Protestantism Flashcards
what was Luther’s message like?
- had a clear, personal, resonant message
- spoke to the people and to the times
how did Ulinka Rublack describe Luther?
as an early-modern ‘media man’ as he managed to take advantage of the powers of print
who did Luther identify with?
several role models
give some examples of the people Luther identified with?
saints - st. martin
prophets - Elias and Daniel
biblical commentators - St. Paul and the apostles
how did identifying with role models help Luther?
legitimised his actions for those who were critical of him and served to demand similar devotion from his followers
how was Luther a good speaker?
- he was adept in commentating on al major contemporary issues
- especially indulgences and meaning of biblical word
- also several social and economic issues
what was Luther’s unifying principle?
- sola scripture (scripture alone)
- meant the bible was the only basis for christian belief
- doctrines and rites not found in the text were superstitions
what did Luther theological doctrine incorporate? how did this help him?
- elements from different intellectual and spiritual traditions
- such as medieval mysticism
- allowed Luther to appeal to a wide range of audiences
what was the printing press used as?
as vehicle to spread Luther’s message
what did printing press allow for ?
ideas and news to spread quickly
between 1521-25, how editions of Luther’s works were published?
300 editions - usually calculated that each of them had a print run of 1,000 copies
between 1518-1530 in Augsburg, how many editions of Luther’s works were published?
- 1,318 editions
- most of them were vernacular reformation broadsheets and pamphlets
why did reformers in Germany get more protection?
due to the political structure
what was the political structure in Germany?
- made up of imperial estates
- allowed princes, free cities + nobles to stand between emperor and everyone else
what happened to Luther in 1521?
condemned by Charles at imperial diet at worms
