| pelathais |
11-15-2007 11:15 AM |
... but crakjak asked about my thoughts on the Reformation ...
The Reformation that we generally look at was the movement instigated by Martin Luther's revolt against Rome. The subject is complex and already fills volumes, one can't help but resort to generalizations here. The Protestant Reformation was of course preceded by many attempts at reform. Most of those reformations (including Luther's) ended up being associated with social reform movements like the Peasant Revolt.
In the 1200-1300's there was the Hussite reform that was centered in Bohemia. This reform was accompanied by a movement to reform the election of the Holy Roman Emperor and a communistic movement that became known as the Taborites. Land reform was their goal more than Spiritual concerns. It took three crusades to put this down.
Luther's reform led inexorably to the 30 Years' War; perhaps the most destructive European conflict up until WW1.
To say any of this was "misguided" would imply that other historical events are guided. At the risk of creating offense, and because there's no way I could adequately explain myself; let me say that human movements such as these are best understood by looking at the causes and their results. A storm is not "misguided" even if you have to bear the brunt of its surge. An earthquake isn't misguided. So also, in the political realm, storms like the Protestant Reformation were neither guided nor misguided - they just happened when there was enough pressure behind them to cause the event.
We can "judge" the individuals and look for heroes and villians. But we cannot judge the storm. It just happens.
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