For episode 15, see here
The Theory of the National State
XVI: The Early Protestant Reformers
A. Reformation mixed political theory with differences of religious
belief and questions of theological dogma.
B. Diversity of religious belief did not lead to toleration because all
still saw themselves as right and their opponents as stupid
and/or wicked.
C. Religious reform and conflict depended on secular power thus
strengthening royal power.
D. Under the surface were strong minority groups that were potential
sources of disorder.
1. Out of diversity and necessity, minority groups led towards
mutual political toleration
2. Right to resist "heretical" pope became right to resist a
"heretical" king
E. Led to conflict between divine right and popular right, both
originally grounded in theology
F. Martin Luther
1. Remade arguments and charges of past centuries, especially
the conciliar controversy
i. saw church as the assembly of all believers
ii. saw clergy as serving callings useful to the community
and answerable in temporal matters
2. Using government to reform the Church led to creation of
national churches
3. Asserted duty of passive obedience to the ruler
4. Stressed other-worldliness of religion with acquiescence to
worldly power
G. Calvinism and the power of the church
1. Impact of sect in opposition to specific governments meant
the spread of the justification of resistance
2. Viewed the church as the standard bearer of morals with
secular power as the enforcing arm; as in the Middle Ages
3. Taught self-control and discipline in the struggle of life
4. God seen as sovereign, saving men by fore-ordination rather
than own good works
5. Secular institutions existed as the "external means of salvation"
6. Not given to monarchical attachments, therefore often in
opposition to the monarchy
H. John Calvin taught passive obedience to secular authority, had
no theory of popular rights
I. John Knox turned supremacy of the church to mode of resistance
to the state (Scotland) that did not recognize "true faith"
1. This involved rejection of passive obedience
2. Resistance became part of the duty to sustain religious reform
Next week: Royalist and anti-Royalist Theories
The Theory of the National State
XVI: The Early Protestant Reformers
A. Reformation mixed political theory with differences of religious
belief and questions of theological dogma.
B. Diversity of religious belief did not lead to toleration because all
still saw themselves as right and their opponents as stupid
and/or wicked.
C. Religious reform and conflict depended on secular power thus
strengthening royal power.
D. Under the surface were strong minority groups that were potential
sources of disorder.
1. Out of diversity and necessity, minority groups led towards
mutual political toleration
2. Right to resist "heretical" pope became right to resist a
"heretical" king
E. Led to conflict between divine right and popular right, both
originally grounded in theology
F. Martin Luther
1. Remade arguments and charges of past centuries, especially
the conciliar controversy
i. saw church as the assembly of all believers
ii. saw clergy as serving callings useful to the community
and answerable in temporal matters
2. Using government to reform the Church led to creation of
national churches
3. Asserted duty of passive obedience to the ruler
4. Stressed other-worldliness of religion with acquiescence to
worldly power
G. Calvinism and the power of the church
1. Impact of sect in opposition to specific governments meant
the spread of the justification of resistance
2. Viewed the church as the standard bearer of morals with
secular power as the enforcing arm; as in the Middle Ages
3. Taught self-control and discipline in the struggle of life
4. God seen as sovereign, saving men by fore-ordination rather
than own good works
5. Secular institutions existed as the "external means of salvation"
6. Not given to monarchical attachments, therefore often in
opposition to the monarchy
H. John Calvin taught passive obedience to secular authority, had
no theory of popular rights
I. John Knox turned supremacy of the church to mode of resistance
to the state (Scotland) that did not recognize "true faith"
1. This involved rejection of passive obedience
2. Resistance became part of the duty to sustain religious reform
Next week: Royalist and anti-Royalist Theories
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