The impact of the Protestant Reformation

Abstract

A complete review of the main assets of the Lutheran Reform is undertaken, not only from a religious stand point, but also from it’s political, cultural, educational and social implications for the Western World of Luther’s times. In the religious field, subjects such as the mentality and ideology of the Middle Ages and the concepts of “christian freedom” and “theology of the cross”, proposed by Luther as opposed to the Roman Catholic doctrine, are treated. Concerning politics, the article analyzes the separation between Church and State suggested by the reformer, an idea that opens the way for political Modernity, through the liberation of politics from the control of the Church, and the renewed confidence on reason to structure government. This opens the way for the modern concept of “freedom of conciusness” and for Human Rights in general. Concerning the economic and social aspects, the Lutheran criticism towards early capitalism is studied. With all these elements, it is suggested that Protestant Reformation is still alive in its criticism towards nowadays Globalization.