Three Wise Men: Luther, Voltai
Throughout history, there have been few men that have dedicated their lives to religious criticism and reformation; three such men are Martin Luther, Francois Marie Arouet (also known as Voltaire), and Christopher Marlowe. Each of these men is famous for their deeds, however, the route by which they accomplished their goals of religious criticism are all very different. It is impossible to view one man as more important that the others, thus one must view these men as a team working together to accomplish religious freedom through criticism and reform. Martin Luther was a German priest whose criticism of the Roman Catholic Church initiated the Reformation and the establishment of Protestantism. As professor at the University of Wittenburg, he compiled the 95 Theses that attacked the church for actions such as selling indulgences, and spreading the belief that salvation is attainable through good acts alone. He denied the authority of the pope, rejected Catholic iconography, and disputed theories such as transubstantiation. Widespread discontent with the state of the church was set alight by Luther's criticisms, thus resulting in a call for reform. In 1520, Luther published three celebrated wo
However, Doctor Faustus is an unusual example of literature from this time period; it is undeniable that there are religious implications to Faustus' actions, however it is difficult to tell whether those implications follow Catholic or Protestant doctrine. It is my personal opinion that Faustus is representative of the Renaissance man, and thus he adopts the Renaissance religion of Protestantism, nevertheless, he struggles with the ingrained dogma of Catholicism until his death. For example, Faustus believes that he is damned at the moment that he commits his soul to the devil, and in Protestant doctrine, this is biblically correct. This argument can be taken one step further to include Marlowe himself, however, it can work both for and against Catholicism. Voltaire also held the belief that God created the world, but left human existence to be defined by the individual. Luther advocated belief in a simplified style of religion, Voltaire advocated belief in religious tolerance and a universal brotherhood, and Marlowe advocated the belief that despite one's religion, one's actions must be accounted for. Martin Luther, Voltaire, and Christopher Marlowe are three men that epitomize a time period of great religious persecution, reform, and uncertainty. For example, if one were to say Doctor Faustus is a novel condemning Catholicism, as most critics believe it to be, then why are there not more negative connotations about Catholicism? In this text, it appears to be Faustus' only route to salvation, but he refuses it out of fear and pride. The answer to this question is unknown, but most critics have their own opinion. His stinging portrayals of government and philosophical figures led to occasional imprisonment in the Bastille. Voltaire was a French writer, satirist, and embodiment of 18th century Enlightenment ideals. As he grew older, he wrote against tyranny and religious persecution with unmatched audacity. Faustus struggles throughout the novel about repentance and whether or not God can forgive him, thus symbolizing his struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism. rks to broadcast his views on religion and the church. These men are three of the more important figures in religious criticism and reform.
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