What Kind of Reformation?: The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation and Today (original) (raw)

Special Editor's Introduction, The Reformation in Context

Journal of Religious History, Virtual Issue, 2017

2017 is the five hundredth anniversary of the promulgation of the “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” better known as the “Ninety-Five Theses,” a Latin text that invited academic debate on the Catholic practice of selling indulgences written by Martin Luther (1483-1546), an Augustinian friar and professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg. On 31 October 1517, Luther allegedly affixed his text to the door of All Saints’ Church Wittenberg; in 1521 Luther appeared before Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor to answer charges of heresy, after Pope Leo X had excommunicated him on 3 January 1521. The Reformation spread like wildfire and by Luther’s death in 1546 Europe and Christianity had been irrevocably changed.

Eastern and Western Perspectives on the Reformation and Its Impacts

Ching Feng, 2021

The Reformation in sixteenth-century Western Europe, whose genesis is often associated with the 1517 publication of Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses, represents not only a critical turning point in the history of the church but also a decisive shift in recorded history more broadly. The religious, cultural, and political transformations precipitated by the Reformation fundamentally challenged the Roman Catholic Church, reshaped the entire Christian landscape, and, in the course of subsequent missionary activities and the global expansion of Christianity, impacted cultures far beyond Renaissance Europe. Jointly organized by the Department of Religion and Philosophy and the Centre of Sino-Christian Studies of Hong Kong Baptist University, the international conference "Celebrating 500 years of the Reformation" 1 was held at Hong Kong Baptist University from September 22 to 23, 2017. It brought together scholars in religious and philosophical studies from Australia, Mainland China, Germany, Hong Kong and the United States to discuss the Reformation's transformative influences in the

Discuss the nature and significance of reformation in Germany

According to V.H.H. Green, the Reformation occurred in the second and third decade of the sixteenth century because a certain set of circumstances created a situation which made its outbreak both possible and probable. The factors leading to the Reformation were not new, and there were multiple factor. The reformers were reacting to the widespread dissatisfaction with the church, which included both a discontent with the church as an institution and a desire for a simpler, more satisfying personal religion. The desire for reformation had been present throughout the Middle Ages. The fourteenth century 'heretics' John Wycliffe and John Hus had vehemently criticized the clergy, the sins of the papacy, and the moral decline of the church. Erasmus spoke out frequently against the excesses of the church, but remained a Catholic. The reformation can be regarded as a milestone in the history of Europe. It was not merely an event in the history of the church-the fragmentation of the western catholic church or the emergence of protestant theology. It brought about revolutionary changes in the social and political climate of the 16 th and 17 th century Europe. In short the Reformation can be defined as the open expression of dissatisfaction with the abuses within the Church, with the role of the priesthood and with the Ecclesiastical hierarchy itself. It led to the creation of several radical and moderate folds within Christianity such as Lutherans, Calvinists, Puritans, Anabaptists, Anglicans, and Presbyterians. There were also the efforts of some Catholics to reform their church through the counter-reformation. The reformation embraced a number of areas-reform of both the morals and structures of church and society, re-interpretation of Christian spirituality and the reform of its doctrine.

Reformation Unfinished: Economy, Inclusivity, Authority

The Ecumenical Review, 2017

In 2017, churches around the world are organizing different activities to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 Theses. The Reformation was a momentous event in the church and the history of Europe. This article examines three important legacies of the Reformation to look ahead to the future: the church and economic life; the priesthood of all believers; and the authority of the Bible. In many ways, the issues that Luther has raised-such as authority, church structure, priesthood and ministry, biblical interpretation, and the church's relation to economics and social issues-remain to this day and demand the church's critical attention. The Reformation was a watershed event that changed the church and the trajectory of Western civilization. Churches around the world have organized events, lectures, forums, and concerts to discuss this legacy and mark the 500th anniversary. Wittenberg, Germany, will host "Luther! 95 Treasures-95 People," a National Special Exhibition that follows the young Luther on his path to the Reformation and highlights the significance of his impact on people from the 16th century to the present day.