Protestantism and Modernity

In 'The Abolition of Man', C.S. Lewis delivers a defense of objective value and natural law, originating from his Riddell Memorial Lectures at the University of Durham in 1943. Lewis argues that education should be conducted within the context of moral law and objective values, which he terms the 'Tao'. He criticizes modern attempts to debunk these values, warning that such actions could lead to a dehumanization of society, resulting in what he calls 'Men without Chests' – individuals whose emotions have not been trained to conform to reason. The book emphasizes the universal nature of traditional moralities across different cultures and warns against the dangers of moral relativism and the reduction of human beings to mere objects of scientific analysis.

While specific details about "The Unintended Reformation" are unavailable, the context suggests it's a historical analysis of the Protestant Reformation's impact on Western culture. The book likely explores the unforeseen consequences of the Reformation, examining how it contributed to the development of modern society. It may focus on the shift from a unified Christian culture to a more pluralistic one, analyzing the social, political, and religious changes that resulted. The author's perspective likely offers a critical examination of the Reformation's long-term effects, highlighting both positive and negative aspects. Further information is needed to provide a more comprehensive summary.

In 'A Secular Age', Charles Taylor explores the transformation of Western society from a pre-modern world where belief in God was inescapable to a modern secular age where believing in God is just one option among many. Taylor argues against the 'subtraction story' of secularization, which posits that religion has been removed from society. Instead, he describes a complex historical process involving the Reform movement in Christianity, the rise of disciplinary society, and the emergence of exclusive humanism. The book examines how these changes have affected the conditions of belief and unbelief, and how they have shaped modern social forms, moral orders, and spiritual experiences.