that they should reject papal and state absolutism, appealing rather to God’s sovereignty as absolute. Gary J. Moes says, Alvarez 5“The Calvinistic understanding of the world as created and governed in every detail by God contributed much to the rise of modern science. Europeans inherited from the Reformation a desire for a serious pursuit of truth and knowledgenot only in the area of salvation, but also in every area of society and culture”(2-3). “The Reformation doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is often cited as the spark of democracy and individualism in Western culture”(Moes 51). As expressed by Dr. Ellis L. Knox, when Martin Luther died, “…his prestige among reformers was great, but his actual influence had much declined. His greater influence, however, can hardly be underestimated”(Luther’s Later Years). Because of the persecution and discrimination Christians suffered in Europe, they had no other option than to escape to the new discovered continent (America) and to establish themselves in that different, yet big location and begin to construct a new nation based upon the Lord, in which men would have freedom of expression and religion. It would be a nation in which democracy and patriotism would play the key roles that made Americaand later South and Central Americaa free country and a world example of liberty. “Even so, Luther and Calvin had brought the people into disputes that in earlier ages had been left to scholars and priests; thus they opened the way for democracy, for once men began to voice opinions about religious faith, they moved on to make themselves heard in government as Alvarez 6well”(Simon 170). I will conclude saying that there is much more into the Reformation than what we could ever realize since it changed the world in so many different ways we don’t even know, but something is sure, standing for w...
