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Luther and the Protestant Reformation
Why is it important to study European religious history?
It is important to study European religious history in order to truly understand the roots of our religious freedom. Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation in Europe during the early 1500's that erupted a revolution. This, herein, lead to the establishment of multiple varying belief systems. The Catholic Church was forced to allow for religious freedom, and today, this is translated into what we see as the freedom to be apart of any religion or belief system we wish. Without the knowledge of one's religious history, they would not be aware of the roots of its true belief system, therefore, one may ask if they are even a true religious person.
Why might the Reformation be seen as a political revolution?
The reformation might be seen as a political revolution because of the dramatic change of authority in Europe. The Catholic Church, which dominated most of the European population, was questioned as being corrupt and fraudulent by Martin Luther and his radical beliefs. He developed the belief that the Catholic Church and the Pope in fact had no spiritual powers, and that they were irrelevant in ones attempt at receiving the Grace of God. This caused an uprising, and many people began to inherit Luther's beliefs over the Roman Catholic's. Following was an enormous loss of power in the Church. A dominant power that once ruled over the King's and Queen's of Europe, was no more relevant in European politics.
What was so significant about the bible only being written in Latin?
The bible only being written in Latin was very vital in the Catholic Church's maitenance of its power. Before the Protestant Reformation, the whole population of Europe was unable to read or speak Latin. The only person that was able to speak Latin, and to read the bible, was the Church's Parish Priest. Loyalty of the European population to the Church was helped to be maintained through the Parish Priest. This was changed, however, when Martin Luther released the bible fully translated into German for all to read.
Is Church corruption part of the story of the Reformation? How?
Yes, Church corruption is part of the story of the Reformation. It is in a way that the Catholic Church was extremely corrupted due to its dominant power within Europe, and it was exposed as this by Martin Luther. A great example of their corruption has already been discussed above. The Church had only one person that was able to read the bible, the Parish Priest, and they did not bother to translate it from Latin for the greater population to be able to read it themselves. They were seeking the loyalty of the people, thus proving their power hungry nature and corruption. Not only this, but the Priests were seen as the spiritually powerful, and were portrayed as this by the Church and all of its members. Continuous propaganda was used by the Catholic Church to convey the idea that the Priest, as well as the Pope, had spiritual powers that could cleanse one from all of their sins. It can be argued that, even presently, people are brainwashed by Church's and their Priests into believing certain things about their religion that may not be true. The arguments over corruption of the Catholic Church before the Reformation are too many, and once this was brought to the people's attention by Luther, the Reformation began, and the Church lost many of its loyal civilians.
Was Luther an extremist? Is this good or bad...or neither??
Yes, it can be interpreted that Luther was an extremist, and in this case, his radicalism had a positive impact on society. However, this does not mean that it was a good thing for him to be an extremist, nor a bad thing. To be an extremist is a choice rotating around your internal belief, and to be one is neither good, nor bad. Martin Luther was the first extremist to voice his opinion, and although I believe this had a positive effect on society, many cases followed in which being an extremist resulted in negative impacts. I believe extremism is a religion of its own that maintains equilibrium within religion, and within our entire society, in a way that doesn't allow for a political or religious stalemate. This is what it is, and to label extremism as "good" or "bad" would simply be wrong.
Why is it important to study European religious history?
It is important to study European religious history in order to truly understand the roots of our religious freedom. Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation in Europe during the early 1500's that erupted a revolution. This, herein, lead to the establishment of multiple varying belief systems. The Catholic Church was forced to allow for religious freedom, and today, this is translated into what we see as the freedom to be apart of any religion or belief system we wish. Without the knowledge of one's religious history, they would not be aware of the roots of its true belief system, therefore, one may ask if they are even a true religious person.
Why might the Reformation be seen as a political revolution?
The reformation might be seen as a political revolution because of the dramatic change of authority in Europe. The Catholic Church, which dominated most of the European population, was questioned as being corrupt and fraudulent by Martin Luther and his radical beliefs. He developed the belief that the Catholic Church and the Pope in fact had no spiritual powers, and that they were irrelevant in ones attempt at receiving the Grace of God. This caused an uprising, and many people began to inherit Luther's beliefs over the Roman Catholic's. Following was an enormous loss of power in the Church. A dominant power that once ruled over the King's and Queen's of Europe, was no more relevant in European politics.
What was so significant about the bible only being written in Latin?
The bible only being written in Latin was very vital in the Catholic Church's maitenance of its power. Before the Protestant Reformation, the whole population of Europe was unable to read or speak Latin. The only person that was able to speak Latin, and to read the bible, was the Church's Parish Priest. Loyalty of the European population to the Church was helped to be maintained through the Parish Priest. This was changed, however, when Martin Luther released the bible fully translated into German for all to read.
Is Church corruption part of the story of the Reformation? How?
Yes, Church corruption is part of the story of the Reformation. It is in a way that the Catholic Church was extremely corrupted due to its dominant power within Europe, and it was exposed as this by Martin Luther. A great example of their corruption has already been discussed above. The Church had only one person that was able to read the bible, the Parish Priest, and they did not bother to translate it from Latin for the greater population to be able to read it themselves. They were seeking the loyalty of the people, thus proving their power hungry nature and corruption. Not only this, but the Priests were seen as the spiritually powerful, and were portrayed as this by the Church and all of its members. Continuous propaganda was used by the Catholic Church to convey the idea that the Priest, as well as the Pope, had spiritual powers that could cleanse one from all of their sins. It can be argued that, even presently, people are brainwashed by Church's and their Priests into believing certain things about their religion that may not be true. The arguments over corruption of the Catholic Church before the Reformation are too many, and once this was brought to the people's attention by Luther, the Reformation began, and the Church lost many of its loyal civilians.
Was Luther an extremist? Is this good or bad...or neither??
Yes, it can be interpreted that Luther was an extremist, and in this case, his radicalism had a positive impact on society. However, this does not mean that it was a good thing for him to be an extremist, nor a bad thing. To be an extremist is a choice rotating around your internal belief, and to be one is neither good, nor bad. Martin Luther was the first extremist to voice his opinion, and although I believe this had a positive effect on society, many cases followed in which being an extremist resulted in negative impacts. I believe extremism is a religion of its own that maintains equilibrium within religion, and within our entire society, in a way that doesn't allow for a political or religious stalemate. This is what it is, and to label extremism as "good" or "bad" would simply be wrong.