather than any particular Protestant figure or sect. In pursuit of this, Ryrie divides his work into three sections: reformation, the historical roots and early years of Protestantism; transformation, the philosophical development and geographic spread of the Reformation; and globalization, the most recent stages in the development and international adoption of Protestantism. The sections and chapters are thematic rather than strictly chronological; one chapter, for example, follows the fortunes of Protestantism in Nazi Germany. The next chapter then goes backward, chronologically speaking, to move the story to 19th-century America, the rise of evangelical fundamentalism, and the civil rights movement. Ryrie is careful to anchor the reader throughout; even non-specialists will never get lost in the tangle. He also provides a glossary of “types of Protestant” for easy reference as well as an excellent set of endnotes.

Starred review from December 15, 2016
A learned, lively look at the various faiths lumped together as Protestant, from Martin Luther in the 16th century to today. Theologian and professor Ryrie (History of Christianity/Durham Univ.; Being Protestant in Reformation Britain, 2013, etc.) takes an inclusive view of the term Protestantism, encompassing mainstream Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists as well as the less-pervasive Unitarians, Seventh-day Adventists, Quakers, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the burgeoning varieties of Pentecostal denominations whose members often speak in tongues. (The author classes Mormons as a new religion despite their Protestant roots.) Ryrie views the spectrum as an extended family tree with a common trunk but diverse branches. At bottom, though, a family that quarrels about right and wrong remains a family. The author credits Protestants with playing significant roles in the spread of free speech and the placement of conscience ahead of government dictates throughout Europe and across what eventually became the United States. In more recent times, Ryrie documents the influence of Protestants in portions of South America, China, South Korea, and South Africa. He does not shy away from the ugly roles of Protestants in the dominance of apartheid and slavery, but he explains how the better natures of Protestants opposing those inhumane practices mostly prevailed. Throughout the sweeping narrative, the author offers his well-considered opinions about how the Bible fits into the teachings of various Protestant denominations. He offers insightful explanations of why some Protestants consider the Bible inerrant, while other Protestants consider it filled with contradictory stories that nonetheless lead to a deep communion with God. In the final chapter, Ryrie deals candidly with contemporary political and social issues roiling Protestant denominations, including women in the ministry, homosexuality, whether to support the legalization of abortion, and how to combat secularism. Rarely has an author of such deep faith offered such a tolerant, engaging history of any religion.

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Starred review from March 1, 2017

Ryrie (history of Christianity, Durham Univ.; Being Protestant in Reformation Britain) effectively surveys 500 years of church history while illuminating the breadth and impact of the protestant faith. The first section traces the impact of the Protestant Reformation of the 1600s on Europe and America. The author also focuses on the transformation of global Protestantism during the 19th and 20th century by highlighting areas such as the millenarian movements, liberalism, slavery, and how the two World Wars affected and were impacted by the protestant churches. Later chapters cover the global nature of Protestantism by examining racial struggles in South Africa, the movement's influence in South Korea and China, and the global Pentecostal experience. Some of the unique themes and sections within this book are those that explain the pietism movement in England, the rise of Adventist movements including the Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Science, the struggle over the slave trade, the German Church in World War I and II, South African apartheid, and Korean Christianity. VERDICT This multifaceted work will appeal to readers of both history and theology. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, 10/17/16.]--Ray Arnett, Fremont Area Dist. Lib., MI

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