Spiritual Reformers in the 16th and 17th Centuries

by Rufus Matthew Jones

"" Spiritual Reformers in the 16th and 17th Centuries"" by Rufus M. Jones is a comprehensive historical account of the religious reformation movements that took place during the 16th and 17th centuries. The book examines the lives and teachings of key figures such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, George Fox, and Jakob Boehme, among others. Jones provides a detailed analysis of the theological and philosophical ideas that shaped these reformers' beliefs and how they impacted the religious landscape of Europe and America. The book also explores the social and political contexts in which these movements emerged and how they influenced the development of modern Christianity. Overall, ""Spiritual Reformers in the 16th and 17th Centuries"" offers a fascinating insight into a pivotal period in religious history and the individuals who helped shape it.1914. What is Spiritual Religion; The Main Current of the Reformation; Hans Denck and the Inward Word; Two Prophets of the Inward Bunderlin and Entfelder; Sebastian An Apostle of Inward Religion; Caspar Schwenckfeld and the Reformation of the Middle Way; Sebastian A Forgotten Prophet; Coornhert and the Collegiants; Valentine Weigel and Nature Mysticism; Jacob His Life and Spirit; Boehme's Universe, His Way of Salvation and His Influence in England; Early English Interpreters of Spiritual Religion, John Everard, Giles Randall and others; John Smith, Patonist; Thomas Traheren and the Spiritual Poets of the Seventeenth Century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Mysticism

416 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1942

About the author

Rufus Matthew Jones (January 25, 1863 – June 16, 1948) was an American religious leader, writer, magazine editor, philosopher, and college professor. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Haverford Emergency Unit (a precursor to the American Friends Service Committee). One of the most influential Quakers of the 20th century, he was a Quaker historian and theologian as well as a philosopher. He is the only person to have delivered two Swarthmore Lectures.

Reviews

[Dana Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book, or parts of it, multiple times, because it is that good and that important. In a way, it is a story telling book of stories by "spiritual pioneers" (a more accurate description in my view) who found themselves in very difficult situations at times. These difficulties occurred largely because their connection to Christianity was far more about their inward experiences than their outward profession of orthodox belief. Clearly, one gets a great window into a minor current or eddy of Christianity, but that it raises the question: "why did they get such resistance from the mainstream?" These are stories that need to be remembered and told for the truism that faith is more about feeling and experience than it is about thinking and belief.