The Changed (and Changing) Face of Church History

This article explores some of the ways church history has changed over the last two generations. Church history has become more global in its orientation, has re-emphasized important developments in time periods sometimes neglected, and has challenged the dominant narrative of secularization. The reformation period in particular has seen notable changes. The reformation is now seen to be less of a break with the previous medieval period and not simply an inevitable response to what was deemed a moribund or corrupt church. The vibrancy of late medieval spirituality and piety is now an area that students have to actively consider. While in the past the reformation was often told as the story of what a few great men accomplished, the number of personalities, the differences between many of these individuals, the geographic areas involved, and the time in which these issues developed have all dramatically altered our understanding of this historical period. The article discusses all of these areas and ends by exploring the challenge of teaching this historical period and of understanding the meaning of the reformation.