Dear Bishee84,
How to organise your essay
--------------------------
The secret in college is not to get alarmed by a "six page essay" and
to know how to organise your essay effectively. You should devote one
page to the summary/conclusions, and at leats half a page (if not
more) to the introduction. That means, that in fact you have only 4.5,
mayeb even four pages, to present the major reforms during
Reformation.
The meaning of reform
---------------------
You should remember, that any reform, including the Reformation, is
presented in comparison to the situation that existed before it. As I
said, this is important, because you ae actually required in an essay
like yours to discuss not only the "Reformation" but also the
establishment that it rebelled against.
Causes of Reformation
---------------------
I actually liked FRDE-ga's equivalence between modern economy and the
rule the Catholic Church had in Europe. However, we must think of a
partially corrupt monopoly - not about a situation where there is any
competition to the monpoly. Perhaps the comparison is not with
multinational corporations, but with totalitarian regime. No
political, economic or social activities are allowed outside the eralm
of the Party, for example, in North Korea. Now, we can also understand
the courage Martin Luther has demonstrated; the risks he has faced;
and one of the possible consequences of Reformation might be also
clearer: the theory (promoted by Max Weber, for example), that
Protestantism promoted free enterprise. It is, after all, free
enterprise against a monopoly that began the process.
To understand the causes of Reformation, read the following:
Catholic Encuclopaedia, "The Reformation"
<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12700b.htm>
Wikipedia - Protestant Reformation
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation>
Main Changes
------------
This is the heart of your work. You should separate this into several points:
- First of all, the next points are not important... They are, of
course, but my point is that the most important thing about
Reformation is the fact that it had happened - that the Catholic
Church has lost its dominance over the "religious market" as a
monopoly.
- Indulgences: this was one of the original issues that have led
Matrin Luther to protest - of course, it was a symptom to a larger
problem. The remission of the temporal punishment due to God for sin
was being "sold" by the Catholic Church.
See:
Wikipedia, Indulgence in Other Christian Traditions
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indulgences#Other_Christian_Traditions>
Richard Hooker(1996) "Indulgences"
<http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/REFORM/NORTHERN.HTM>
- The Church's authority vs. the authority of the Bible: the Bible
(and especially the New Testament) is the only authority and is
superior to that of the Pope. Diminishing the Papal authority, or the
Catholic hierarchy, has important conseuqneces in all that has to do
with organisational structure of the new church.
"“Sola Scriptura” or Scripture Alone: This affirms the
Biblical doctrine that the Bible alone is the sole authority for all
matters of faith and practice. Scripture and Scripture alone is the
standard by which all teachings and doctrines of the church must be
measured. As Martin Luther so eloquently stated when asked to recant
on his teachings, "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason
- I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they
have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of
God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against
conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen." (SOURCE:
"What was the Protestant Reformation?", GotQuestions.com,
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html>).
Read further:
Wuikipedia, Sola scriptura
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_scriptura>
- Mysticism and the supernatural: this is an interesting development,
as Reformation came to reject supernatural remedies (exorcism, the
sacrament, etc.) at a time where inside the Church there were other
movements, which stressed mysticism and supernatural remedies. In
other words, the question is symbolism.
Real presence in the Lord's Supper
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism#Real_presence_in_the_Lord.27s_Supper>
This is closely related to another important principle in Reformation:
- "“Sola Gratia” Salvation by grace alone: This affirms
the Biblical doctrine that salvation is by God’s grace alone and
that we are rescued from His wrath by His grace alone. God’s
grace in Christ is not merely necessary but is the sole efficient
cause of salvation. This grace is the supernatural work of the Holy
Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to
sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life." (SOURCE:
"What was the Protestant Reformation?", GotQuestions.com,
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html>).
Wikipedia - Sola Gratia
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_gratia>
- Political and social changes: while Reformation is not the sole
reason, it brought literacy and education to masses, who in turn
revolted against opression, as in the case of the Peasants Wars in
Germany.
Calls Struggle and Reformation
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasant_War#Class_Struggle_and_Reformation>
As I've already mentioned before, Protestantism, or the protestant
monopol-beraking spirit, was linked by sociologist Max Weber with the
growth of capitalism, in his book "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit
of Capitalism" (1904/5)
(see about the book: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism, Wikipedia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protestant_Ethic_and_the_Spirit_of_Capitalism_(book)>):
" In his opinion, under the Roman Catholic Church an individual could
be assured of salvation by belief in the church's sacraments and the
authority of its hierarchy. However, the Reformation had effectively
removed such assurances for the average person, though Weber conceded
that a "religious genius" such as Martin Luther might be able to
retain such assurances.
In the absence of such assurances from religious authority, Weber
argued that Protestants began to look for other "signs" that they were
saved. Worldly success become one measure of salvation. Anticipating
Adam Smith (but using a very different argument), Luther had made an
early endorsement of the division of labor that was beginning to
develop in Europe. Therefore, according to Weber's reading of Luther,
a "vocation" from God was no longer limited to the clergy or church,
but applied to any occupation or trade.
However, Weber saw the fulfillment of the Protestant ethic not in
Lutheranism, which he dismissed as a rather servile religion, but in
Calvinistic forms of Christianity." (ibid).
- Similarly, the English Reformation brought with it the
institutionalised divorce.
Divorce and Reformation
<http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/reformation.htm>
- "“Sola Fide” Salvation by Faith Alone: This affirms the
Biblical doctrine that justification is by grace alone through faith
alone because of Christ alone. It is by faith in Christ that His
righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of
God’s perfect justice." (SOURCE: "What was the Protestant
Reformation?", GotQuestions.com,
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html>).
Wikipedia, Sola Fide
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sola_fide>
- "“Solus Christus” In Christ Alone: This affirms the
Biblical doctrine that salvation is found in Christ alone and that His
sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for
our justification and reconciliation to God the Father. The gospel has
not been preached if Christ’s substitutionary work is not
declared and faith in Christ and His work is not solicited." (SOURCE:
"What was the Protestant Reformation?", GotQuestions.com,
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html>). Christ
alone, without any "earthly represntative" such as St. Peter and the
Popes.
- “Soli Deo Gloria: For the Glory of God Alone: This affirms the
Biblical doctrine that salvation is of God and has been accomplished
by God for His glory alone. It affirms that as Christians we must
glorify Him always and must live our entire lives before the face of
God, under the authority of God and for His glory alone. (SOURCE:
"What was the Protestant Reformation?", GotQuestions.com,
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Protestant-Reformation.html>).
Further Information
-------------------
The Protestant Reformation - Sources
<http://history.hanover.edu/early/prot.html> - professors love it when
you give good quotes from the horse's mouth. In this case, you have
the originals of many "horses".
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
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