How Did The Reformation Change The New World
Martin Luther was a young boy growing up in Germany when Italian explorer Christopher Columbus set sail for what turned out to be the New World on behalf of Spain. Happening roughly 10 years apart, the birth of Martin Luther and the voyage of Columbus were the starting points for parallel events that would change the world. Leading up to 2017, Lutherans saw a lot of discussion of how Luther and the Reformation changed the “world”. Generally in these presentations like, Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World, said “world” when they actually meant “Europe”. Could the Reformation have had an impact on The New World before Heinrich Mühlenberg arrived in 1742? When one asks “what was the Reformation?” The easiest and most obvious
…show more content…
Peters Basilica. This leads directly to the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. In reality seeds of Protestantism had been laid years before in Europe by Savanarola, Jan Hus, and others. But in 1517 they begin to sprout in new ways. At the same time, on the other side of the globe, the first Europeans were arriving in what is now Mexico. Among many things the arrival of Spaniards in Mexico meant the seeds of Christianity were being planted. The first Europeans to arrive with specifically missionary intent were priests from the “Mendicant Orders” Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians –the same order that fostered Luther. They arrived between 1524 and 1526, many years before the establishment of more rigid diocesan structures and the arrival of diocesan clergy. Just a few years before mendicant friars began to literally bring the bible to Mexico, publication of Erasmus’ bible translation was released in Europe. It is no accident that Luther was teaching bible at Wittenburg using this text as the Reformation unfolded. Theologically, the Reformation can be best understood as the work of the Holy Spirit brought about by a fresh encounter with Scripture. Given the universal nature of the Holy Spirit, with Indigenous Americans encountering scripture for the first time and Europeans encountering it anew, one might expect to find parallel
Peters Basilica. This leads directly to the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. In reality seeds of Protestantism had been laid years before in Europe by Savanarola, Jan Hus, and others. But in 1517 they begin to sprout in new ways. At the same time, on the other side of the globe, the first Europeans were arriving in what is now Mexico. Among many things the arrival of Spaniards in Mexico meant the seeds of Christianity were being planted. The first Europeans to arrive with specifically missionary intent were priests from the “Mendicant Orders” Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians –the same order that fostered Luther. They arrived between 1524 and 1526, many years before the establishment of more rigid diocesan structures and the arrival of diocesan clergy. Just a few years before mendicant friars began to literally bring the bible to Mexico, publication of Erasmus’ bible translation was released in Europe. It is no accident that Luther was teaching bible at Wittenburg using this text as the Reformation unfolded. Theologically, the Reformation can be best understood as the work of the Holy Spirit brought about by a fresh encounter with Scripture. Given the universal nature of the Holy Spirit, with Indigenous Americans encountering scripture for the first time and Europeans encountering it anew, one might expect to find parallel