Submitted exam questions, organized (roughly) into three categories

Click here for a list of exam questions as submitted, with contributors' names.

Religion and society, church and state

1. Contrast the relationships that Calvin and Luther have with the political power-structures in their respective countries. How do their theological understandings impact the way they interact with secular government and vice versa?
2. Compare and contrast the separation of Church and State with the Modern Catholic Church in the world today. Give examples of the more modern reformists at the time during the Reformation.
3. In your opinion, is it possible to look effectively at the historical past from a modern perspective? To name one example: in looking at the Protestant Reformation, contemporary ideas today about politics and the separation of church and state may shape or distort our perspective on past events; the contrast between the late-medieval understanding of political and religious authority and our contemporary understanding of these same issues is dramatic. Identify and discuss the two or three issues, conflicts, or events that we have studied in this course that offer the greatest challenge to the modern scholar. Explain your choices and describe as precisely as possible what today's observer would have to do in order to establish a degree of objectivity.
4. German officials played a pivotal role in the Protestant Reformation by being in support of Luther. Why was this important to the success of Luther's cause and the Reformation?
5. The radical reformers provided and described many new and unique concepts of Christianity to the world. The multiple sects that arose from the Anabaptists provide a good example of this, especially when regarding pacifism. Several sects renounced this concept while others celebrated it. Examine and explain the Anabaptist sects for and against pacifism, and the scriptural evidence in which they found justification.

Scripture, belief, and practice

1. Explain three instances where sola scriptura turned against the magisterial reformers who depended on it as a weapon against Catholic thought. Then discuss the overreaching implications of the laity engaging with scripture—this could include a discussion of establishing religious communities or the interaction of Protestant religious communities with outsiders.
2. Identify the most important parts of the Bible for Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and Karlstadt. Then discuss how each piece of scripture impacted their theological and political activities.
3. Indulgences were a key problem for the early Reformation movement. Give a comprehensive discussion of this late-medieval Christian practice. Why were indulgences popular? What was the rationale behind them? Why did the Reformers object and what were their arguments?
4. Choose three theological themes that you think are the most important for the Reformation period; explain them (including differing viewpoints) and defend your claim that they are the most important (by explaining why you picked them, what effect they had, etc.).
5. The concept of freewill aroused much controversy during the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther and Erasmus, who often found similarities among their beliefs, became lifelong enemies as a result of their public dispute over the doctrine of the freedom of the will. Explain the arguments of Erasmus and Luther on this issue, and show how their positions reflect their broader vision of Christian life and belief.
6. How are icons and relics indicative of the "physical" mentality pervading society throughout the Reformation? Give specific examples of relics and describe in great detail how certain Reformation writers condoned the use of icons and relics or condemned such objects. Do any authors reflect a different, less materialistic mindset? If so, then who and how?
7. In more than one of his works, Luther uses unnecessarily strong language. Sometimes he even utilizes name-calling and abuse. What is the point of this? Does the harsh language do anything for Luther's case, or does it make him seem condescending and self-absorbed?

The diversity of reform movements: Lutheranism, humanism, radicalism

1. We have seen and established that Luther was not the first person in the world to have such differing views about the Catholic church. The Humanists like Erasmus and Hutten critiqued the same problems earlier than Luther. Why, then, during Luther's time, did the ideas suddenly erupt into a split within the Church? Did Luther himself have anything to do with it, or was he just the right guy in the right place at the right time? In other words: what impact do you think Luther himself actually had on the "coming" of the Reformation?
2. Consider Luther and Erasmus. Identify their major social views and show how these outlooks tie into their theological writings. According to your reading of the texts, what were the pros and cons for late-medieval society of each man's approach?
3. Evaluate this idea of "Radicalism" in late medieval and early modern Christianity. Drawing on as wide a variety of primary sources as possible, explain when it is appropriate to use the term "radical" to describe any particular Reformation-era Christian movement, and give your reasoning.
4. Erasmus and Luther's theology are in agreement on many points. During Luther's early career, he often gave the impression of being a humanist himself, rejecting scholasticism and focusing his attention on the human condition. Why did Erasmus remain with the Church and Luther break away? Using their theological ideas and arguments, show which aspects of each man's theology allowed one to remain loyal to papal authority but forced the other to reject it.)

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