Martin Luther’s To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation questions the superiority of the clergy over the common man. Luther’s To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation effectively ignites Protestant Reformation. This is not just a change in western thinking, but also a step towards the Age of Enlightenment of later years. The Protestant Reformation is a great example of how people are becoming more and more dissatisfied with the lack of equality in rights and libertés when it comes to religious freedom. Early in the 16th century, people started to take responsibility for their actions.
Protestant Reformation, a historical event that was of great importance to Western civilisation and its history, is one such improvement. For a historical perspective, it is important to start in 1517. Luther said, “Again… it’s intolerable that the canon laws give so much weight to the freedoms, lives, and properties of the clergy; as if they were not as spiritual or as good Christians themselves”. He was protesting immorality in the Church and a wrong educational system. This change, however, had broader social and cultural ramifications. This revolutionary idea that the people will have a voice in politics was sparked by the Protestant Reformation. It has led to the advancement of democracy, capitalism and philosophy. Luther quoted St. Paul, saying “All that Roman presumption has claimed to be the case is the mere invention of canon law.” St. Paul tells all Christians that Romans 13 is: 1, 4, “Let the souls be subjected unto the greater powers;”. By using St. Paul’s own quote, Luther exposes his flawed logic. The Clergy may have the same superior powers as citizens but they maintain a more powerful power while on earth. There was a Counter-Reformation as well, which is also called the Catholic Reformation. Counter-Reformation, also known as Catholic Reformation, was the Roman Catholic campaign against Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth- and early-seventeenth-century and for internal restoration.
Martin Luther was brought up in a Christian society that had religious dominance over Europe. Luther, the church is a hopeless cause. He’s caught in a storm and terrified of death. So he vows that he will become a nun. With this insight, Luther turns against the church, attacking the practice of granting indulgences to those who sign the 95 Thesis. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses are almost solely responsible for the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther makes fun of himself in his 51st theses, explaining that Christians are to be taught the pope would give his money, even if it meant selling the St. Peter’s Basilica. Martin Luther’s point is that the church has a lot of power and many valuable things, yet it does not give as much money as people who struggle to survive. In his Address To The Nation, he echoes the same themes. A quote that stands out is “Why do you have your honor, property, and life at your disposal, but mine are not?” The Clergy are not able to ignore the fact that we all have the same faith, baptism and spirit. Luther is aware that his people have a tendency to think of themselves as if they were someone or something else. He wants them to have an optimistic outlook and recognize the flaws in the current system.
A document such as this had to be written eventually. This was due to the political climate that Europe experienced at the time. Europe’s ability to sustain itself was evident from an economic perspective. The social and political structure in Europe was what allowed this conflict to escalate. Luther’s cry for unification and solidarity helps us understand history. As readers today, we can only get a tiny glimpse into how this felt.