Category Archives: Protestantism
PAUL TILLICH
(1886-1965)
from The Courage to Be
Paul Tillich was a German-American theologian whose work helped to revolutionize Protestant theology in light of a philosophical analysis of existence. Born in a small Prussian town, the son of an authoritarian Lutheran minister, Tillich attended universities in Berlin, … Continue reading
Filed under Americas, Europe, Existentialism, Protestantism, Selections, The Modern Era, Tillich, Paul
RICHARD HEY
(1745-1835)
from Dissertation on Suicide
Born at Pudsey, near Leeds, Richard Hey was an English mathematician and essayist. In 1768, he received his B.A. from Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he was a tutor and fellow from 1782 to 1796 after completing M.A. and LL.D. … Continue reading
Filed under Europe, Hey, Richard, Protestantism, Selections, The Early Modern Period
JOHN WESLEY
(1703-1791)
Thoughts on Suicide
An English preacher and writer, John Wesley and his brother Charles were the founders of Methodism. Born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England to Anglican rector Samuel Wesley, John was educated at the Charterhouse School and was elected fellow of Lincoln … Continue reading
Filed under Europe, Poverty, Protestantism, Selections, The Early Modern Period, Wesley, John
CALEB FLEMING
(1698-1779)
from A Dissertation Upon the Unnatural Crime of Self-Murder
Caleb Fleming was born in Nottingham and brought up in a Calvinist home. Fleming’s early desire was to enter the ministry; as a boy he learned shorthand in order to write down sermons. However, when Presbyterian minister John Hardy … Continue reading
ISAAC WATTS
(1674-1748)
from A Defense Against the Temptation to Self-Murder
Isaac Watts, regarded as the father of English hymnody, was born in Southampton, England, and studied at the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington, now inside London, until 1694. He then became a family tutor to Sir John Hartopp; Watts’ … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Europe, Protestantism, Selections, Sin, The Early Modern Period, Watts, Isaac
COTTON MATHER
(1663-1728)
from Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions
Cotton Mather, son of Increase Mather [q.v.], was born in Boston, graduated from Harvard in 1678, and was ordained in 1685 in the Congregational Church. He assisted and then succeeded his father in the Second Church pastorate, Boston. Although … Continue reading
Filed under Americas, Christianity, Devil, Mather, Cotton, Protestantism, Selections, The Early Modern Period
JOHN ADAMS
(1662-1720)
from An Essay Concerning Self-Murther
Born in London, the son of a Lisbon merchant, John Adams was educated at Eton and at King’s College, Cambridge, earning bachelor’s, master’s, and divinity degrees. He traveled to France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. In 1687, he was appointed to … Continue reading
Filed under Adams, John, Europe, Protestantism, Selections, The Early Modern Period
JOHN CALVIN
(1509-1564)
Sermons on Job:
13th Sermon on the 3rd Chapter of Job
17th Sermon on the 5th Chapter of Job
22nd Sermon on the 5th Chapter of Job
24th Sermon on the 6th Chapter of Job
The French theologian and reformer John Calvin (originally Jean Calvin or Cauvin), was born in Noyon, Picardy, to a staunch Roman Catholic family; his father hoped that he would become a priest. He went to Paris to study Latin … Continue reading
Filed under Calvin, John, Christianity, Europe, Protestantism, Selections, The Early Modern Period
MARTIN LUTHER
(1483-1546)
from Table Talk
The German religious reformer, Martin Luther, was born in Saxony, the son of a prosperous but strict entrepreneur and local politician. In 1505, Luther received a master’s degree from the University of Erfurt, one of Germany’s finest schools. According … Continue reading
Filed under Devil, Europe, Luther, Martin, Middle Ages, Protestantism, Selections, Sin