Erasmus and Luther

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Erasmus and Luther
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Four Cultures of the WestJohn OMalley, S.J.

• Thesis We can understand the developments of
  16th century Europe in terms of four cultures or
  styles of thought
• Prophetic
• Academic
• Humanistic
• Artistic

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Prophetic

• Must speak out
• Against injustice especially
• Speaks in imperatives and stark contrasts
• repent!
• Speaks truth to power
• I order you stop the repression!
• Wants total commitment, not compromise
• Examples
• Luther, abolitionists, Malcolm X, Oscar Romero
• Motto Here I stand. I can do no other.

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Academic

• Style of the university (even today)
• Characteristics
• Analytical
• Logical
• Argumentative
• Dispassionate
• Critical
• Examples
• Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Council of Trent, Kant

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Scholastic Theology

• Method Argument
• Format
• Present pro arguments
• Present con arguments
• Answer
• Respond to pro and con arguments
• Goals
• Definition, clarity, precision, rationality

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Thomas Aquinas, Summa TheologiaePart III,
Question 2 The mode of union of the Word
incarnate

1. Did the union of the Word Incarnate take place in
   the nature?
2. Did it take place in the Person?
3. Did it take place in the suppositum or
   hypostasis?
4. Is the Person or hypostasis of Christ composite
   after the Incarnation?
5. Did any union of body and soul take place in
   Christ?
6. Was the human nature united to the Word
   accidentally?
7. Is the union itself something created?
8. Is it the same as assumption?
9. Is the union of the two natures the greatest
   union?
10. Was the union of the two natures in Christ
    brought about by grace?
11. Did any merits precede it?
12. Was the grace of union natural to the man Christ?

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Humanistic

• Reacts against scholasticism
• Bruhn retrieval of ancient sources provides
  alternative perspective and critical stance
• Focus on literature and poetry
• Old and new literary forms
• Deals with ambiguities
• Values eloquence of expression
• Focus on moral imperative for the common good
• Examples
• Erasmus, Churchill, Second Vatican Council

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For next time

• How did the Reformation branch out in different
  directions?
• How did these different Reformers relate to the
  state? Like Luther, or differently?
• How did they use or reject the use of violence?