How is it that there are so many Christians who don't even know what the Reformation is?

Question

Are we really that ignorant of our own history?

I was hoping I wouldn’t have to clarify. The Protestant Reformation is the movement in Europe where a group branched off from the Catholic church (now known as Protestants). It began in 1517 with Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Schlosskirche.

Answer 1

I think it's not so much a commentary on Christianity as it is our society. People don't typically care to look beyond the here and now. They worried about things like instant gratification, not an in-depth look at everything that impacts a situation. It's sad really, because the Reformation really shaped Christianity today.

I think part of it too is that today, Christianity is mainly an emotional thing to people. A lot choose not to involve their mind, ignoring part of the command, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your MIND and all your strength." Outside of what happens in the Bible (which a lot of "Christians" don't read), most feel that church history is unimportant because it doesn't effect how they feel or it just makes them sad.

We as Christians need to get our heads out of the sand!

Answer 2

Rachel QVT! I am not even surprised in you question! The reason is that there are some Christian that believed that they are the original Christian from the time of Jesus and they are not from the reformation and are therefore not an off shot branch from the Catholic Church!!! By the 16th century, there are only the Coptic, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Church remained coz' the rest of the Christian has become extinct or have absorbed into Islam!!!

Answer 3

Friend, I already know this, as a Christian for over 37 yrs, Believe me I have done my studying, & also my church teaches a lot on chruch history, This is not any thing new to me, But did you know people today can not see beyond the reformation, They keep God back there in Martin Luther time, But God is still bringing a people together that will see eye to eye Isa. 52:8 God did not stop with Martin Luther, People can not see their own time of visitation from God in this day & age we live in. Eph 4:11-17 speaks of a 5-fold ministry that will perfect a Bride for the Coming of Jesus Christ. Litlle do this world know that God had a major prophet on the scene in the 1930's thruogh the 1960's that was to bring us out of denominational churches, You can find that at www.williambranham.com & little does the world know that God had a Major Apostle in our day & age, you can also find that at www.fachurch.org Now I know 99.9% of the people will thumbs this down, that's ok I know what I am talking about, I sat under this Apostle teaching for over 30 yrs & this prophets teaching, he was no farther then 20 miles from where I live.

Answer 4

I once had an half hour argument with a housemate and her friend over the fact that Martin Luther King was named AFTER someone famous and important. Not to say that what Dr King did was not important, I just could not convince her that there was ANOTHER important person named Martin Luther and that they came first.

ADD: I enjoyed the cable movie Luther (I have it on DVD). I know that Martin Luther looked nothing like Joseph Fiennes but I still enjoyed it.

ADD ADD: According to IMDB it WAS released in the theater but got no notice.

Answer 5

The reformation is not a part of our own American history (assuming you are American), but instead it is a part of GERMAN history that ultimately became part of American religious heritage.

Most Americans know German history as exclusively the 20 year Nazi era of the last century, and not the preceding 1000 years. And they only know this from television and what they've seen in the movies. I'm not proud of this, but many know WWII through the surreal antics of Hogan's Heroes.

How many can tell the month and year Saigon fell, after all those soldiers died or were maimed in vain during the Viet-Nam war?

Americans ARE that ignorant about history, even our own. How many believe that WE won WWII, when in reality we had the help of the English, Canadians, French and Australians? God, I nearly forgot the Russians, who fought the brunt of the war on the European theater. Many Americans are stunned to find out that the Australians played a pivotal role in the war in the Pacific and that her soldiers suffered horribly at the hands of the Japanese.

But frankly there's no need for me to beat this dead horse. The church has ALWAYS kept man in a state of ignorance, feeding on his fears, superstitions and insecurities. Organized religion in America has in itself become evil and morally unreliable.

Answer 6

I've heard things like the Church has always been good and never took your money(in repsonse to scientology). So I'm guessing they are really ignorant. If people knew what the church did in the Middle Ages I don't think so many of them would still be Christians.

Answer 7

Those first few answers made me cry. I think it is sad for both Christianity and the state of the American educational system. I mean, really, if we could point to 10 events in world history whose effects are still felt today, I think this would be a BIG one. As would the crusades (hello? 9/11?). As much as we would like to believe that history is irrelevant, it isn't.

*sigh*

Answer 8

There are Catholics who put their faith in Christ finished work on the cross. They are most certainly Christians. The Bride of Christ is made up of all Christ Followers who have Jesus as their lord and savior. The reformation was a necessary action that divided the body of Christ. GOD forgives our past and ask that we do the same. The study of the reformation will usually lead to divisiveness and all sorts of unforgiving hatred. I do not want to shut the door on the past. I do however believe that we need to focus on our relationship with Jesus Christ and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. If not we will start sin sniffing and pull up the wheat with the tears.
IMHO.
I am not anti anything.
I am pro Jesus.

Answer 9

The only requiremnt of being Christian is that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and believe that he died for your sins, etc.
There was even debate in the New Testament about Christians needing to learn about being Jewish, and Paul cleary states that is not required, despite the fact that Jesus came from a Jewish background and his coming fullfilled Jewish prophesy.
Learning to walk with God and follow him takes precedence over historical bickering of the past. So I guess the answer to the second question is yes, as we have more relevant things to learn and study in order to grow in faith.
I know the basics of the Reformation (easily found on the internet, anyway) I just don't consider it relevant at this point.

Answer 10

Are you surprised? Many Christians are actually very ignorant, especially about the religion they purport to believe! Amazingly, they know the least about their Bible or it's origin and history. People who really know the Bible don't believe it, including a number of preachers. Unfortunately, many will rather die than think!