Religion was the main subject of Luther’s ideas and teachings, his disgust at indulgence selling sparking him of to try and start a reform. The church and clergy were seen as being very corrupt at all levels, and were with held in little respect by many. Indulgences were sold to the laity, denouncing their sins with a word from the pope. These were not cheap and not available to many save the rich who could afford them. This did not please many, believing it was unfair that they would have to spend more time in purgatory just for being materially less well off. Much of the money from indulgence selling went to Albert of Mainz, and was used to fuel yet more corruption, such as bribery prior elections and concubinage, breaking the clergies rules of chastity. This corruption was widespread and present at all levels of the clergy, not just materially but by absenteeism, nepotism and pluralism as well, absenteeism where the ‘devoted’ clergy left their duty as head of a religious following. The common laity heavily disagreed with the corruption they heard of through Luther’s works and were soon convinced to adopt Luther’s reform ideas. The church had been challenged before, yet not by someone so willing to stand for the cause, and with such a wide base to lunge from. The church did attempt to quell Luther, but instead of doing so, only managed to increase his popularity, Luther’s courage and bravery shining on, capturing the laity. Luther’s attack on the hierarchal system of the church was much favoured by the common laity, who felt oppressed by the clergy. This boosted the popularity within Luther’s theology of the Priesthood of all believers. This thesis was outlined towards the back of Luther’s time, present in the Babylonish Captivity of the Church. Luther stated that ordination did not lead to spiritual superiority, and true faith was what really mattered. This attack on the Catholic Hierarchy brought the clergy to the same level as the laity, and as can be imagined, was very favourable amongst them.
Cultural causes, in my historical opinion, really made Luther’s ideas accessible and for the first time, people began to consider them. One of the most noted events in history is that of the Cultural Revolution, the Renaissance. This had opened up many people’s minds, starting a newer more lateral way of viewing the world. The Renaissance promoted individuals to think for themselves, to form their own opinions, something very different from the medieval system whish predated the sixteenth century. This was a time when scientific breakthroughs and education began to emerge in much higher numbers. The greatest breakthrough was most probably the invention of the movable type printing press, invented by Guttenberg in Mainz. For the first time, ideas could be mass produced and distributed to the public. The printing press allowed accurate re-production of pamphlets, books, tracts, treatises and translations which played a huge part in starting the reformation. Luther’s ninety five theses were translated into German and circulated everywhere, flooding the German people with these new radical ideas. The bible was also translated into German and printed, supporting the new renaissance ideas of re-analysing the bible, rather than the churches edition. This meant that the materials were there for people to start their own ‘investigations’ guided by Luther’s words, published in his pamphlets, his most noted three ‘Address to the Christian Nobility of the German nation in August 1520, The Babylonish Captivity of the Church in October 1520 and the liberty of a Christian man in November 1520.’ Luther’s words could be read by all and not just heard by those he preached to directly. It would have been no good if Luther could publish his works but no one were to read them, but these were renaissance times and a more university environment began to grow. Students particularly became interested in his theses; actively protesting in Luther’s favour at times, though not always to Luther’s willing. Also to aid Luther’s popularity, works by other revolutionaries such as Erasmus began to be published fuelling the new found hunger for radical ideas. It was not just the educated sector that Luther’s ideas were aimed at. The Lutheran message also made an impact upon the rural communities amongst the peasant population. These reached the wider areas through missionaries and woodcuts, and were very accessible. These woodcuts were initially not so much in support of the Lutheran message but to ridicule the pope and the corruption in the clergy. This increased the interest in Luther’s scriptures.
Germany at the time was known as the Holy Roman Empire. This was not one soul country but rather 400 smaller states, independently ruled over by a politically autonomous prince. The fragmented Holy Roman Empire and the political systems employed meant that social reasons for the success of Luther took part as well. There was already an existing anti-clericalist notion still in Germany towards Rome and the pope, many expressing concern to a foreigner running the Church. The Laity could identify with a fellow German, and he soon became a patriotic figurehead, fighting the ‘evil, corrupt papacy’. His actions, as mentioned above, at the Diet of Worms et al, managed to raise respect and his social profile. The spread of the Lutheran message was made much easier also by the threat to the Holy Roman Empire on an international level which kept Charles V occupied. For Example, in 1526 at the Diet of Speyer. Charles would have liked this too have been a more decisive meeting but was left to tolerate Luther, buying for time, Charles having to cope with the threat from the Ottoman Empire and Italy. Charles was also the King of Castile amongst other titles. Charles had had to cope with threats of rebellion in Spain and doing so neglected Lutheranism and allowed it to become set in many peoples way of lives.
As each state was politically autonomous, it meant that if the prince who ruled it decided so, he could change the religion which people followed. Luther was very clever in the way he presented his theses to a widespread audience. The German Princes were at first reluctant to adopt the Lutheran cause, afraid of going across the general trend. This soon began to change as they realised the growing following and potential popularity in converting. Some turned to keep their independence from the Habsburgs. This could turn whole states into Lutheran states. Another ‘perk’ of princes turning to Luther was that Luther promoted the secularisation of Church lands, meaning a much bigger material reward could be theirs, this was shown by the first princely supporter, Albrecht of Hohenzollern. This material reason could cross into the category of economical reasons for change, but the fact that the feudal system was in place and the peasants had to follow the princes is a much greater gain for Luther. The princes were to become very important in the consolidation of Lutheranism, forming the Schmalkaldic league in 1530. This would counter imperial intervention, giving Protestantism a powerful backing. From Luther’s teachings, everyone appeared to come out on top, peasants and knights alike. The Holy Roman Empire was run by a strict system of feudalism. Peasants were losing their freedom, being worked harder by their lords, and oppression from church taxation. As stated in religious causes, peasants soon read the priesthood of all believers as a symbol of freedom, and escape from the hierarchal system that was becoming ever heavier with new need for fertile land and the increasing population.
Economic causes also helped. Peasants again used Luther’s message to authenticate their demands against heavy taxation by lords and to complain of the oppression. They were being heavily taxed for the war with the Ottoman Empire, leaving them little more but serfs. Princes were spurred by the opportunities of more money and land. Greed adopted the Lutheran cause.
As the movement increased, during the 1530s the movement became more and more in the Princes hands, making it a much more political cause. This was not as Luther had intended, and could have been due to the flexibility of his message and that it was so accessible. The princes did however consolidate the protestant religion in Germany.
As stated, it was the conditions of Germany at the time of Luther that made the country particularly ripe for this new radical reform. His message was strong enough to spread, Luther using the countries conditions to his advantage. Reform had begun.
