Magician and Mechanic (The Divine Self, vol. 2): The Roots of “Spiritual but Not Religious” from the Renaissance to the Scientific Revolution

The Divine Self #2

by Michael Scott Horton

400 pages, Hardcover

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Dr. Horton has taught apologetics and theology at Westminster Seminary California since 1998. In addition to his work at the Seminary, he is the president of White Horse Inn, for which he co-hosts the White Horse Inn, a nationally syndicated, weekly radio talk-show exploring issues of Reformation theology in American Christianity. He is also the editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. Before coming to WSC, Dr. Horton completed a research fellowship at Yale University Divinity School. Dr. Horton is the author/editor of more than twenty books, including a series of studies in Reformed dogmatics published by Westminster John Knox.

Reviews

[Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company sent me a copy of "Magician and Mechanic: The Roots of 'Spiritual but Not Religious' from the Renaissance to the Scientific Revolution" by Michael S. Horton in exchange for an honest review.

This book is part 2 in Dr. Horton's Divine Self Trilogy. Like the first book, it's a very dense read, and each chapter focuses on a key figure, movement, or idea in the time period of interest. The scope of this volume is even more ambitious than the first. The first volume documented the pagan philosophy of western civilization, and this book follows its recovery and resurgence via the Renaissance. The result is a very profitable book that furthers Horton's mission to help Christians understand our current context by looking to the past. If you liked the first book, you will love this book!