The Protestant Revolution: From Martin Luther to Martin Luther King, Jr.

by William G. Naphy, Tristram Hunt (Foreword)

Historian William Naphy asks how the actions of an obscure German monk are still shaping our modern world. When Martin Luther nailed 95 criticisms of the Catholic Church to the door of his local church in 1517, he sparked not just a religious reformation, but an unending cycle of political, social, and economic change that continues to this day. By challenging the authority of the Pope, Luther inadvertently unleashed a revolutionary force—the power of the individual to determine his or her own thoughts and actions. Naphy demonstrates how more than four centuries later, Protestant minister Martin Luther King, Jr. was acting on the same revolutionary principle when he rejected racial discrimination and spearheaded the civil rights movement. The legacy of the Reformation is all around us, influencing our work life, family life, sex life, and political views. From literature to science, from gay marriage to the "War on Terror," a vibrant struggle for Protestant principles

Genres: History, Religion, Philosophy

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Professor Naphy received his doctorate (in Reformation History) from the University of St Andrews in 1993. He was appointed a lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1993 and, in 1996, at Aberdeen where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1999. He was awarded a personal chair in 2007. He is the author of six books with translations into six languages (including an up-coming translation into Bosnian for an NGO raising awareness of homosexuality in Bosnia) as well as numerous edited volumes and articles in scholarly journals.

Reviews

[Deeps George · Rating 4 out of 5]

William G. Naphy dwells into the history of Protestant leaders as well as the revolution created knowingly as well unknowingly by Martin Luther. A book that allows us to see the effect of what the Protestants did and their influence on culture,economics, education and spirituality.
A research approach but still worth reading to understand the extent of who we are and what we have done and re still doing as Protestants.

[Robin Peake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far too long a preface by Tristam Hunt. Book is full of interesting information, but was presented a litle flatly

[Yuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Works well as a survey of historical (and contemporary) Protestantism.