The History of Christianity II: From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch

Overview

Course No. 6620

Trace Christianity’s dramatic transformation from the Protestant Reformation to today’s global faith with Professor Molly Worthen.

This 36-lecture journey explores:

• The Protestant Reformation’s seismic impact

• Christianity’s encounters with science and modernity

• Global spread through missions and colonialism

• 21st-century challenges from secularism to megachurches

Discover how historical forces shaped the world’s largest religion across five turbulent centuries.

Video Lessons

Reformation Era (1-12)

• Pre-Reform Critics (31 min) – Renaissance challenges to the Church

2. Martin Luther (28 min) – 95 Theses and Protestant dawn

• Calvin & Zwingli (31 min) – Reformed theology spreads

• Anabaptists (29 min) – Radical reformers

5. Catholic Counter-Reformation (29 min) – Jesuits and renewal

6. Spanish Empire (30 min) – Politics and conversion

7. Thirty Years’ War (27 min) – Religion and European conflict

Early Modern (13-24)

13. Enlightenment (30 min) – Faith vs. reason debates

15. Great Awakenings (28/30 min) – Evangelical revivals

18. Mormonism (30 min) – American-born faith

19. Slave Religion (28 min) – African diaspora Christianity

21. Science & Faith (31 min) – Darwin and biblical criticism

• Apocalypticism (32 min) – End-times movements

Modern Challenges (25-36)

25. Russian Revolution (29 min) – Communist persecution

28. Vatican II (30 min) – Catholic modernization

30. Civil Rights (30 min) – Gospel and social justice

31. Culture Wars (30 min) – Christian Right emergence

33. African Christianity (32 min) – Prophetic movements

36. 21st Century (33 min) – Islam, capitalism, secularism