Luther on the Divine Right of Kings
This is a follow up to my posting The Spirit of the Reformation was Profoundly Medieval, where I mention that Lutheranism did not become the main branch of Protestantism, as is commonly supposed, Calvinism has been the clear winner, and the source of many of our problems.
On page 182 of The Making of the Modern Mind I saw this quote, and I had to copy it:
“The princes of this world are gods,” wrote Luther, “the common people are Satan.” “It is in no wise proper for any Christian to set himself up against his government, whether it acts justly or unjustly.”
Shocking, huh?
He then goes on to show that the doctrine of the divine right of kings was an intermediate step between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age. Interesting stuff.
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