Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!

There has perhaps been no other figure more celebrated yet more vilified, more appreciated yet more misunderstood, more eulogised over and yet more criticised and condemned, than the controversial French born theologian John Calvin. To some Calvin is little more than the originator of the theological system we call Calvinism today, even though he had nothing to do with the formulation of such a system. To others he was the tyrant of Geneva, and yet others would see him as one of Europe’s most significant and impactful thinkers.

This week the Curious team have the great honour of interviewing Matt White, a keen observer and student of John Calvin. Together with Matt, Pete and the Curious team walk-through the life, thinking and influence of John Calvin, warts and all. They’ll be exploring Calvin the student, the person seeking asylum, the unwilling organiser, the gifted thinker and strategist, the father and husband, the leader, influencer and reluctant reformer. This episode will look at the high points of Calvin‘s life, his Institutions, his development of Geneva as a “school of Christ”, as well as his low points, his controversial run-in with Servetus.

In this fifth episode of our series, The Road to Reformation, the Curious team take a no-holds-barred dive into Calvin’s life and influence, asking why he has often been labelled a misery or a tyrant, and why perhaps such characterisations may not be particularly accurate.

Join the Curious Team this week in what promises to be a very intriguing and revealing episode.

Further Reading
Here’s a bit of homework for you that offers some insight into this weeks theme…

The Life and Times of John Calvin - ChristianHistoryInstitute.org

Calvin: A Biography - TheGospelCoalition.org

John Calvin - Ligonier.org

What we’re reading?
As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes….here’s a list of the best we've come across on the Reformation;

Nick Page — A Nearly Infallible History of the Reformation

Diarmaid MacCulloch — Reformation (Europe’s House Divided)

Richard Rex — The Making of Martin Luther

Andrew Pettegree — Brand Luther

Michael Reeves — The Unquenchable Flame

Peter Marshall — Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation

Bruce Gordon — Calvin

In addition, check out this great podcast from our friend Matt White, delving into the life and thinking of John Calvin. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!

Who was Ulrich Zwingli? How does a priest, turned soldier, turned protester, turned reformer, end up dead on a field in a five kilometre square piece of land in the Swiss town of Kappel? What were the forces, the difficulties and conflicts, and the significant personalities that came to bear on Zwingli? Who were his supporters and how dangerous were his enemies?

This week the Curious team take a look at the phenomenon that was the Swiss reformation, reflecting on the significant role Ulrich Zwingli came to play in igniting, developing and establishing it.

In this fourth episode of our series, The Reformation Road, the Curious team launch into Zwingli’s life, influence and legacy. What impact the events in Switzerland came to have on the European reformation.

Join the Curious Team this week as they step in to the extraordinary events of Zwingli’s life.

Further Reading
Here’s a bit of homework for you that offers some insight into this weeks theme…
The Life and Thought of Zwingli - ChristianHistoryInstitude.org

9 Things You Should Know About Ulrich Zwingli - TheGospelCoalition.org


What we’re reading?
As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes….here’s a list of the best we've come across on the Reformation;

Nick Page — A Nearly Infallible History of the Reformation

Diarmaid MacCulloch — Reformation (Europe’s House Divided)

Richard Rex — The Making of Martin Luther

Andrew Pettegree — Brand Luther

Michael Reeves — The Unquenchable Flame

Peter Marshall — Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation

In addition, check out this great podcast from our friend Matt White, delving into the life and thinking of John Calvin. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!

Few in church history could ever fully comprehend the enormity of impact the event of October 31st, 1517 in Wittenberg could produce on the global church. Martin Luther’s inquisitive protest against the machinery of indulgences, was launched initially as an invitation for clear and theologically intelligent minds to critically reflect on the validity and value of indulgences

This week the Curious them take a look at the enigma that is Martin Luther. What was his home life like? Was it overly strict? Was it supportive and loving? How did the University of Erfurt shape his thinking? How did Luther’s ‘lightening bolt’ experience recalibrate his perspective and values? What were the 95 thesis really all about? What was Luther really trying to achieve in making them public? And why was the Diet of Worms in May 1521, so incredibly significant for Luther and decisive for the Reformation?

In this third episode of our series, “The Road to Reformation”, the Curious team launch into Luther, his beginnings, his early convictions, his formulating discontent, and his eventual public display, challenging the might of the Holy Catholic Church!

Join the Curious Team this week as they step in to the extraordinary events of 1517 and it’s immediate aftermath on the European church.

Further Reading
Here’s a bit of homework for you that offers some insight into this weeks theme…
Luther's Early Life - LutheranRefromation.org

Luther's Early Years - ChristianHistoryInstitute.org


What we’re reading?
As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes….here’s a list of the best we've come across on the Reformation;

Nick Page — A Nearly Infallible History of the Reformation

Diarmaid MacCulloch — Reformation (Europe’s House Divided)

Richard Rex — The Making of Martin Luther

Andrew Pettegree — Brand Luther

Michael Reeves — The Unquenchable Flame

Peter Marshall — Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation

In addition, check out this great podcast from our friend Matt White, delving into the life and thinking of John Calvin.

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious