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A Comparison of Martin Luther’s The freedom of a Christian Man and Niccolo Machiavelli’s Concerning Governmental Authority
1. Introduction
The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast Martin Luther’s work, The freedom of a Christian Man, with Niccolo Machiavelli’s work, Concerning Governmental Authority. This will be done by discussing the different ways in which the two authors discuss political power and its relationship to success.
2. Luther’s The freedom of a Christian Man
In his work, The freedom of a Christian Man, Luther discusses the importance of religion in achieving spiritual freedom and peace of mind. He states that a person is only free when they are free from sin, and that this can only be achieved through faith in Jesus Christ.
Luther also discusses the role of the government in achieving spiritual freedom. He states that the government should not interfere with a person’s religious beliefs, and that it should only be concerned with keeping the peace.
In his work, Concerning Governmental Authority, Machiavelli discusses the importance of political power in achieving success. He states that a person must have absolute power over others in order to be successful, and that this can only be achieved through force or deceit.
Machiavelli also discusses the role of religion in achieving success. He states that religion is not important for success, and that it can even be used to control people.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, Martin Luther and Niccolo Machiavelli have different views on political power and its relationship to success. Luther believes that religion is important for achieving spiritual freedom and peace of mind, while Machiavelli believes that political power is necessary for success.
FAQ
Machiavelli believed that political power was derived from the use of force, while Luther believed that it came from God.
Both Machiavelli and Luther were concerned with the corruption of the church and the need for reform. They also both advocated for popular sovereignty.
Machiavelli is considered to be one of the founders of modern political thought, while Luther's ideas helped to bring about the Protestant Reformation.
As political thinkers, Machiavelli and Luther were both highly influential in their respective fields.
What distinguishes Machiavelli from other early modern political theorists is his willingness to consider any means necessary to achieve his goals. This included violence, which was something that most other theorists disapproved of.
Luther is considered an important figure in the history of Christianity because he was instrumental in leading the Protestant Reformation.
