Blog III part II

How is the American Revolution like that of the Reformation? The idea of calling long held beliefs or customs into question, especially when some would argue they are not really broken, was defiantly a theme in both revolutions (as seen on page 4). To call out a powerful and self-indulgent leader’s doctrine of either nation or church as “inconstant and [even] uncertain” is at the very least extremely audacious if not suicidal. Yet during both periods, it became commonplace if not commonly accepted. In fact, I cannot help but wonder if the American Revolution (and possibly countless other) was not a direct result of the Lutheran’s “successful” break from perceived authority. The Americas, if nothing else, definitely took the idea of listing grievances straight out of the Reform movement’s book. To the furthest of my knowledge (little though it is) parts of the Reform movement did something not seen in very many other places, they said continue with your ways just leave us out of it. In other words they did not call for heads on pikes, as a whole anyway, they simply wanted out of being part of the “sheared . . . flock”. I will admit some of the reform movement wanted every who was part of the “laity” to join with them, and were willing to preach at them until they did maybe even say they were dammed if they didn’t. This was for the most part a peaceful revolution of thought, which may have lead to a less peaceful revolution in America. The very idea that the common man, a member of the laity, could be self-deterministic and not dammed to death and hellfire even if they were breaking from years of tradition was what really made this movement revolutionary. That same essential idea, self-determinism, is the idea that has empowered “peasants” ever since. There is another similarity in both movements, its leaders. In both cases the old reformers put on the provable breaks “In an effort to reverse the tide of reform”, because traditions that they dare not question were called into doubt. In the Reformation’s case these traditions were that of the “Trinity, The Incarnation, original sin, salvation by faith alone, the necessity of good works, infant baptism, the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, . . . [and] ‘orderly creation’ of faith through external religious services”. In the case of America, it was simply the question of the necessity of external governance as opposed to internal or self-governance (a truly self-deterministic society). In both cases these questions allowed for an even bigger question, “does this group or origination need or deserve my money?”In America’s case it cause the Articles of Confederation to be thrown out and the Constitution to be written (allowing for taxation among other things). In the Reform movement it called for tithing, as opposed to buying of indulgences. Footnote: most if not all of this is opinion and is open for discussion, comment or something.