Calvinism on the Frontier 1600-1660: International Calvinism and the Reformed Church in Hungary and Transylvania (Oxford Historical Monographs)

The reformation was not a western European event, but historians have neglected the study of Protestantism in central and eastern Europe. This book aims to rectify this situation. It examines one of Europe's largest Protestant communities in Hungary and Transylvania. It highlights the place of the Hungarian Reformed church in the international Calvinist world, and reveals the impact of Calvinism on Hungarian politics and society. The Reformation Was Not Simply A Western European Event, But Historians Have Neglected The Study Of Protestantism In Central And Eastern Europe. This Book Examines The Strong Support Calvinism Attracted In Hungary And Transylvania, Where One Of The Continent's Largest Reformed Churches Was Established By The Early Seventeenth Century. Understanding Of This Hungarian Reformed Church Remains The Most Significant Missing Element In The Analysis Of European Calvinism. The Hungarian Reformed Church Survived On Narrow Ground Between The Habsburgs And Turks, Thanks To Support From Transylvanian Princes And Local Nobles. They Worked With Reformed Clergy To Maintain Contact With Western Co-religionists, To Combat Confessional Rivals, To Improve Standards Of Education, And To Impose Moral Discipline. However, There Were Also Tensions Within The Church Over Further Reforms Of Public Worship And Church Government, And Over The Impact Of Puritanism. This Book Examines The Development Of The Hungarian Church Within The International Calvinist Community, And The Impact Of Calvinism On Hungarian Politics And Society.--jacket. Introduction: International Calvinism -- 1. The Hungarian Reformation -- 2. Hungarian Ministers And International Calvinism -- 3. Reforming Hungarian Education -- 4. Constitutional Toleration And Confessional Rivalry -- 5. Reformed Religion: Public Ceremony And Private Piety -- 6. Hungarian Puritans And Presbyterians -- 7. The Reformation Of Hungarian Life: Religious, Moral, And Social Discipline -- 8. Building A Reformed Church And Society: Clergy, Princes, And Nobles -- 9. A Militant And Expectant Faith. Graeme Murdock. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [304]-345) And Index. This is the first book to examine one of Europe's largest Protestant communities in Hungary and Transylvania. It highlights the place of the Hungarian Reformed church in the international Calvinist world, and reveals the impact of Calvinism on Hungarian politics and society. Calvinism attracted strong support in Hungary and Transylvania, where one of the largest Reformed churches was established by the early seventeenth century. Understanding of this Hungarian Reformed church remains the most significant missing element in the analysis of European Calvinism. The Hungarian Reformed church survived on narrow ground between the Habsburgs and Turks, thanks to support from Transylvanias princes and local nobles. They worked with Reformed clergy to maintain contact with western co-religionists, to combat confessional rivals, to improve standards of education and to impose moral discipline. However, there were also tensions within the church over further reforms of public worship and church government, and over the impact of puritanism. This book examines the development of the Hungarian church within the international Calvinist community, and the impact of Calvinism on Hungarian politics and society. "The reformation was not simply a western European event, but historians have neglected the study of Protestantism in central and eastern Europe. This book examines the strong support Calvinism attracted in Hungary and Transylvania, where one of the continent's largest Reformed churches was established by the early seventeenth century. Understanding of this Hungarian Reformed church remains the most significant missing element in the analysis of European Calvinism.". "The Hungarian Reformed church survived on narrow ground between the Habsburgs and Turks, thanks to support from Transylvanian princes and local nobles. They worked with Reformed clergy to maintain contact with western co-religionists, to combat confessional rivals, to improve standards of education, and to impose moral discipline. However, there were also tensions within the church over further reforms of public worship and church government, and over the impact of puritanism. This book examines the development of the Hungarian church within the international Calvinist community, and the impact of Calvinism on Hungarian politics and society."--BOOK JACKET. TITLE PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS MAP TABLE NOTE ON FAMILY NAMES AND PLACE-NAMES ABBREVIATIONS Introduction: International Calvinism 1. The Hungarian Reformation 2. Hungarian Reformed Clergy and International Calvinism 3. Reforming Hungarian Education 4. Constitutional Toleration and Confessional Rivalry 5. Reformed Religion: Public Ceremony and Private Piety 6. Hungarian Puritans and Presbyterians 7. The Reformation of Hungarian Life: Religious, Moral, and Social Discipline 8. Building a Reformed Church and Society: Clergy, Princes, and Nobles 9. A Militant and Expectant Faith Conclusions BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX