Rebirth and Reform in the West

Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D.

GSTR 221-O: Western Traditions II

Berea College

Spring 2004

PRELUDE TO THE RENAISSANCE

1300s: plague, disorder, economic recession, isolationLatin heritage of West well-preserved, but Greek sources mostly lost or available only in Arabic translation1400s: population growth, rise of city-states, economic recovery, new explorationRenaissance = “rebirth” of Greco-Roman traditions among literate urban elites, c. 1350-1550 (especially in Italy)

RENAISSANCE THEMESOptimism regarding human worth and potentialRevival of classical Greco-Roman values:

1. Humanism -- Is there anything more wonderful on earth, our marvelous planet, than the miracle of man? (Sophocles)

2. Naturalism – The chief good is life according to nature. (Zeno of Citium)

3. Skepticism -- The unexamined life is not worth living. (Socrates)

Ideal: l’uomo universale (“universal man”) =

1. Maximizes human potential2. Models himself on nature3. Subjects all to critical inquiry

RENAISSANCE TECHNOLOGY

Although Europeans use Chinese wood-block printing as early as 1100s, metal movable type invented in Germany c. 1450By 1500, over one thousand printers in business throughout Europe, with more than ten million copies of books soldApproximately half of all books sold are religious in natureOther popular titles include manuals of grammar and law, philosophical treatises, and romances

GIOVANNI PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA (1463-1494)

Most famous Renaissance philosopherStudies at Platonic Academy in Florence, Italy, as well as universities of Ferrara, Bologna, Padua, and ParisRegards all philosophical and religious traditions as containing “nuggets of universal truth” revealed by GodStrongly influenced by Jewish and occult traditions as well as ChristianityHis work declared heretical by Pope Innocent VIII in 1486

THE RENAISSANCE BEYOND ITALY

In northern Europe, Renaissance manifests itself as “Northern Humanism”Like Italian Renaissance thinkers, Northern humanists revere Greco-Roman antiquity and emphasize intellectual self-cultivationOther themes:

1. Religious and social reform2. Strong concern for morality3. Focus on individual inner life

Key figures include:1. Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)2. Thomas More (1478-1535)

THE REFORMATION(S)By late 1400s, serious questions about doctrinal and institutional matters in Western Christian (Catholic) Church emerge, including:

1. Role of human intermediaries in process of individual salvation

2. Training and accountability of clergy

3. Use of local languages in worship and Biblical translation

Various priests and bishops seek to reform, not split, the ChurchThese reformers become known as “Protestants”

Martin Luther (1483-1546) – protests Church-mediated aids to salvation, insists on sola fides (“faith alone”) and sola scriptura (“scripture alone”) Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) – protests authority of Pope over English Christians, insists on worship in English instead of Latin and use of English BibleJean Calvin (1509-1564) – protests idea that humans play an active role in their salvation, insists on absolute power of God to save or damn

THE AFTERMATH OF THE REFORMATION(S)

1521: With support of local rulers, Luther establishes “evangelical” (Gospel-based) Christian church1521-1688: Religiously-inspired warfare taking place somewhere in Europe1555: Peace of Augsburg (Germany) recognizes Protestant-Catholic split, allows rulers to choose subjects’ faith1598: Edict of Nantes (France) enforces toleration of Protestantism, allows Protestants to hold public office

“RENAISSANCE MEN” AND/OR REFORMERS

Many reformers are Renaissance humanistsHumanists favor reformers’ focus on inner spiritual life, return to ancient texts, etc.Other humanists, prizing Christian unity, reject new churchesStill others are suspicious of some reformers’ opposition to visual culture (use of images in Christian worship, etc.)Most laypeople are either too rural and/or too illiterate to participate in these urban, literate controversies