HIS340H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Protestant Reformation, Protestantism, Ad Orientem
Document Summary
Keith thomas, religion and the decline of magic. One of the key historians of the protestant reformation. Created a pretext for how historians think and talk about history. Fundamental argument: protestant reformation witnessed the end of magic. This is a decisive break with the past. The late medieval catholic church before martin luther, blurs magic and religion. Before martin luther, you can talk about universal catholicism. Thomas is concerned with the emergence of protestantism and the effects it has on. Describes the church, the medieval church is a depository of magical beliefs (at the popular level, how everyday people interpret christianity and the church: it is a medium to gaining supernatural power) People use religion to gain control over daily elements. Mass: the priest could literally transform the bread and wine to the body and blood of christ. The church encourages the idea of magic and having magic. There is no abstract idea of miracles and magic.
