Mikel Burley (ed.): Wittgenstein,religion, and ethics

International Journal for Philosophy of Religion -     

A History of Western Astrology,volume II: The Medieval and Modern Worlds,by Nicholas Campion

Abstract

The text of the ‘Summary’ of 1523, which forms the basis of this article, has been exhaustively studied in biographies of Bucer, and its theological content has been analysed considerably. I would like to approach it with a question which can appear a little strange. In the years 1522-23, if a Christian layman or woman embraced or shaped themselves to the reforming message of the preacher Martin Bucer, what would that have meant for them in concrete terms in their everyday life? Such a questioning obviously carries with it the risk of too great a subjectivity. I admit this and I accept it. For, on occasions, the reformer himself uses the expression of the Christian life (pp. 100, 13), of life totally centred in Christ, ‘volkommen christlich Leben’ (pp. 116, 21). Here is the result of researches yet to be completed. This research also needs to be measured against texts from Bucer which stem from his mature years.¹