Introduction

Abstract

The introductory chapter discusses the importance of researching rural Reformed churches of the early modern Dutch Republic in order to better understand the lived religious experiences of Dutch Reformed Christians. These religious experiences included theology and practice, two categories which did not always neatly align. The introduction argues for the predominance of rural communities and churches in the early modern Dutch Republic and highlights the need for more studies of those communities. Research questions are raised regarding the similarities and differences between urban and rural churches and how rural churches’ unique features, such as geographical isolation and smaller population, affected their religious lives. Furthermore, understanding how rural communities navigated confessional disagreements and sought to establish Reformed identities provides a better understanding of early modern religious life in the Dutch Republic.