This paper cites that the 'revolutionary' nature of Lutheran thought is identified as stemming from the comprehensive nature of the attack on established doctrine.
Written in 2002; 2,855 words; 6 sources; MLA; $ 84.95
Paper Summary:
This paper explores the content of Lutheran thought as a fundamental reason for its impact, especially focussing on the 1520 articles. The state of the Pre-Reformation Church is examined and debunks the myth of past religious 'golden ages' in the appeal of Lutheranism.
From the Paper:
"Many factors can be seen as having contributed to the raging torrent of Reformation thought initiated by the ideas and actions of Martin Luther: the involvement of Humanism in the early stages of the development and distribution of the "word", the central importance of the Imperial cities, the part played by an array of individuals such as Melancthon, Bucer, Zwingli, and even the well-meaning Karlstadt, various coincidental events occuring at vital stages of Luther's career, and of course the latent energies to be found within the writings of "the wild boar in the vineyard" as well as the personal qualities of Luther which were so fundamental to the seeding, growth and spread of Reformation thought. As such they could be viewed as "tributaries", the wellsprings of which were numerous and complex. As a result of the variety of explanations available, one must be attentive of the historiographical debates which exist, differences of opinion which highlight the grand scale of the European, let alone the ?German Reformation.? The subleties expressed by the varying authorities on the reasons for the extraordinary impact of Lutheran theology - historians such as Cameron, Ozment, Mcgrath, Moeller and Brady - do not necessarily need cause confusion, for their differences arise from differing interpretations which enlighten rather than enshroud. Furthermore, they fundamentally agree that the hammer-blow Luther's ideas had upon the Christian church derived on the one hand from the comprehensive nature of his attack upon the various abuses of the church, which resonated with a background of concerns expressed for generations. Additionally, he attacked the church at its foundation with the 1520 pamphlets, at the very heart of the theological justification which bestowed upon it a unique spiritual status, a status which had made it appear unassailable in past times. Luther therefore offered an alternative route to the salvation of the soul; the paraphernalia of the Catholic church which were so often at the root of its abuses were rendered obsolete, many of its sacraments exposed as the artificial constructions of man. On the other hand, commentators have been keen to point out that the political and social climate of Germany was of paramount importance to the success and extent of the impact of Lutheran thought on all stratas of society, as epitomised by the Knight's Revolt of 1522, the Peasant's Revolt of 1525, and the Princely resistance to the beleaguered Charles V which culminated in the Peace of Augsburg 1555, conceded beneath the triumphant banner of ?cuius regio, eius religio.? One must firstly be mindful of the traditional complaints made against the Catholic church in the ages pre-Luther and the external threats which faced it in order to grasp the sense of continuity which is vital in attributing too much of the "revolutionary" to the events of the early 16th century. The myth of past religious "golden ages" must also be dispelled, and credit be apportioned to the means of transmission so vital to the success of the Reformation - the printing press."
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