Refusing to Kiss the Slipper: Opposition to Calvinism in the Francophone Reformation

Abstract

History has long viewed French Protestants as Calvinists. Refusing to Kiss the Slipper re-examines the Reformation in francophone Europe, presenting for the first time the perspective of John Calvin's evangelical enemies and revealing that the French Reformation was more complex and colorful than previously recognized. Michael Bruening brings together a cast of Calvin's opponents from various French-speaking territories to show that opposition to Calvinism was stronger and better organized than has been recognized. He examines individual opponents, such as Pierre Caroli, Jerome Bolsec, Sebastian Castellio, Charles Du Moulin, and Jean Morély, but more importantly, he explores the anti-Calvinist networks that developed around such individuals.

Each group had its own origins and agenda, but all agreed that Calvin's claim to absolute religious authority too closely echoed the religious sovereignty of the pope. These oft-neglected opponents refused to offer such obeisance-to kiss the papal slipper-arguing instead for open discussion of controversial doctrines. They believed Calvin's self-appointed leadership undermined the bedrock principle of the Reformation that the faithful be allowed to challenge religious authorities. This book shows that the challenge posed by these groups shaped the way the Calvinists themselves developed their reform strategies. Bruening's work demonstrates that the breadth and strength of the anti-Calvinist networks requires us to abandon the traditional assumption that Huguenots and other francophone Protestants were universally Calvinist.

Department(s)

History and Political Science

Comments

Overview

  • Provides a history of the French Reformation from the perspective of Calvin's Protestant opponents
  • Considers Calvin's opponents on their own terms
  • Shows that opposition to Calvin within francophone evangelicalism was more widespread and better organized than has hitherto been acknowledged

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-019756695-4

Document Type

Book

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1. Reforming The French National Church: Marguerite Of Navarre's Network
Chapter 2. The Formation Of The Farellian And Calvinist Networks
Chapter 3. Anti-Calvinists of Francophone Switzerland
Chapter 4. The Consolidation of Anti-Calvinism in Francophone Switzerland
Chapter 5. Sebastian Castellio's Liberal Challenge
Chapter 6. Castellio's Long Shadow
Chapter 7. The Gallican Evangelicals: State-Sponsored French Religious Reform Revisited
Chapter 8. Jean Morély's Assault on Calvinist Ecclesiology
Conclusion
Glossary of Key Individuals
Maps and Figures
Bibliography

Rights

© 2021 Oxford University Press, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2021

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