The Middle Ages were dubbed the 'Dark Ages' almost before they had begun to draw to a close. Ever since then, they have continued to be seen as a time of hardship and oppression, full of popes and crusades. In the second volume of 2,000 Years of Christ's Power, another side of the Middle Ages shines through though: The continual workings of Christ as He built His kingdom through figures such as Thomas a Kempis and John Wycliffe, who lived and struggled during these centuries. This was far from a period of stagnation; rather it was the fire from which the Reformation was kindled.

The Renaissance and Reformation were exciting times of learning and discovery - they pushed the boundaries of accepted thought. The repercussions of this, however, were that they left in their wake a period of universal uncertainty. The centuries-old status quo had been turned on its head. Nothing was stable anymore. Conflict ensued.

The fourth volume of 2,000 Years of Christ's Power spans from the 16th to the 18th century. It presents a time from which English Protestantism, Scottish Presbyterianism, and French Catholicism, to name only a few, were birthed and refined. Perhaps few eras have had such a direct impact on the characteristics of our own period of history.

"Ozment's masterly synthesis of the intellectual and religious history of the period 1250-1550 clarifies the impact of late medieval ideas on early modern society. Its appeal derives from its breadth of scholarship and clarity of style. Ozment reviews the current state of research on late medieval intellectual history, explicates the basic ideas of the scholastic, spiritual, and ecclesio-political traditions, and analyzes the impact of these on Protestant reformers."--Choice
"It is not only a clear and coherent substantive history; it is also an extremely fair-minded discussion of the interpretations and issues involved."--Gordon Leff, The Times Literary Supplement
"As one would expect of Steven Ozment, he has produced a masterful study. . . an intellectual and religious history of late medieval and Reformation Europe."--Christianity Today
"A high level survey of current work on religious thought and practice from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century. For Ozment, the period involved was neither the waning of the Middle Ages nor was it the dawning of a new era. Rather, it was a period in which the people of Europe at all levels underwent a series of intellectual and spiritual crises culminating in the Protestant Reformation. . . . A stimulating, readable survey of late medieval Reformation religious thought that will be of interest to both teachers and students."--James Muldoon, History

In the post-9/11 world, it is not difficult to see how important religion remains in America and around the globe. An older generation of scholars expected that America and the rest of the Western world was headed inexorably toward secularization and the end of religion. America is undoubtedly secular in many ways, and our constitutional order requires a clear distinction between faith communities and government. Yet from the colonial era to the present, American men and women have been, and have remained, a pervasively religious people.

In America's Religious History, leading historian Thomas S. Kidd traces the theological and ethnic diversity and enduring strength of American religion, with special attention to Christianity and evangelical faith. Interweaving religious history and key events from the larger narrative of American history, the book considers how faith commitments and categories have shaped the nation.

Written with the student in mind, America's Religious History offers an up-to-date, narrative introduction useful for undergraduate and graduate-level courses on American religion. General readers wanting to better understand the religious background of American life and politics will also enjoy its engaging and insightful overview.