A thorough account of the Reformation's two most important--and most controversial--men Exploring the importance of Martin Luther and John Calvin's views on the world today, this thorough and insightful history offers a complete look into the Reformation's most prominent thinkers. Moving fluidly from the context of the 16th century, from what each thinker said and believed individually to popular rebuttals to their ideas, the guide explores the influence Luther and Calvin have had on the world today. Stressing both their religious and political importance in their own time, it concludes that the Reformation began a process of political and intellectual change that has not only shaped European thought today but has also had an undeniable influence on American culture.