The Long Reformation: Lutheran (views of Henry J. Cohn) II: Reformation - success or failure?
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 17-05-18 12:35
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- The Long Reformation: Lutheran (views of Henry J. Cohn) II: Reformation - success or failure?
- Around 1530
- Luther and fellow clergy were optimistic about mission's success
- Next generation influenced by Luther's schooling and catechisms
- 30 years later
- Inspections made in countryside by Protestant rulers confirmed clergy's competence had not risen much above pre-Reformation level
- Attendance at church was poor and quickly forgotten after childhood
- In towns
- Had preachers and schools of better quality
- Reformers complained about lack of true religion there
- Kittelson argues anecdotal evidence of Reformers should not be accepted at face value
- Where visitations were regular they gradually raised standard of religious observance
- e.g. villages subject to city of Strasbourg
- Where visitations were regular they gradually raised standard of religious observance
- Improvements did occur
- E.g. Duchy of Wurtemberg
- But took most of 16thC
- E.g. Duchy of Wurtemberg
- Peasants selective in which Lutheran teachings they adopted
- Slow winning of hearts and minds was patchy
- Explanations:
- Later 16thC Lutheranism was taken over by Orthodox rigidity with less human face than in Luther's day
- Lutherans dissipated their energies in doctrinal quarrels and in combating other Protestant denominations and Anabaptists
- Failed to concentrate their energies on improving quality of education and ministers
- Lutheran clergy became hereditary caste
- Academically trained elite with allegiances divided between their employer (state) and their communities
- So anti-clericalism re-emerged
- Academically trained elite with allegiances divided between their employer (state) and their communities
- In many regions, territorial nobles, towns and village elites resisted interference by the state and did not fully encourage new churches
- Explanations:
- Slow winning of hearts and minds was patchy
- Religious apathy grew wherever official religion changed several times
- Upper Palatinate peasant complained of having to 'bend like a reed in the wind'
- By mid-16thC
- Earlier adversity which had spurred Protestant minorities to enthusiasm yielded to indifference under state-controlled religion
- Exceptions
- Bavaria and Southern German bishoprics
- Remained disadvantaged minority
- Bavaria and Southern German bishoprics
- Exceptions
- Earlier adversity which had spurred Protestant minorities to enthusiasm yielded to indifference under state-controlled religion
- in countryside
- belief in sacraments, magic and recourse to cunning men and wise women remained stronger than religious doctrine
- Cohn: 'The Reformation had radically altered the institutions of Church and State, but human nature hardly at all.'
- Around 1530
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