Protestant Reformation Continues to Reverberate

¶ … Protestant Reformation continues to reverberate throughout Western Civilization; the differences between Catholic and Protestant religions remain clear even in the 21st century. At the time, the 95 Theses of Martin Luther were groundbreaking, representing a major shift in human consciousness and in the social order. Luther and his followers protested Church corruption and Church authority over religious affairs, which is why they are referred to as "protestants." Primary sources from the sixteenth century including works of art reveal the emerging political, social, and religious changes taking place in Europe. The Protestant Reformation represented a dismantling of theocracy, a shift in social hierarchies, and the birth of individualism.

By the sixteenth century, the Catholic Church had a stronghold on most of central Europe and Martin Luther called for an end to its theocratic rule. That stronghold was expressed through political, social, and economic control of all regions that fell under the Pope's jurisdiction, including Germany. One of the main reasons for the Protestant Reformation was growing discontent among the peasant and working classes with the way the Church managed its territories. In Document 7, Martin Luther specifically criticizes the way Pope Leo X embezzles taxpayer monies to pad his family's pocketbook, while the German people have nothing: "We see that there is no gold and almost no silver in our German land." Luther also accuses the Church of converting Jews for the economic or political reasons only, noting "They have never heard anything about Christ from the rulers who have converted them," (Document 13). Art was also used to convey political messages, as shown in documents 11 and 12.

The Protestant Reformation was also characterized by a shift in social hierarchies. In Document 1, Martin Luther begins his thesis with "The Pope has neither the will nor power" to rule over the German people. Documents 8 and 9 show how gender roles and norms were shifting towards a more egalitarian society. However, the Reformation also meant targeting the Jews as scapegoats. Twenty years after Martin Luther wrote "That Jesus was Born a Jew," he wrote one of the most significant anti-Semitic texts in the history of Europe. "Concerning the Jews and their Lies" (Document 14) calls for the mass burning of synagogues, death threats on rabbis, and refers to the Jews as "poisonous bitter worms" and "burdens." Document 15 indicates that the Nazis used this very document as part of its propaganda campaign.

Luther's propaganda campaign targeted the Jews, while paradoxically championing for individual rights and freedoms. Luther questions the authority of the Catholic Church in all religious matters, instead calling for a direct personal connection with Christ and scripture in Document 6. Luther also criticizes the Church's command over the interpretation of scripture and even over granting pardons for sins. Document 2 defends the "letters of safe conduct" that the Church issued to psychologically appease followers who hoped to be cleansed of original sin. Luther lambasted the Church's clergy system and its ritualized version of Christianity, instead proposing for an individual approach to religion. Ironically, his belief in freedom of worship did not extend to the Jews.