The Age of the Reformation: Luther and the Jews

Abstract

The Protestant Reformation destroyed the unity of medieval Christendom, transformed the political structure of Europe along with the ideals and practices of its member states, fostered the growth of humanism, individualism, and democracy, generated violent social upheaval, and occasioned over a century of wars of religion. It all began in 1517 with Martin Luther’s rejection of the Pope’s claim to exercise an authority instituted by Christ. This had far-reaching implications, for if the papacy lacked the authority it claimed then so did the rest of the Church — including its priests, sacraments, rituals and works. Luther threatened to undermine what had taken centuries to build. His insistence that to be saved the believer needed faith alone and that faith came from God and not from the Church — this was a call to revolution.