Religion In Germany Essay, Research Paper
As you?ve all experienced the mysteries of the myths and legends, let?s now explore how the code of ethics has its fascinating history and diversity?s. We are going exploring through the aspects of religion in Germany. We are all going to gain a better understanding of why in modern Germany there is a split in religion between Catholics and Protestants. I?m going to take you back to the fifteen hundreds, where the Roman Catholic Church had great power over the people.
Unlike in present Germany, the only resource to God in the fifteen hundreds was the Bible, which was in Latin. Therefore had to be interpreted by the priest of the Roman Catholic Church. This is because of the literacy problem that occurred for those who could not afford an education in college. The Roman Catholic Church held the highest of power in Germany, therefore having a chain of command over all the people of Germany. The mentalities of the people in the establishment of the church were hungry for money to build and expand their empire. The church for a price gave out indulgences to their believers. According to the author Bernard Lohse, who wrote Martin Luther Life and Work implies, indulgences are documents that can erase sins for anyone in your family, dead or alive. The only sacrifice to erase sin is money, or so the Roman Catholic Church preached. This type of theology was accepted and understood by all Catholics in Germany.
All expect one man. A man who was a monk, reverend and a professor, who?s name was Martin Luther. Martin Luther disagreed with the false sense of security the church gave to the people of Germany. Martin Luther was quoted saying ? . . .the leaders of the church were concerned only with the position of the church as a power of this world.? ( Lohse 92) Martin Luther was teaching at Wittenberg College when he wrote a retraction to his superiors called the Ninety Five Thesis, which reinterpreting what the bible said about death and life in God?s eyes. Martin Luther was a revolutionary. Why you ask? Because no one in any church in Europe expressed the same ideas Luther had. Martin Luther felt it was his obligation through sermons, by letting the people know and understand God.
Martin Luther?s outreach to the people to Germany began a split between the church and state. Thus arising a dispute and declaration against the Roman Catholic Church. This begun a religion we know today as the Protestant religion. According to Akeem Ginsberg who was born and raised in Hamburg Germany states , ?in modern times Germany has indeed a split into two religions, Roman Catholic and Protestant?. ?However despite the obvious differences in beliefs, the people of Germany join together for celebrations of Jesus Christ, such as Christmas.? Generally German people are not intrigued by the thought of religious wars, but rather except those who believe what their will to God is.
Germany is exceptional in this aspect because the people have gained cultural independence from the lesson that was learned by the Protestant reformation. Individualism is respected, and nationalism in culture and politics has developed through out modern Germany today.
Bibliography
Schultz, C. Robert, Lohse, Bernard (1986). Martin Luther An Introduction to His Life and Work 43- 124
AbkaBandel, Der ? Lutherstadt Wittenberg, SaleIndulgences? http://www.Witenberg.de/de/seinten/ablass.html
Ginsberg, Akeem Interviewed on July 23,1999