Calvinism
A Very Short Introduction
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 25. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-0-19-288890-7 (ISBN)
Description
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring
Since its beginnings during the Protestant Reformation, Calvinism has spread throughout Europe and America and eventually to Africa and Asia. Today it is one of the largest schools of thought in Protestantism.
In this Very Short Introduction, Jon Balserak explores how Calvinist ideas and practices arose, spread, and took root. Considering its influence on modern thought on everything from theology to money, politics, and the arts, Balserak also combats some of the common misconceptions about Calvinism, and outlines the Calvinist understanding of God, the world, humankind, and the meaning of life. He also addresses Calvinism in a twenty-first century context and considers the challenges it faces today.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Since its beginnings during the Protestant Reformation, Calvinism has spread throughout Europe and America and eventually to Africa and Asia. Today it is one of the largest schools of thought in Protestantism.
In this Very Short Introduction, Jon Balserak explores how Calvinist ideas and practices arose, spread, and took root. Considering its influence on modern thought on everything from theology to money, politics, and the arts, Balserak also combats some of the common misconceptions about Calvinism, and outlines the Calvinist understanding of God, the world, humankind, and the meaning of life. He also addresses Calvinism in a twenty-first century context and considers the challenges it faces today.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
More details
Series
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 174 mm
Width: 111 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
134 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-288890-7 (9780192888907)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
12/2016
Oxford University Press
€12.39
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Jon Balserak is Senior Research Fellow at University of Bristol and Visiting Lecturer at University of Illinois Chicago. His publications include John Calvin as Sixteenth-Century Prophet (OUP, 2014) and Geneva's Use of Lies, Deceit, and Subterfuge, 1536-1563: Telling the Old, Old Story in Reformation France (OUP, 2024). He also authored the entries for "Calvin, Jean" and "Calvinism" in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 4th edition (OUP, 2022). He teaches on the Renaissance, Reformation, and western civilization.
Content
Acknowledgements 1: Beginnings 2: Becoming a Christian 3: Sources of truth 4: The covenants 5: Humanity and new humanity 6: Church and state 7: Culture, work, and conscience 8: God, hell, and love 9: Calvinism in the 21st century Chronology Further reading