In thinking of the ideas of "God's Jailers and Hangmen" and why "frogs need storks" according to Luther, please respond to the following:
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
and....
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen? [HUGE question, but give it a try...]
1. Luther thought that secular leaders were there not to rule over the soul. He agreed with Augustine in that power for matters relating to the soul could only come from God directly. He believed that they needed to rule outwardly, but did not. He also thought that they should err on the side of caution, for example they should not kill someone who might be a knave if they are unsure because it is better to let a knave live than it is to kill a good man. Luther thought that secular leaders had no power since they are not above God or Christians. True Christians could rule just as diligently as any secular power for they ruled in faith, and therefore they didn't need any secular leader.
ReplyDelete2. Luther thought the common citizen was wicked and therefore needed the guidance of secular leaders and laws because without it they would not follow what the law said on their own merit/God's commandments. He believed that true Christians didn't need laws because the laws simply repeated what they already did/how they already acted, but the common citizen needed the secular leaders because without it chaos would ensue as common citizens were unchristian and therefore did not follow God's wishes without secular guidance/laws.
3. The current US govt thinks that all citizens are common citizens, and they all need the guidance that the government provides. Even if the govt thinks that some people have the morals and ethics to follow what they law says without the law actually being in place, they think that very few people would behave that way and therefore government must rule over everyone so they don't have to try and discern who would and wouldn't govern themselves properly.
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
ReplyDeleteLuther did not have the most favorable view of secular leaders, yet considered them necessary for the state. He stated that princes were “usually the greatest fools or the worst knaves on earth” and that “if a prince becomes wise, just or a Christian, it is one of the great wonders…upon that land” (316). He said this because he did not feel it was the duty of the secular leaders to be just or pious, but rather to set and enforce laws that will maintain an outward peace in the land. He believed that it was important for the people of the state to “fall at their feet” and praise them, but not to look to them for spiritual guidance because the majority of them would not be ethical or Christian (316).
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
Luther certainly looked down on the common citizen, for as he spoke to the Christian population, he said that it was their responsibility to “serve those who have not progressed as far as you” and still required the secular law in order to do the right thing (312). To Luther, the common man was underdeveloped and had minimal understanding of right and wrong, and therefore needed further guidance. He did, however, warn princes of the rising power of the common man when he said that the princes’ behaviors were “gathering force among the mob and with the common man” (317). He warned that princes should act “in a princely manner” in order to keep such a mob at bay, which suggests the common man has at least enough power to fear an uprising (317).
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen?
I think the US government views the common citizen with far less skepticism than Luther. I think in terms of secular law, the assumption is that most people would choose to do the right thing, yet the laws are put in place so there is no question of right or wrong in the first place. Particularly because there is a separation between church and state, today’s common citizen can not be determined by religious affiliation, unlike Luther’s definition. To Luther, the common citizen was someone who had not progressed far enough to be Christian, however the common citizen by today’s terms is much more encompassing of the entire US population, as opposed to a majority that is “underdeveloped” from a religious standpoint.
• Luther wrote to monarchies in Europe mainly to change the views of some of the monarchial German Princes. He had the support the Northern Princes and it was Luther’s belief that he could get all of Germany behind the Protestant Reformation.
ReplyDelete• Both Augustine and Luther believed that all people must obey to god as he is the highest of authority.
• Because Christians do not live for themselves, but “for their neighbor”, therefore, Christians must use the “sword” for the greater good, as well as peace and deny evil from entering the world.
• The Princes are God’s Jailers and Hangmen
• Spiritual and Temporal Power are necessary
• Frogs (Princes) need storks to help keep them out of trouble. Storks are the Christians who lead
• In order to have a balanced world, there needs to be temporal and spiritual power. If there was just temporal power, people would be too wild, but the spiritual power prevents that craziness from overriding the world.
From Jonathan L-R:
ReplyDeleteFROM Jonathan L-R:
In thinking of the ideas of "God's Jailers and Hangmen" and why "frogs need storks" according to Luther, please respond to the following:
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
Luther defined all leaders as “God’s Jailers and Hangmen.” And though coming by a religious leader was considered a fortunate rarity, of secular leaders, Luther thought that they should be politically absolute with complete control and submission of their subjects while not overstepping their bounds. The limits of a secular lord are of course religious. Specifically, an irreligious lord should not demand of his subjects faith or belief because he is not fit to make that determination as he is naturally wicked himself. That being said, Luther draws on Aesop’s wisdom when he declares that even the wretched frogs (the ruled) need their storks (malicious kings). This notion, according to how Luther regards secular kings, further solidifies the Hangman’s place.
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
Luther clearly and consistently uses pessimistic reasoning to explain his theories such as Secular Authority Derives from God, Obedience To Secular Authority, and Christians May Bear The Sword. In the first he says, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.’ For it is men’s fault or merit that this law commanded of God is not carried out; even as other commandments of God are broken.” This means that Luther believes in the commandment that for murder a man should be held responsible by other men’s swords but also that this one and more of God’s commandments are broken because of human flaw and repentance. This means that Luther thinks the common citizen is both sinful and unjust for not redeeming himself properly after sinning. Holding all men in this contempt is probably a good explanation for why most of Luther’s other ideologies seem so cold and harsh towards individuals.
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen?
The US government is hinged on anticipating that the common citizen is lazy, unknowledgeable, and of lower socio-economic standing. Let me defend. The US government is built on the principle that its people are in charge, not the government itself i.e. “by the people, for the people.” That being said, the individuals within government more often than not are more focused on the consolidation of their own power in order to carryout their own agendas and partisan vendettas than they are in actually representing the people and getting their needs met. The exception to this of course is if carrying out the wants of the people will help the person in office keep their office. But in knowing that citizens will eventually come to know this, the US government is banking on the fact that its people will be too lazy or too incapable to rally against them. Second point; the US government knows that the majority of its citizens are uneducated and really have no or little conception on the fundamental workings of government. Since most can’t or don’t understand the basics, slinging around bureaucratic bull-hicky all day is not only an easy way to avoid mainstream confrontation but also a pretty decent way to effectively stun the opposing party into confusion because no one knows which or what who wants. And finally, the US government thinks and knows that the majority of its citizens are in low economic standing and thus haven’t the means to in some cases vote, register, or even cover their health bills. Sadly, these are pillars of American democracy.
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
ReplyDelete-Not everyone in the world is Christian, so you need secular power to make sure that those who are not Christian still live a just and righteous life. He believes that secular authority must be extreme in order to be effective.
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
-Like Augustine, Luther believed in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the World. He believed that these two worlds needed to coexist for the good of the state and for the good of peace. The common citizens were part of the Kingdom of the World, and the divine citizens were part of the Kingdom of God. These were the people who were not Christian, but this does not mean that Luther thought they were bad people, just that they led their lives differently and needed different instruction and authority.
and....
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen? [HUGE question, but give it a try…]
-The U.S. Government treats all citizens, which they consider to be common citizens ,equally with laws. There are no citizens who are above the secular law; instead, every citizen is considered common, and therefore, every citizen is subject to the laws. Based on this, I believe that the U.S. Government does not make any distinction between the common citizen and the more divine citizen (whether that be the religion citizen or wealthy citizen or powerful citizen). Unlike Luther and Augustine, the U.S. Government does not split the country into two worlds or kingdoms; instead, everyone is common.