A Chat with Philip Duce

1. Why The Reformation Still Matters was published in 2016. What makes it continually relevant? 

It was published in time for the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation (with Luther’s posting of his 95 theses) in 2017. The church today still needs to take heed of Reformation principles for faith and life, and the book encourages this. It concludes, 'The only way the Reformation could possibly not still matter would be if beauty, goodness, truth, joy and human flourishing no longer mattered. We have been made to enjoy God, but without the great truths the Reformers fought for that display him as glorious and enjoyable we shall not do so. Seeing less of him, we shall be lesser and sadder. Seeing more of him, we shall be fuller and happier.' 

2. What was the most challenging element of working on the book?

Mike Reeves and Tim Chester are both established authors who know what they are doing. The book was a privilege and pleasure to oversee; there were no ‘challenges’ as such.

3. How might the book resonate with an historian or secular reader?

It serves as a polemic against attempts to play down the significance of the Reformation e.g. viewed as an unfortunate incident that is now behind us or a conflict about issues that are no longer relevant.