Ronald K. Rittgers

Ronald K. Rittgers is a Professor of Reformation Studies, History of Christianity, and History at Duke University’s Divinity School and Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He joined Duke in 2021 after holding roles at Valparaiso University, Yale University, and Harvard University. His research focuses on Reformation-era theology, spirituality, and the interplay between religion and culture in early modern Europe. Rittgers earned a Ph.D. in History from Harvard University (1998), an M.T.S. from Regent College (Canada, 1992), and dual B.A.s from Wheaton College (1987).

His work challenges traditional narratives of the Reformation’s role in secularization, emphasizing Scripture’s sacramental role in Protestant spirituality. Key publications include The Reformation of the Keys (2009) and A Widower’s Lament (2021), exploring themes of suffering, mysticism, and lay piety. He has held prestigious fellowships at the Herzog August Bibliothek and National Endowment for the Humanities.

Rittgers teaches courses on Reformation history, early modern Christianity, and Lutheran theology. His leadership roles include Chair of the Historical Division at Duke Divinity School and editor of the Reformation and Renaissance Review. Current projects include a book on early Protestant views of Scripture as an enchanted medium of divine encounter.