The History Of Christianity In The Reformation Era

by Brad S. Gregory

We are the cultural descendants of the Reformation era, says Professor Brad S. Gregory in these 36 lectures on one of the most tumultuous and consequential periods in all of European history. Regardless of whether we ourselves are religious, says Professor Gregory, our modern preference for belief bolstered by doctrine is "a long-term legacy of the efforts to educate, to catechize, to indoctrinate, that began in a widespread way during the 16th century."

This course consists of 36 lectures, and is designed to take you inside the minds of those who supported the Reformation and those who resisted it. It treats the three broad religious traditions that endured or arose during these years:

•Roman Catholicism, both as it existed on the cusp of the Reformation and as it changed to meet the Protestant challenge.

•Protestantism, meaning the forms approved by political authorities, such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.

•"Radical" Protestantism, meaning the forms often at odds with political authorities, such as Anabaptism.

The goal is to understand historically the theological and devotional aspects of each of these three broad traditions on its own terms and to grasp the overall ramifications of religious conflict for the subsequent course of modern Western history.

Genres: History, Religion, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Christianity, Spirituality, Historical

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Brad S. Gregory is Professor of Early Modern European History at the University of Notre Dame. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University (1996) and was a Junior Fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows (1994-96). Before joining the faculty at Notre Dame in 2003, Gregory taught at Stanford University, where he received early tenure in 2001. Gregory has two degrees in philosophy as well, both earned at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. He has received multiple teaching awards at Stanford and Notre Dame, and in 2005 was named the inaugural winner of the Hiett Prize in the Humanities from the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture as the outstanding mid-career humanities scholar in the United States. Gregory's research focuses on Christianity in the Reformation era, the long-term effects of the Reformation, secularization in early modern and modern Western history, and methodology in the study of religion.

Reviews

[فؤاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

بیشتر به تاریخ می‌پردازه تا الهیات. اما برای منم همین مفید بود، چون بیشتر در مورد الهیات نهضت اصلاح دینی خونده بودم و این اندازه با جزئیات وقایع آشنایی نداشتم.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not taken a course in reformation history since my days in seminary, so this was a helpful refresher on all the various strands of reformational history and theology. It is admittedly a wild ride! As a Lutheran, I am most familiar with our own history—the good, the bad, and the ugly. This course takes a deep look at the ways in which the reformation impacted all of Europe, Roman Catholicism, and the many branches of Protestantism. What I found most insightful was how the lecturer described the positive impact that the reformation had on Roman Catholicism.

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inherited a login providing access to about 100 of these courses when my uncle died a few years ago. I've slowly pushed through them - much more slowly since 2016, given that I became 100% remote effective that year - and can now hazard a few observations about "The Great Courses." As someone who had once been a half-decent university lecturer and still hosts an academia-adjacent podcast with a solid subscriber base (www.patreon.com/whatsleft), allow me to make the following observations about the series in general and this entry in particular:

1) There are two types of GC lecture series. The first is taught by a great lecturer who is probably not a specialist in the field, but who churns out entries *en masse* for GC (Rufus Fears comes to mind). These lectures are enjoyable, but there's little content behind the lecturer's performance. The other type is taught by a nose-to-the-grindstone specialist who got the GC invite because they happened to be a solid lecturer, then recorded 1-2 series in their area of expertise. Gregory is the latter.

2) As mentioned previously, lectures are either very opinionated/insubstantial/entertaining (the Fears line of courses) or taught by hyper-careful academics unwilling to make broad claims about anything. Again, Gregory numbers among the latter.

3) Most of the GC are repetitive in nature, with numerous offerings that touch on the Reformation, the Renaissance, and other shopworn aspects of Western Civ. Again, if you're wanting to focus on the most useful stuff, listen to the lectures from serious academics like Gregory (I'm guessing his books Salvation at Stake and The Unintended Reformation are fairly decent too, though likely not Fawn Brodie-esque page turners).

At any rate, were I actually commuting anywhere on a regular basis, I'd probably have finished more of these lectures by now. As it stands, it took me a little under two years to finish this one.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an audio history lecture produced by The Teaching Company. It is the second set that I listened to from them. I got this product largely due to the positive experience with my first lecture series on the topic of ancient warfare. This present lecture series is on the history of Christianity during the era of the Reformation. I was more impressed with this lecture series than the first one I listened to and I am looking forward to enjoying more products from this company since they have done a good job picking qualified scholars and experts on the subjects being taught.
Those who are interested in church history and especially with the beginning of the modern era will enjoy these lectures a lot. Those who enjoy studying the Reformation would also benefit greatly from these lectures though it isn’t a historical theology course per se. The series title is accurate: it is on history during the era of the Reformation and not just Reformation history. So the approach of the lectures also encompasses those outside of mainstream Protestantism (Reformed and Lutherans) such as Anabaptists, Arminians and Catholics. Also the professor isn’t necessarily looking only at the Protestants perspective with the Reformation. The professor Brad S. Gregory has been trained and taught in various Catholic institutions of learning and presently is the Professor of Early Modern European History at the University of Notre Dame. From a historian standpoint Gregory is quite accomplished and more than capable in teaching about the history of this era having earned a doctorate in Princeton and early in his career was a tenured professor at Stanford two years prior to his move to Notre Dame. Overall his lectures are quite fair and in general one doesn’t hear his biases. I was pleasantly surprised at his articulation of what Martin Luther believed in terms of justification, salvation and the Gospel. He was able to accurately portray what the different side believed.
Though I am personally of the Reformed Protestant perspective I think listening to these lectures with biblical lens and discernment is still very helpful. For instance I enjoyed his discussion of background to the Reformation with Medieval beliefs and institutions. Situating the Reformation in its social context allows one to make better sense of what happened. In particular I thought the professor’s point about the medieval beliefs of providence and sacraments is important in which eventually Protestants would embrace and one doctrine and even become more specific with (the doctrine of providence) while also gradually rejecting the other because of Scripture (medieval concept of sacraments). His exploration of the external causes of the Reformation is one of the best I’ve heard. Gregory is conscious about historical methodology and in particular to explain why some became Protestants and why some stayed in Catholicism. His breakdown of the cause being anticlericalism, structural difficulties and the more counter-intuitive cause that medieval Christianity was actually more active and vibrant rather than the stereotypical assumption that Christianity was totally dead was surely food for thought. I do think he’s right about anticlericalism with the abuses during that era. From these lectures I learned that during this era the largest complaint about priests and church leadership was about clerical greed more than other moral failure. More controversial is Gregory’s point about a vibrant medieval Christianity paving the way for the Reformation. I do think the teacher is right in saying there was a lot of religiosity and religious activity and zeal during the medieval age as seen by the various volunteer organizations, projects and works of those centuries. Yet all these religious works didn’t pacify the mind and conscience of being right with God or earning righteousness with God which the New Testament describe as dead works. A more nuanced view is because of religiousness that doesn’t satisfy man’s biggest need with God is why the Reformation with its recovery of the biblical doctrine of Justification became such a historical movement.
These 36 lectures were quite comprehensive. Gregory spends quite some length discussing French Calvinists and also how politically the Scottish alliance with France influenced Scottish Protestantism. These two areas are among things I learned from this series that I didn’t know much about before. I also enjoyed the author’s point that the older view of historian that Calvin is some kind of insurrectionists is largely rejected and also going over the kings and queens in England and how it shaped English’s religious landscape. Also the lecture on the Thirty Years war was on a subject I didn’t know much about previously.
With such an excellent series that overall is helpful no matter what perspective one holds I was though a bit disappointed at the end of the series when Gregory talked about metric of success and answering the question of whether the Reformation was a success. He argued that from the assumptions of the three actors (Reformers, Catholics and Anabaptists) according to their own beliefs it was the Reformers that was the least successful. I beg to differ because the Gospel was recovered in the eyes of the Reformers. I think Gregory stresses too much on the Reformers’ goal of unity and while the Reformers originally never meant to start their own churches still the overall motivation for Protestants and Reformers was the recovery of the Gospel and for the Reformers that is a precious thing!
Much more could be said but these lectures were fascinating and informative.

[Peggie Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a comprehensive, balanced, and deeply informative survey of the Reformation, look no further. Brad S. Gregory's lectures are a goldmine of scholarship, presented in an engaging and accessible format. Unlike many histories that gloss over the "Radical Reformation," Gregory dedicates significant time to groups like the Anabaptists, showing how their vision of a pure, voluntary church stood in contrast to both Catholicism and mainstream Protestantism. This inclusion broadens the narrative and highlights the incredible diversity of the period.

The course structure is impeccable, moving from the late medieval context, through the major reformers, to the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and finally to the long-term consequences. Professor Gregory’s narration is clear and authoritative, making complex theological concepts like predestination or consubstantiation understandable without dumbing them down. This isn't just history; it's historiography. He constantly raises questions about how we interpret the past, making this the perfect resource for students, educators, or any lifelong learner who wants a deep, nuanced understanding of one of history's most pivotal eras.

[Cynthia Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is a profound and sobering reminder that history is written not just in ink, but in blood, fire, and unwavering conviction. Professor Brad S. Gregory does something remarkable: he turns a dense theological conflict into a deeply human drama. As I listened to these 36 lectures, I was struck by the sheer weight of the choices people faced. This wasn't just an academic debate over sacraments; it was a life-or-death crisis where choosing the wrong side could mean exile, torture, or burning at the stake. Gregory makes you feel the terror and the fervor of that world, where eternity hangs in the balance of every decision.

The course ends with a lingering, haunting question: Did the Reformation succeed or fail? Gregory doesn’t give a tidy answer, and that is its greatest strength. Instead, he shows how the fragmentation of Christendom led to religious pluralism, secularization, and the modern state, but at the cost of centuries of violence and the loss of a unified cultural vision. This is not a cheerful history, but it is an essential one. It left me with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of belief and a heavy heart for the thousands who died for what they knew to be true. A brilliant, moving, and essential listen.

[Maribeth Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I approached this course as a person of faith, and I was initially nervous. Would Gregory treat my tradition with respect? Would he reduce belief to mere politics or sociology? I need not have worried. Brad S. Gregory writes about religion with a depth of spiritual insight that is rare among secular academics. He takes theology seriously because the people of the 16th century took it seriously. Whether he is describing the Catholic devotion to the Eucharist, the Lutheran consolation of justification by faith, or the Calvinist vision of God's sovereign majesty, he conveys the genuine spiritual power of each tradition. He helps you understand why these beliefs were not just intellectual positions but sources of profound comfort, hope, and meaning. As a reader, I found my own faith challenged and deepened by encountering the convictions of others so sympathetically rendered.

This book is a treasure for believers and seekers alike. It reminds us that the great questions of the Reformation, How is a sinner saved? Where is God to be found? How should we live? are still the great questions of human existence. Gregory does not provide easy answers, but he provides the richest possible context for asking them well.

[Lorraine Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This course is a masterclass in historical empathy. Professor Gregory’s primary achievement is that he refuses to caricature the past. Instead of presenting the Reformation as a simple showdown between "progressive" Protestants and "corrupt" Catholics, he insists we take the theology of everyone seriously, from the magisterial Reformers like Luther and Calvin to the radical Anabaptists and the Catholic traditionalists. The lectures are dense, intellectually rigorous, and rewarding. Gregory brilliantly unpacks the medieval worldview, showing how a shared culture of piety could fracture so violently over issues like justification and the Eucharist.

What truly sets this audiobook apart is its ability to explain why these doctrinal squabbles (which we might see as trivial) were matters of life-and-death spiritual consequence to the people of the time. By the end of the 36 lectures, you don't just have a timeline of events; you have a profound understanding of the mental landscape of the 16th century. It’s a challenging but absolutely essential listen for anyone who wants to understand not just church history, but the very foundations of Western modernity.

[Laura Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before discovering this book, I thought the Reformation was just about Martin Luther nailing a list to a door. I was completely wrong. Professor Gregory expands the frame of reference to show this was a seismic cultural earthquake that shattered the monolithic religious unity of the West and birthed the modern age. This audiobook is not just a history lesson; it's a lens through which to view the tensions between religious authority and secular power, individual conscience and community, that we still grapple with today.

Gregory’s ability to synthesize the sprawling, bloody, and complex narratives of the 16th century is remarkable. He shows how political machinations, the printing press, and the shifting economy were just as important as theology. The course succeeds brilliantly in its stated goal: to help us understand the relationship between the early modern world and our own. It is a monumental story told with clarity and urgency, reminding us that the past is never truly past. For those who want the "big picture" of why the Western world looks the way it does, this is an indispensable listen.

[Gina Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most history books about the Reformation read like legal briefs, dry, dusty, and obsessed with dates and decrees. Brad S. Gregory does the exact opposite. He turns the 16th century into a gripping human drama, full of anguish, courage, betrayal, and desperate hope. In these 36 lectures, you don't just learn about Martin Luther's theology; you feel his agonized search for a merciful God. You don't just read about the Council of Trent; you witness the Catholic Church's struggle to reform itself while holding its ground against a tidal wave of dissent. And perhaps most poignantly, you meet the Radical Reformers, the Anabaptists and others, who were persecuted by nearly everyone and whose stories are often overlooked.

Gregory has a gift for making the past feel urgent and alive. He populates this era with real people wrestling with real questions of eternal significance. The scholarship is impeccable, but the storytelling is what makes this course unforgettable. It reads like a historical epic, and I found myself genuinely moved by the fates of the men and women who shaped, and were shattered by, this tumultuous age.

[Alisha Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What sets Brad S. Gregory apart from other historians of the Reformation is his methodological integrity. He refuses to engage in what he calls "presentism" the sin of judging the past by the standards of the present. Instead, he insists on understanding each of the three major religious traditions on their own terms. This is much harder than it sounds. It requires a historian to set aside their own biases, whether secular or religious, and truly enter the minds of people who saw the world through a radically different lens than we do. Gregory does this with breathtaking success. When he writes about Catholic piety, you understand its deep appeal. When he writes about Calvinist discipline, you appreciate its logic. When he writes about Anabaptist pacifism, you feel its moral power. He does not force a single narrative onto the chaos of the 16th century; he lets the contradictions stand. The result is a history that is nuanced, honest, and intellectually humbling. This is not a book that tells you what to think; it's a book that teaches you how to think historically. And that is a gift that keeps on giving long after you finish the final lecture.

[Elsie Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an age of polarization, echo chambers, and bitter ideological warfare, Brad S. Gregory's The History of Christianity in the Reformation Era feels eerily timely. This course is a profound case study in what happens when competing groups hold absolute, non-negotiable truths. The 16th century was a time when religious identity was fused with political identity, when dissent was treason, and when violence was justified in the name of eternal salvation. Gregory shows us how Europe tore itself apart, and how, out of that chaos, the modern concepts of religious toleration, secularism, and even individual conscience were eventually born. But he is careful not to romanticize the outcome. He argues that our modern preference for doctrinal belief is itself a legacy of the Reformation's obsession with correct teaching.

Reading this book, I found myself constantly drawing parallels to our own time. It made me reflect on the dangers of certainty, the costs of division, and the fragile nature of social peace. This is not just a history of the past; it is a mirror held up to the present. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the roots of our current cultural conflicts.

[Louise Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to this course feels less like a dry academic lecture and more like a guided tour through the very soul of early modern Europe. Professor Gregory has a unique gift for making the "otherness" of the past comprehensible. I found myself deeply moved by the stories of ordinary people, the martyrs on both sides who faced agonizing deaths not for political gain, but for what they sincerely believed was the truth of the Gospel. This book forces you to confront the sheer cost of belief in a way that contemporary life rarely does.

It changed how I view my own faith and the divisions within Christianity today. Gregory doesn't offer easy answers, but he gives you the tools to ask better questions about authority, scripture, and the nature of the church. He treats the Reformation not as a tragedy or a triumph, but as a complex, tragic turning point that shaped the modern world. If you want to understand the historical roots of Western Christianity’s diversity, and the pain that created it, this audiobook is an invaluable, sobering, and spiritually enriching journey.

[Esther Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's be honest: Reformation theology can be intimidating. Predestination, transubstantiation, consubstantiation, sola fide, it's enough to make your head spin. But Brad S. Gregory possesses a rare and wonderful gift: he explains these dense, complex ideas with crystal-clear clarity without dumbing them down. He walks you through the theological differences between Luther and Calvin, between the Catholics and the Protestants, step by logical step, until you not only understand the arguments but also grasp why people were willing to die for them.

This is the book I wish I'd had in college. It demystifies the intellectual heart of the Reformation while never losing sight of the human stakes involved. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned history buff, you will find Gregory's explanations illuminating and accessible. He is the rare scholar who can write for both the academy and the general reader without compromising rigor. For that alone, this course deserves five stars.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight History

AT A GLANCE
If you want the general history of the time, look no further.

CONTENT
This course covers the broad strokes of the Reformation epoch. It's history, mind you, so it can at times get reasonably qualified and dull. The focus is decidedly political in nature, covering the relations of various rulers and countries in the 16th and 17th centuries, together with their tensions and social conditions. Less time is spent covering the pressing questions of theology, considerably less than I had expected. Can't be too disappointed though, as there are other Great Courses for that subject.

NARRATOR
Prof. Gregory lectures well, delivering on inflection and avoiding overly dense language. His voice isn't terribly distinctive or engaging, but it doesn't distract from the content.

OVERALL
It's good. You can learn quite a lot if you pay close attention.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above average course: well organized, a good mix of facts and generalizations--and Dr. Gregory is the sort of lecturer who tells you what he's going to say, says it, sums up what he just said, tells you what he's going to say in the next lecture, and then later on refers back to what he's said before.

[Ben Smitthimedhin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of post-reformation history and its impact on the democratization/secularization of the modern world. Filled with good analysis and historical background. Fair treatment of Luther's predicament. Bounces back and forth quite a bit between different countries and sects (Anglicanism, Anabaptism, Catholicism, Radical Protestantism, Erasmian Humanism etc.).

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent course from The Great Courses. Gregory worked hard to explain the mindset of the reformation and various violent conflicts. I'm not a believer and thought he did a good job of describing both sides. It is a longish set of lectures but I would like to listen to them again or at least a subset of them.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad Gregory clearly knows his stuff. This course was packed with insightful information and analysis of a pivotal period of european history, the outcomes of which have shaped modern life profoundly. I really enjoyed this course, and will probably listen to it again to gain additional insights I missed the first time through.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're coming into this fresh, it's going to be a lot. If you are a student or scholar of the era, it was a fantastic overview with some very enjoyable tidbits and connections I was as yet unaware of.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wanted an extremely thorough overview of Europe in the late middle ages, early modern period? lol. Definitely going to revisit this, or at least the audible handouts, in the future.

[Melissa Swearingen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well done!!! Very balanced, very understandable, and interesting!

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent deep dive into protestant movement

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this installment of the Great Courses library, but not as much as the others I've listened to. There were so many different stories running through this time period that I felt the instructor didn't do a great job of weaving it all together into one coherent whole. I found myself losing interest and my mind would wander and I'd have to back up and listen again. I still learned a lot of interesting information, I just didn't love the instructor.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most I ever learned about religion - or about European history, politics, and society for that matter. I consider myself to be pretty well read, and relatively religiously literate. And, as a devout Lutheran, I have been studying the Reformation for nearly two decades now. But, this provided a depth of understanding that I had not gotten from anywhere else.

[Dianne Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Teaching Company courses--I've listened to this course twice now and am reading two of Brad Gregory's books--Salvation at Stake and The Unintended Reformation. Highly recommend!

[Stennett Eberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent course! Listen to learn more about Europe’s religious thought in the 1500’s and its continued influence today.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had some interesting points. I finished it.