Reformation In Germany

The idea of the ‘Reformation’ can be interpreted in many different ways, and what actually constitutes it can be debated. This essay will focus on the Reformation in what is modern day Germany, with specific reference to Lutheranism. While it would appear obvious that the Reformation was trying to reform religion at its heart, this essay will make the argument that the Reformation was actually part of a wider movement, or change, across the whole of Europe which was not just trying to reform one particular thing, but was trying to reform, ultimately, the way in which people thought. It will argue that while the arrival of Humanism inspired a great ‘rebirth’ of classical culture (known as the Renaissance), it also extended its influence to the …show more content…
However, the fact that the peasants were citing Lutheran doctrine tells us that the Reformation extended beyond Luther’s teachings. At this point it had been adopted by many people, with their own interpretations, and their own intentions. So while for Luther, perhaps his sole intention was religious reform, for others, such as the revolting peasants, the same cannot be …show more content…
While it did indeed reform religion, it was a societal reform that changed the way politics, religion and thought worked in Europe. It started as a change in intellectual thinking and crossed into the realm of religion in the hands of theological thinkers such as Luther and Calvin, but the Reformation was not solely theirs. For the Reformation to have worked, people must have wanted the reform and for many the type of reform they wanted was a wider one. Religion was central to that reform because religion was central to their lives. In the same way that an artist would use art to make a point, someone of a deep religious faith would use religion. But ultimately, when asked what the reformation was really trying to reform, the answer cannot be a full one without incorporating politics, economics, social structures, religion and individual