Wars of Religion (So Called) - Part I (A Christian Survey of World History)

In this deeply historical and challenging lecture, R.J. Rushdoony unpacks the so-called “Wars of Religion” that followed the Reformation—conflicts that were less about faith and more about the rising power of the modern state. With penetrating insight, he dismantles the humanist myth that the Renaissance was a rebirth of liberty, showing instead how it birthed tyranny, statism, and the loss of personal freedom. From Spain’s gold-fueled descent into economic chaos to the devastation of the Thirty Years’ War, Rushdoony traces how Europe’s turn away from biblical faith toward political absolutism reaped destruction. With historical clarity and biblical perspective, Rushdoony calls Christians to rethink modern history and recognize how true liberty only flourishes under godly order. If you’ve ever questioned the mainstream narrative of Western progress, this episode will give you a radically different—and deeply rooted—perspective. Tune in to learn why the rise and fall of nations still hinge not on politics, but on faith.