Martin Luther

As a Christian, Martin Luther’s work as a religious revolutionary is very familiar to me and important to my faith, since the denomination I am a part of stems from Luther’s actions and the resulting Protestant Reformation. His courageous decision to go up against the Roman Catholic Church and present his ideas had an enormous impact on not only German-speaking lands, but on the whole world. A small spark, starting with a humble monk embarking on a noble quest to right wrongs he saw in the Church fanned into a revolutionary flame. Somewhat unintentionally, Luther’s wake brought great cultural, political, and religious change.

Martin Luther, the man who started the Reformation source 

Since I am a Protestant, I agree with the necessity for reform within the Roman Catholic Church. By the 16^th century, the Church had become incredibly powerful and wealthy. Luther saw much corruption within the church and sought to make things right by removing what he saw to be unnecessary ritual and ceremony, invented by the Church, and returning to the scriptures. His teachings focused on the ordinary Christian and their personal faith, free from the clerical middleman. His new system of religion rapidly gained followers, resentful of the Church’s grievances. Though it divided the Church, this new Lutheranism brought unity among Germans. Luther also translated the Bible into the vernacular, which was spread quickly with the help of the newly invented printing press. This made the scriptures accessible and easily understandable to the common people and also promoted the development of a standard version of the German language.

The doors to Castle Church, Wittenberg, where Martin Luther is said to have nailed his 95 theses. These were practices Luther felt were wrong in the Church. source

What started as a religious movement soon became much larger. Religious, social, and political tensions the Reformation caused created rifts in the Holy Roman Empire. Luther wrote at the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment, a time characterized by the questioning of traditional ideas and positions of authority. The people of Europe saw Luther almost single handedly stand up against one of the most powerful positions of authority at the time, the Roman Catholic Church. Freedom was a central theme in Luther’s teachings, and many liked the sound of that. Leaders of the fragmented German states saw freedom as independence from Rome and its financial drain. Communities could govern themselves without having to report back to the empire. Many peasants began uprisings, eager for social freedom. Luther, however, was horrified at the violence and extremism his teachings fueled.

Luther at the Diet of Worms by Anton von Werner. Luther presented his case before influential world leaders, including the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. This action inspired many to question authority and seek freedom. source 

I was shocked to learn how harsh he was against the peasants and Jews. His hate towards them, to me, does not line up with his character as a man of faith. It also seemed strange to me that he would completely abandon the ordinary person in the political and social realm after stressing their importance in the religious realm. He instead stressed the importance of obeying political authorities, (important for the peaceful coexistence of church and state) which I thought to be a bit hypocritical after standing up against the Church. But like it or not, Martin Luther’s decision to oppose the Church started revolutions that would completely change both German and European lands. (505)

Sources:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ni1gupkGAW0

http://historymedren.about.com/library/text/bltxtgermany10.htm

Reformation and Counter-Reformation Culture in Germany

While reading the second chapter of Germany: A New History by Hagen Schulze, which covered fifteenth through seventeenth century Germany, one topic that particularly stood out to me was the idea of Counter-Reformation culture and its impact. I found it interesting because when I previously considered the Protestant Reformation, I always focused on the schism within the Church, the creation of new Christian denominations, and the repercussions it had on European politics. Some nations, like Ireland, still deal with the divide today. But I never really thought to consider the Reformation and Counter-Reformation’s effects on European culture. Art is a hobby of mine, so the Counter-Reformation’s impact on the arts also interested me.

A map of religious divisions in Europe in 1648. The regions sharing similar religions influenced each other culturally. Since Germany was divided, the northeast and south developed much differently. source

Following the Protestant Reformation, western and southern Germany remained largely Catholic and thus was influenced by the Counter-Reformation culture of southern Europe, especially France and Italy, according to Schulze’s text. Because Protestant reformers rejected the use of visual arts in the church, the northeast focused on music and the study of language and literature. Even with an emphasis on literature, the common people remained largely illiterate until the invention of the printing press. The Catholics opposed Protestant severity and instead strongly encouraged the arts. This lead to the development of an extravagant artistic, theatrical, and architectural style, known as Baroque. The style was highly expressive and dramatic, yet easily interpreted. Religious themes and ideas were communicated to the illiterate masses through the arts, with the church as its sponsor. 

The Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers (Basilika Vierzehnheiligen) in Bad Staffelstein, Bavaria. This church demonstrates the extravagance of the Counter-Reformation. source 

The development of differing cultures, rooted in the Reformation and Counter Reformation, continue to reveal the issues of unity and identity in early German history. I found it especially interesting that the consequences of the cultural divide can still be found in Germany today. Southern Germans remain largely Catholic while those in the north and east are mostly Protestant.

The divide can also be seen in German Baroque architecture. The splendid cathedrals in the south contrast with the plain northern churches. I especially look forward to experiencing this cultural difference as we explore German architecture during our trip in December. (403)