Barbara Diefendorf's book, The Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre is a window into the struggle of religion and secular power during the Protestant Reformation. Beyond the social elitism, mob mentality is an ever-present force that is ignited during the Religious Wars. Differences in religion are a contributor to factional tensions. Manipulation by religious leaders and misunderstanding between the two religious sects’ practices create this religious tension. Although Protestants and Catholics share the core teachings of Christianity, a struggle for secular power, feelings of tribalism, and conflicting religious ideals not only solidify the schism between these two sects of Christianity, but escalated these tensions to bloodshed.
Secular power
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A sense of identification that comes with being a part of a religious factions along with socioeconomic reasons lead to the spreading of the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Johann-Wilhelm paints a picture of rampant thievery, barbary, and murder toward Huguenots. One specific point he mentions is, "more than four hundred peasants and farmers came into the city so as to pillage and steal, in recompense for the losses they had suffered during previous troubles. They butchered and massacred the unfortunate Huguenots without mercy" (120). This description appears to be focused less on religious furvert against the Protestants, but rather peasants were searching for a form of societal reparations. This mob mentality potentially stems from both a search for power in a societal and religious structure that relegates them to the bottom of the social hierarchy and unity among their fellow caste members. Such a mentality among the peasants shows the disincentive for religious tolerance among Catholics and Protestants because this conflict gave peasants carte blanche to take resources and lives without fear of legal repercussions. Before the Catholic purge of the Huguenots, Protestants launched their own preemptive attack as Claude de Sainctes explains that large masses of Protestants gathered in wait for a reason to start conflict. The final trigger that released the mob was said to be "the sound of the bells and claimed that they were interfering with God's Word" (65). Created the source is of Catholic bias, but it does show that religion gave excuse for factions to act with violent impunity against their fellow man without feelings of religious or political ramifications. Claude goes on to state that the Protestants not only hurt and murdered people, but "they broke up the blessed Sacrament, threw it to the floor, and ground it under their
During the period between 1550 and 1648, the view of the Holy Roman Empire, France, and the Spanish Netherlands shifted to perceive religious diversity as a strength and not as a weakness. Following the bloody civil war between Charles V and the Schmalkaldick league, the Peace of Augsburg took the first steps to reestablishing domestic stability. The contract specified in Document 4 illustrates the town council in Saxony mandating the cooperation of Lutheranism and Catholicism with the Catholic church allowing Lutheran priests to perform sermons in the upper balcony. The system helps to ensure domestic stability which goes in sharp contrast to the war under Charles V for religious uniformity. Therefore, Document 4 illustrates that the city council believed that there could be political stability with religious diversity.
Christian in Western Europe were divided into Protestant and Roman Catholic. The Protestant and Catholics fought each other for nearly 40 years. Thousands were killed because of religious beliefs. The pilgrims were known as Separatist, or the pilgrims are Protestant, they want to separate from the Church of England.
William R. Estep was a family man as well as a highly regarded professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for 40 years. He was a prominent church historian in the Southern Baptist circle and authored many works on church, Baptist, and Anabaptist history such as Anabaptist Beginnings, Renaissance and Reformation, and Whole Gospel Whole World. He has also served as a pastor in several churches in Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma as well as taught at Baptist seminaries across the world including nations such as Canada and Columbia. The number of years he has researched, taught, and lived serve as the authority that he has to write about the early Anabaptist history.
Once when a baron abandoned his nephew and a dispute broke out, King Louis avoided war tactics in order to prevent the poor from becoming even more overburdened and “out of love for justice and his compassion for the churches and the poor” Louis eventually settled the quarrel in court in a merciful manner (Suger 110). In Suger’s judgement, Louis’ acts of nonviolence in order to retain peace for the churches and poor are appropriate decisions, but he reveals that
The first Catholic missionaries, also know as Jesuits, came to New France in 1634 to spread Christianity and European values. The Jesuits established Sainte-Marie-aux-Hurons by the St. Lawrence River in 1639, creating a central base for all missionary work in New France. This paper will examine how the Jesuits ' feelings of superiority over the Huron people led to converting the native population to Christianity. Father Jean de Brébeuf saw both positive and negative aspects of the Huron confederacy. One aspect of the American Indians’ culture he approved of was their marriage customs.
The nobles over time felt they needed to please Louis in return for letting them live in the Palace of Versailles (Doc 5). Louis attempted to control Protestants in France by making them convert to Catholicism. In addition he would not allow them to leave the country and he took down their churches (Doc 6). Louis taking this action
The journalist argues that even though the entire society wasn’t satisfied by his religious ruling, people should still appreciate the peace and resources that he provided to the needy people. With so much knowledge about Christianity and being devoted, Jacob provides a strong perspective about Charles’ religious life because he is very religious himself as he explains praying to the Holy Rosary has made him appreciate the kind acts that Charles has shown as the Count of Flanders. Moreover, White provides a lot of evidences by using quotes in the Holy Rosary that supports why Charles refers to Holy Scriptures while ruling Flanders. Throughout this article, I found White’s analysis of Count Charles’ religious life really useful because he provides good examples of why religion has made a big impact to governing a society and how religion can change people’s perspective into believing certain
The two rulers took opposite approaches in their dealings with this religious group. Louis XIV allowed such persecution of the Huguenots in France that many of them fled the country. The Great Elector welcomed these refugees, making provisions for them legally and financially. The differences in how Louis XIV and the Great Elector reacted to the issue of the Huguenots show what they each thought was most important in ruling their countries. Louis XIV valued power more than anything, and he wanted to increase his control over his subjects.
The Protestant Reformation had a huge impact in all Europe in the sixteen century, but which ones were the factors that lead to it? It is very important to highlight that the European Christianity was falling into a noticeable corruption of its popes and some other high position members. Robbery, and even warriors were among of some factors that took the Cristian Church to a declining path. One of these examples was the Pope Julius II, which one won the nickname “the warrior pope” because he led armies against people. Furthermore, the church was not the only factor promoting this reformation, some other social changes were occurring with the masses in Europe; many of the peasants were being free especially in the western Europe.
The Protestant Reformation began with a movement made by a monk simply to criticize and challenge the actions of the Church. From the disapproval of selling indulgence to the demand of equality, multiple forces have sparked the inception of the Protestant Revolution. Martin Luther’s decision to take public stand against the Church was revolutionary to the society. A movement for religious reforms, known as the Protestant Reformation, was born. Luther’s beliefs were soon adopted by and appealed to every levels of society.
Persecution can be defined in this statement, “They often use euphemisms to cloak their intentions, such as referring to their goals as “ethnic cleansing,” “purification,” or “counter-terrorism.” They build armies, buy weapons, and train their troops and militias. They indoctrinate the populace with fear of the victim group. Leaders often claim that “if we don’t kill them, they will kill us. (The Ten Stages of Genocide, Gregory H. Stanton)”
They thought they could disrupt the government, hoping that it would cause a revolt against the bureaucracy, resulting in a Catholic monarch occupying the throne. Significance to New
The St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre demonstrated how devastation could quickly take place in the presence of conflict. Unlike previous issues concerning the Protestants and the Catholics, this August 24th, 1572 pertained all the built up violence in one tragic battle. A big component that drove this violence was fear of being overthrown. Specifically, the fear of being taken over by the Huguenots allowed for the population of France to find validation in their actions or at least encourage said conflict. This is demonstrated by the publics’ unrest from previous quarrels, the involvement of the king and the authorities.
The series of questions produces discomfort to the clergymen and the guiltiness of the white churches. Martin Luther compares ideas in order to express his disappointment, guiltiness, lachrymose feeling, and injustice in
The men took their guns along, so did Buck, and kept them between their knees or stood them handy against the wall. The Shepherdsons done the same. It was pretty ornery preaching—all about brotherly love, and such-like tiresomeness; but everybody said it was a good sermon, and they all talked it over going home, and had such a powerful lot to say about faith and good works and free grace and preforeordestination, and I don’t know what all, that it did seem to me to be one of the roughest Sundays I had run across yet.” This text shows how society is corrupt, for multiple reasons. Not only are families who kill each other going to a sacred place together under a temporary cease-fire, they are also hearing a preacher speak about brotherly love and saying that it is a good sermon.