The world stands before a landmark date: October 31, 2017, the quincentennial of the Protestant Reformation. Countries, social movements, churches, universities, seminaries, and other institutions shaped by Protestantism face a daunting question: how should the Reformation be commemorated 500 years after the fact? In this volume, leading historians and theologians, Protestant and Catholic, come together to grapple with this question and examine the historical significance of the Reformation. Protestantism has been credited for restoring essential Christian truth, blamed for disastrous church divisions, and invoked as the cause of modern liberalism, capitalism, democracy, individualism, modern science, secularism, and so much else. This book examines the historical significance of the Reformation and considers how we might expand and enrich the ongoing conversation about Protestantism's impact. The contributors conclude that we must remember the Reformation not only because of the enduring, sometimes painful religious divisions that emerged from this era, but also because a historical understanding of the Reformation is necessary for promoting ecumenical understanding and thinking wisely about the future of Christianity.

As we approach the landmark date of October 31, 2017, the quincentennial of the Protestant Reformation, countries, social movements, churches, universities, seminaries, and other institutions shaped by Protestantism are faced with the question of how to commemorate this momentous occasion. In this volume, experienced scholars come together to answer this question and examine the historical significance of the Reformation.

A robust defense of the essential interdependence of human rights and religious freedom from antiquity to the present.

How to be a hero when you’re feeling anything but super Despite all the superhero hype, the problems and pain in our world aren’t going away. In fact, it often feels like the threats just keep coming. But the good news is that God has placed you here for such a time as this. And the even better news? You don’t have to get rid of your anxiety, debt, speech impediment, extra weight, health issues, disability—or any other weakness—to be used by God. What this world actually needs is less-than-super people making small but significant differences in their own corners of the world. Through inspiring stories from the Bible and his own life, Dan Stanford demonstrates that with God availability is more important than ability. Losing the Cape is an invitation to start making the world a better place through your ordinary, everyday presence.

With relative documents bearing on the affairs of the Council and the state of the Presbyterian Churches throughout the world