The German Hercules Summary and Analysis

Luther becomes a national figure after his debate in Leipzig. Moreover, when Luther's writings are disseminated, he is made an international figure. The Reformation is happening at the same time as the Renaissance and emerging nationalism. The central idea of the Renaissance is Humanism, the belief that the proper interest of mankind is man. For different reasons, Humanism and the Reformation attack indulgences. While Reformists call indulgences blasphemy, Humanists ridicule it as silly superstition. Apparently, the Renaissance man has no deep religion of his own.

Erasmus passes from discriminating support of Luther to a whiny opposition. Erasmus wants to revive the Christian consciousness of Europe through the dissemination of sacred writings. Erasmus is the first to make available in print the New Testament in the original Greek. Luther and Erasmus both think the Church has become too...