Popular Religion In Sixteenth-century England: Holding Their Peace (social History In Perspective)

This book is a lively and accessible study of English religious life during the century of the Reformation. It draws together a wide range of recent research and makes extensive use of colourful contemporary evidence. The author explores the involvement of ordinary people within, alongside and beyond the church, covering topics such as liturgical practice, church office, relations with the clergy, festivity, religious fellowships, cheap print, 'magical' religion and dissent. The result is a distinctive interpretation of the Reformation as it was experienced by English people, and the strength, resourcefulness and flexibility of their religion emerges as an important theme. This Is A Lively And Accessible Study Of English Religious Life During The Century Of The Reformation. It Draws Together A Wide Range Of Recent Research, And Makes Extensive Use Of Colourful Contemporary Evidence. The Author Explores The Involvement Of Ordinary People Within, Alongside And Beyond The Church, Covering Topics Such As Liturgical Practice, Church Office, Relations With The Clergy, Festivity, Religious Fellowships, Cheap Print, Magical Religion, And Dissent. The Result Is A Distinctive Interpretation Of The Reformation As It Was Experienced By English People, And The Strength, Resourcefulness And Flexibility Of Their Religion Emerges As An Important Theme. Two Snapshots And An Enigma -- What Is Popular Religion, And Does It Matter? -- How Can We Study Popular Religion? -- Historiographical Outlines (and Battle-lines) -- Layfolk Within The Church -- The Centrality Of The Church -- Participation In Church Services: The Opportunities -- Participation In Church Services: The Response -- Church Materials -- Church Office -- Confession And Catechism -- The People And Their Clergy -- Layfolk Alongside The Church -- Extra-liturgical Festivity -- Attitudes To The Church Courts -- Forms Of Fellowship -- Testaments Of Faith -- Piety In Print -- 'magical' Religion -- Layfolk Beyond The Church -- The Distribution Of Dissent -- Beliefs -- Behaviour -- Continuities And Interconnections -- Attitudes To Dissent -- Dissent And Popular Religion -- Conclusions: The Compliance Conundrum -- The Relative Popularity Of Old And New -- The Roots Of Obedience -- Reformist Tactics -- Continuities -- The Flexibility Of Faith -- Popular Religion Through The Reformation. Christopher Marsh. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 244-252) And Index. How was the Reformation received by the majority of England's people? How did parishioners negotiate a pathway through this period of rapid and repeated change, maintaining a positive attitude to the hurch? Why, by the early seventeenth century, did most people consider themselves Protestant? In this lively and accessible introduction to English religious life during the century of the Reformation, Marsh attempts to answer these key questions and build a distinctive interpretation of religious developments during the period. Drawing together a wide range of recent research and making extensive use of colourful contemporary evidence, the involvement of ordinary people within, alongside and beyond the Church is explained. Topics such as liturgical practice, church office, relations with the clergy, festivity, religious fellowships, chea print, 'magical' religion and dissent are all considered. The author concludes that the popular response was resourceful, creative and flexible though dependent upon the strength of ideas about Christian neighbourliness, and upon the numerous links that existed between pre- and post-Reformation religion. This continuity of community was a powerful force and reflected an instinctive compromise between the old and the new rather than the victory of one over the other. This book is about the construction of that compromise. -- Book cover

this Is A Lively And Accessible Study Of English Religious Life During The Century Of The Reformation.

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marsh (history, Queens U. Of Belfast) Delves Into How The Reformation Was Received By The Majority Of England's People, How Parishioners Maintained A Positive Attitude Toward The Church While Negotiating A Pathway Through The Period Of Rapid And Repeated Change, Why Most People Considered Themselves Protestants By The Early 17th Century, And Similar Questions. He Characterizes The Change As A Compromise Between Old And New Rather Than A Victory Of One Over The Other. Paper Edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation C. By Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

This book examines the history of US foreign policy since the Vietnam War. It focuses on four themes: the legacy of Vietnam; the ending and aftermath of the Cold War; the debate over American international decline; and the frequently undemocratic conduct of US foreign policy. The book considers alternative explanations for the Cold War's end. It evaluates the foreign policy leadership of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton and assesses prospects for US foreign policy after the Cold War.