Thomas Pridgen 1/3/12 Protestant Views on the Relationship Between Church and State

AP Euro Per. 8

The Protestant Reformation was a period of great change for Europe. The ideas associated with it were revolutionary, and in many cases, replaced the long-standing beliefs of Catholicism. Northern Europe experienced the strongest changes during the Protestant Reformation. As a result, several views developed regarding the relationship between church and state. Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anabaptism all differed in thought when it came to this issue. During the course of the Reformation, Martin Luther emphasized that religious reform should not affect the political ideas and actions of a government. Luther addressed German princes in an attempt to gain support for Lutheranism, as well as to resist the papacy and taxation demands. The radical ideas put forth by Luther caught the attention of nobles as well. By supporting Lutheranism, nobles could escape the power of the Holy Roman Empire, and avoid Catholic influence. Luther's Address to the Nobility of the German Nation illustrated the importance he placed on political power and influence. This concept was furthered with the occurrence of the Peasant Revolt, a rebellion against economic policy that was conducted by Luther's followers. Rather than support the revolt, Luther condemned it. He asserted that legitimate authority should not be interfered with, insisting that something be done in response to the revolt. Furthermore, Luther maintained that his intentions were religious and not political, although he used German nationalism to gain support. When Luther went against Charles V at the Diet of Worms, he needed the support of local German princes. Later, the Peace of Augsburg allowed each prince to determine his territory's religion. Due to this compromise, wherever Lutheranism was dominant, it was generally controlled by the state. The Peace of Augsburg only recognized Catholicism and Lutheranism, so the Peace of Westphalia was established to include Calvinism. Under the leadership of monarchs, several countries established Lutheran churches that were run by the state, including Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

Calvinism shared many ideas with Lutheranism, however, John Calvin placed greater emphasis on predestination. The center of this movement, in Geneva, Switzerland, was Calvin's model city, ruled by God. Calvin believed that a government's main role was to support the moral laws of Christianity. He stated that the church community should punish those who violate moral and civil laws, such as gambling and public drunkenness. Through these concepts, the church had a large role in a state's public affairs, and politics were often linked with Calvinist ideas. This increased involvement with spirituality furthered the idea of a model society that Calvinism was based on. The popularity of Calvinism was evident in the middle class as well as in the nobility. Both of these groups resented the privileges of the Catholic clergy, and likely viewed themselves as members of the elect. John Knox, one of Calvin's most influential followers, carried the Calvinist ideology to Scotland. There he met opposition from the monarchy, but eventually convinced the Parliament to support him. Knox founded the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, which soon became the state's official church. The Anabaptists were known as one of the most radical groups associated with the Protestant Reformation. Anabaptists were mainly peasants who resented Martin Luther after he condemned their revolts in Germany. Partially due to their status, they emphasized equality in the eyes of God. Only adults were baptized, because Anabaptists stressed conscious belief in the faith, which could only be understood in adulthood. Leaders outside the Anabaptist movement noted the lack of state-established churches to maintain order. These churches were an important component of many other denominations. Anabaptists believed strongly in the separation of church and state, often refusing to swear loyalty to local governments. This defiance drew opposition from other Protestants, as well as Catholics. Most Anabaptists sought to live without the confines of state-mandated religion, although there were exceptions. John of Leiden established a following that supported acts such as polygamy and the burning of non-religious texts. He was considered a threat to political order by Protestants and Catholics alike, and was later tortured and executed. Anabaptism did not last through the Reformation, however, its ideas later influenced the development of groups such as the Quakers.

The Protestant Reformation brought with it a great number of changes to the world's political and social structure. Within the Protestant faith, denominations formed, and each brought its own interpretation of the relationship between church and state. Some denominations favored little interaction between the two, while others placed the relationship as highly important in everyday life. The differences between Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anabaptism illustrate the spirit of change the persisted throughout the Refeormation.