Marriage Theology Through The Protestant Reformation

Marriage Theology through the Protestant Reformation The striking Christian concept of marriage theology, in which God is understood as having an allegorical and spiritual marriage with His people, showed both great change and great constancy in the face of the challenges of the Protestant Reformation. Some concepts, such as the importance of unity in conceptualizing mystical marriage, were constant characteristics of marriage theology, although varying in emphasis. Other concepts, such as mystical marriage as sacramental, were distinctly Catholic and rejected by later Protestants. By comparing the ideas of Bernard of Clairvaux and Gertrude of Helfta, monastic theologians preceding the Reformation, with the ideas of Francis Rous and Cotton Mather, Puritan theologians following the Reformation, the impact of early Protestant concerns on marriage theology will be observed. The Song of Songs was a particularly important text for Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), a Cistercian monk who wrote often about love of various forms (Evans 1, 5-8). In his â€Å"Sermons on the Song of Songs,† Bernard explored the relationship between the soul and Christ as between the Bride and Bridegroom. First, Bernard explored what was distinctive about marriage among other human relationships: â€Å"If someone is a slave, he fears his master’s face†¦If he is a son, he honors his father. But she who asks for a kiss feels love†¦for to [Bridegroom and Bride] everything is common, nothing is the property of one andShow MoreRelatedReligious Reform in the Middle Ages1442 Words   |  6 Pagesfelt that although he did whatever he could to lead a good Christian life, he could never achieve spiritual salvation. Luther found it hard to find comfort in the Catholic Church, where he was taught, people were saved only though Gods mercy, not through their own effor ts to live as a good Christian. Although the Catholic Church tried to pressure these beliefs into his head, Luther believed that one had to have a personal relationship with God to reach ultimate salvation; using faith alone to saveRead MoreThe Reformation And Its Effects On The World1356 Words   |  6 PagesThe Reformation and its Effects on the World. â€Å"Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place (Luther).† With these words Luther began the long war against the Catholic Church, that would later become known as the protestant Reformation. It would be one of the largest forcesRead MoreThe Tudors Effect On History Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pageswives, specifically six, and also his radical reformation of the English Church. King Henry VIII was very concerned with having a male heir to continue the dynasty. For that reason, he annulled his first marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon. This annulment of his first marriage fuelled the creation of the English Church. Although Henry VIII may have acted in pure self-interest, this creation of the English Church would later lead to the Protestant Reformati on. Students studying the Tudor Dynasty shouldRead MoreThe Tudors Effect On The English Church Essay1303 Words   |  6 Pageswives, specifically six, and also his radical reformation of the English Church. King Henry VIII was very concerned with having a male heir to continue the dynasty. For that reason, he annulled his first marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon. This annulment of his first marriage fuelled the creation of the English Church. Although Henry VIII may have acted in pure self-interest, this creation of the English Church would later lead to the Protestant Reformation. Students studying the Tudor Dynasty shouldRead MoreProtestant Reformation And The Catholic Church Essay1339 Words   |  6 PagesChloe Cooper Mrs. Trahan English 10, 1st period 10 November 2016 Catholic vs Protestant Throughout history, the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Church have developed similarities and differences among their religions. Because they are both a major part of history they’re both equally important. The most important thing is knowing facts about our history and major events that occurred. Catholicism and Protestantism are both two very different religions that have different opinions. WhileRead MoreThe Life of Martin Luther1037 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther was a man who impacted the world’s society and history. He marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, which changed the course of Christianity forever. He was a powerful man of God, who reformed the corrupt Catholic Church, rediscovered the Living Word of God, and restored many authentic Christian doctrines. Luther was a man who changed the world. Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany on November 10, 1483 to a middle-class family. During his childhood, two of his brothersRead MoreCauses Of The Protestant Reformation1635 Words   |  7 PagesThe Protestant Reformation was the 16th-century religious movement that took place in the Western church. Having far-reaching political, economic, and social effect, the Reformation became the basis for the founding of Protestantism, one of the three major branches of Christianity. Without the changes caused by the Renaissance during the fifteenth century, the Reformation would not have been possible (Haigh). Reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Henry VIII challenged the Catholic churchRead MoreThe Beginning Of The Reformation1476 Words   |  6 PagesTask 1: Describe the beginning of the Reformation in Germany (including who, when, and where). â€Å"The Protestant Reformation was the 16th-century religious, political, intellectual and cultural uprising that splintered Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern era. In northern and central Europe, reformers like Martin Luther and Henry VIII challenged papal authority and questioned the Catholic Church’s ability to define ChristianRead More Martin Luther Essay1217 Words   |  5 Pages Martin Luther Martin Luther was a German theologian and religious reformer, who started the Protestant Reformation, and whose vast influence during his time period made him one of the crucial figures in modern European history. Luther was born in Eisleben on November 10, 1483 and was descended from the peasantry, a fact that he often stressed. Hans Luther, his father, was a copper miner. Luther received a sound primary and secondary education at Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach. In 1501, at theRead MoreThe Decline Of The 16th Century Reformation Essay1448 Words   |  6 PagesThe 16th century reformation (from the Latin word reforma, meaning change) was a revolt against the excessive power wielded by the Catholic Church throughout Europe in the 16th century, and lead to the eventual founding of Protestantism. The reformation ended the dominance of Europe by the Catholic church, separating Christians into Protestants and Catholics, and was a turning point in religious and European history. At the beginning of the 16th Century, Europe was dominantly Catholic. The Catholic