|  eat | Nov 21, 2007 9:32pm | In a historical context, to discuss reformation without more fully discussing The Reformation would be, if you will, a sin of omission. Looking at The Reformation from a Catholic perspective offers an interesting viewpoint on how such basic change in a religion is perceived by the dominant body of that religion. The following is the first paragraph describing The Reformation in New Advent, also known as The Catholic Encyclopedia:
The Reformation: "The usual term for the religious movement which made its appearance in Western Europe in the sixteenth century, and which, while ostensibly aiming at an internal renewal of the Church, really led to a great revolt against it, and an abandonment of the principal Christian beliefs." [1]
Note the choice of language. Whether one considers The Reformation more of a renewal or more of a revolt tells something about them. How language is chosen is critical to belief systems, and this entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia exemplifies a more formal approach at undermining an unwelcomed set of beliefs. Such close pairing of acknowledgment and dismissal (e.g. "aim at renewal", "really led to a great revolt") is a common element of such cordial rebuttals.
Such belief-reinforcing language choices are what distinguishes the words "revival" and "reformation". Remove the veneer from the particular religious catch phrases, the particular dutiful support of actual verses from the Bible, and the particular apologetic exegesis of those verses and what is left? Similar arguments, different mainly in time, language choice, and the players involved.
I wonder if Luther's writings themselves contained Bible verses, and if so which verses were used and what arguments they supported. Perhaps knowing those would elucidate whether Luther used similar linguistic tactics as many Christians here in order to make an argument more cogent.
[1] newadvent.org/cathen/12700b.htm [newadvent.org/cathen/12700b.htm] |
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|  |  438731 | Nov 22, 2007 2:42am | | 19 - Thanks. (Obviously I don; think there's anybody there to hear/answer your request, but thanks nonetheless.) |
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Sponsor |  lesoldham | Nov 24, 2007 7:39am | From the Wiki this quote shows that Luther worked from scripture. The primary driving force of the Luther reformation was the printing press.
From 1510 to 1520, Luther lectured on the Psalms, the books of Hebrews,
Romans and Galatians. As he studied these portions of the Bible, he
came to view the use of terms such as penance and righteousness
by the Roman Catholic Church in new ways. He became convinced that the
church had lost sight of what he saw as several of the central truths
of Christianity, the most important of which, for Luther, was the
doctrine of justification -- God's act of declaring a sinner righteous -- by faith alone. He began to teach that salvation or redemption is a gift of God's grace, attainable only through faith in Jesus as the messiah.[3
Another notable reformation came when the Church began to understand that everyone is equal in Gods view. In the US the Civil War began a reformation that was not fully brought to realization until another Martin Luther came to emphasize the principle of acceptance by God of all people. These were true reformations as they changed the very core ideas accepted by the people and they led to widespread worldwide social change.
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Sponsor | | Ewtn2000 | Nov 26, 2007 7:49am | | I think Luther saw thing he, personally didn't like. But I think we can all see things we don't like in almost anything, after all we are human and inclined to sin. I don't think Luther intended for the split that occurred nor the walking away from the entire teachings that Jesus gave us. I disagree with Luther's thinking that no sin can separate us from God. |
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