Ronald K. Rittgers, Professor

Prof. Rittgers joined the faculty of Duke Divinity School in the fall of 2021. He is interested in the theology and spirituality of the Age of Reform (ca. 1050-ca. 1650), and also studies the important intellectual, social, and cultural developments of this period in western Christianity. A scholar who writes for both the academy and the church, in addition to articles and essays, Professor Rittgers has authored a number of books: The Reformation of the Keys: Confession, Conscience, and Authority in Sixteenth-Century Germany (Harvard University Press, 2004); The Reformation of Suffering: Pastoral Theology and Lay Piety in Late Medieval and Early Modern Germany (Oxford University Press, 2012); The Reformation Commentary on Scripture: Hebrews and James (Intervarsity Press, 2017); a co-edited volume, Protestants and Mysticism in Reformation Europe (Brill, 2019); and A Widower’s Lament: The “Pious Meditations” of Johann Christoph Oelhafen (Fortress, 2021). Prof. Rittgers is currently working on a book entitled The Enchanted Word of Early Protestantism. He has held grants from the NEH and the Lilly Foundation, and has been a senior research fellow at the Herzog August Bibliothek (Wolfenbüttel, Germany) and the Leibniz Institute for European History (Mainz, Germany). Professor Rittgers has also served as the president of the American Society of Church History.

Contact Info:

Office Location:	0040C Langford Building, Duke Divinity School, NC 27708
Office Phone:	+1 919 660 3460
Email Address:

Teaching (Spring 2024):

• MEDREN 551.01, EARLY MODERN CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Westbrook 0016, MW 03:05 PM-04:20 PM

• CHURHST 751.001, EARLY MOD/MOD CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Westbrook 0012, MW 03:05 PM-04:20 PM

• CHURHST 751.01P, EARLY MOD/MOD CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Langford 0050, Th 08:45 AM-09:35 AM

• CHURHST 751.02P, EARLY MOD/MOD CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Langford 0054, Th 08:45 AM-09:35 AM

• CHURHST 751.03P, EARLY MOD/MOD CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Langford 0050, Th 01:55 PM-02:45 PM

• CHURHST 751.04P, EARLY MOD/MOD CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Langford 0054, Th 01:55 PM-02:45 PM

• CHURHST 751.06P, EARLY MOD/MOD CHRISTIANITY Synopsis

  Langford 0050, F 11:35 AM-12:25 PM

• HISTTHEO 803.02, LUTHER & THE REFORMATION Synopsis

  Langford 060, F 01:25 PM-03:55 PM

• CHURHST 890.01, TOPICS IN CHURCH HISTORY Synopsis

  Divinity TBA, W 03:05 PM-05:35 PM

• XTIANTHE 950.01, THD SEM: EXPLOR IN PRACT THEO Synopsis

  Divinity TBA, F 01:25 PM-03:55 PM

Education:

Ph.D.

Harvard University

1998