A Marxist De-Lutheranization of the German Reformation

Authors

Douglas C. Stange, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

Publication Date

10-1-1967

Document Type

Article

Keywords

luther, reformation, müntzer, smirin, marxist, reformer, russian, meusel

Submission Type

Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep

Abstract

In 1947, when the rebuilding of a Europe ravaged by world war had only begun, a classical study of Thomas Müntzer appeared in Russia by the eminent historian, Moisei Mendelevich Smirin, entitled Nordnaja reformazija T. Mjunzera I welikaja krestjanskaja wojna. Five years later it was translated into German, and in 1956 it was enlarged and rcvised. Smirin's effort earncd him not only the Stalin prize, second class, but also acceptance as the "orthodox voice" in the confirmation of the Müntzer legend. Friedrich Engels in 1850 had baptized Münrzer's role in the German Reformation in the pure mainstream of Marxist history. Disciples of Marx, representing varied degrees of commitment, continued the Müntzerian hagiography: August Bebel, Karl Kautsky, Franz Mehring and Ernst Bloch.

Disciplines

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Submission Cost

Free

Submission Audience

Laity; Ministers; Scholars

Recommended Citation

Stange, Douglas C. (1967) "A Marxist De-Lutheranization of the German Reformation," Concordia Theological Monthly: Vol. 38, Article 59.
Available at: https://scholar.csl.edu/ctm/vol38/iss1/59