Who were the Christian humanists and how did they differ from protestant reformers?

Answer 1

"Renaissance humanism was a broad movement that affected the social, cultural, literary and political landscapes of Europe. Beginning in Florence in the last decades of the 14th century, renaissance humanism revived the study of the Latin and Greek languages; and caused the resultant revival of the studies of science, philosophy, art and poetry of classical antiquity.
The "revival", or "re-birth", was based upon interpretations of Roman and Greek texts, whose emphasis upon art and the senses marked a great change from the contemplation upon the Biblical values of humility, introspection, and meekness. Beauty was held to represent a deep inner virtue and value, and "an essential element in the path towards God".
The crisis of Renaissance humanism came with the trial of Galileo, which forced the choice between basing the authority of one's beliefs on one's observations, or upon religious teaching. The trial made the contradictions between humanism and traditional religion visibly apparent to all, and humanism was branded a "dangerous doctrine".
Renaissance humanists believed that the liberal arts (music, art, grammar, rhetoric, oratory, history, poetry, using classical texts, and the studies of all of the above) should be practiced by all levels of wealth. They also approved of self, human worth and individual dignity.
Noteworthy humanists scholars from this period include the Dutch theologist Erasmus and the English author Thomas More and French philosopher Francois Rabelais."

"The Protestant Reformation was a movement in the 16th century to reform the Catholic Church in Western Europe. The Reformation was started by Martin Luther with his 95 Theses on the practice of indulgences.
The four most important traditions to emerge directly from the reformation were the Lutheran tradition, the Reformed/Calvinist/Presbyterian tradition, the Anabaptist tradition, and the Anglican tradition. Subsequent protestant traditions generally trace their roots back to these initial four schools of the reformation. It also led to the Catholic or Counter Reformation within the Roman Catholic Church through a variety of new spiritual movements, reforms of religious communities, the founding of seminaries, the clarification of Catholic theology as well as structural changes in the institution of the Church. More thorough historians place the beginning of the Protestant Reformation further back in time and see Wycliffe as the beginning, Jan Hus as the middle and Luther as the end of the Reformation."

Answer 2

Who Were The Christian Humanists

Answer 3

I am a confessional Lutheran, a member of a Lutheran Church Canada Congregation, affiliated with, and maybe more conservative than Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The official Conservative Lutheran view is still exactly as Luther stated. However belief in "perpetual virginity", "The immaculate conception" and "The Assumption" are not necessary for salvation. Faith in Christ alone (sola fide) is all that is needed. While not even close to Scripture, Anne Rice puts forth a plausible explanation in support of "The Perpetual Virginity" in her novel "Christ the Lord Out of Egypt". Read it. A good story, and inspirational, but remember that it is just a novel, not WORD OF GOD! In LCC/LCMS The Feast of St. Mary, Mother of our Lord is celebrated on August 15th. For interest sake the Feast of St. Joseph, Guardian of our Lord is kept on March 19th. These are Commemorations, not Venerations. These dates are taken from "The Lutheran Service Book" "The Church Year", pages X , XI. Other commemorations (Saints Days if you like) are listed on pages XII, and XIII. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1