How the Reformation Happened
by Hilaire Belloc

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Book Reviews of How the Reformation Happened

Book Review: A Balanced Thesis
Summary: 5 Stars

Belloc lays the blame for the Reformation on five factors. These five theses have been set forth in other reviews, so I won't repeat them here. Needless to say, the book is ordered on defending Belloc's theses from beginning to end.

Note also, that I use the word "blame" for the Reformation. To those unaware, Belloc was a staunch Catholic. It would be error to say that he wrote Catholic history (Belloc does not fabricate his facts), rather he writes with a Catholic perspective. That perspective is simply that the Reformation was definitevely NOT good for Christianity.

Belloc's balance is that he does put a great deal of the blame for the Reformation on the shoulder's of those within the Church. However, Belloc rightfully makes the distinction between a poor witness to Christ and the personal sin of those within the Church (matters in need of reform) and a wholesale rethinking of Christian doctrine. Without coming out and bluntly stating the fact, Belloc is arguing that the Reformation was not a reform, reform is a cure of the thing that is ill. Rather, the ultimate objective was a schism - a very split in the fabric of Christianity largely occasioned by motives far removed from dispute regarding doctrine.

Because of this approach, the student of the Reformation may be exposed to a different view than the somewhat romantic view of the Reformation as is presented in our history books. In fact, a good reading of this book should provide some balance. Lastly, Belloc does not speak in rhymes - he is a straight shooter and his point is made manifestly clear.

To that end, I highly recommend this book to any person who is interested in the facts and circumstances of the Reformation. If you have not read a Catholic perspective on this momentous time in history, please purchase this book and do so now. This history will not leave you disappointed.

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