John Bale And Religious Conversion In Reformation England

The author of the essay, Wort, focuses on the life and work of the evangelical reformer John Bale (1485-1563). Bale wrote several accounts of his conversion over a twenty-year period, which Wort uses to reinterpret his conversion. Wort argues that Bale's conversion was gradual, and that both aspects of his character and beliefs can be seen to coexist. This case study provides new critical perspectives on the subject of religious conversion, which Wort uses to offer a novel way of thinking about the English Reformation.

Focusing on the life and work of the evangelical reformer John Bale (1485-1563), Wort presents a study of conversion in the sixteenth century. Wort presents a study of conversion in the sixteenth century by focusing on the life and work of the evangelical reformer John Bale (1485-1563). Bale wrote several accounts of his conversion over a twenty-year period. Through a scrupulous examination of these published and unpublished works, Wort reinterprets Bale's conversion, moving away from standard assumptions of a 'clean break' towards a gradual metamorphosis where both aspects of Bale's character and beliefs can be seen to coexist. Wort uses this case study to establish a new set of critical perspectives on the subject of religious conversion and so offers a novel way of thinking about the English Reformation.