28. Zwingle Calls For War (The History of the Reformation)

Zwingle believed that political acts alone could save the Reformation. The reformer Zwingle was not only a pastor, but a head of state, and he had been a general in the army. Zwingle called for war and felt that he must fight for the freedom of his country. The talk discusses whether Christian’s should use the state to fight for their religion.
Reference material: “History of the Reformation of the 16th Century” by J. H. Merle D’ Aubigne

[@jasmadams]

Are you simply reading from the D'Aubigne text? Have you read MacCullough's book? Personally, I can't think of any figure of the period less respectable than Zwingli.

[@KristinBolden]

Thanks for your comment. The history that I’m giving on Zwingle is from D’Aubigne and I am reading much of it from the text. I have not read MacCullough’s book, but I do believe that D’Aubigne gives a good portrayal of the reformer. Zwingle had his faults, and I do not agree with his joining politics with religion. Yet, I believe that Zwingle was a humble man. He came from a humble life, and for his time was rather free from pride of rank and from the influence of bigotry and priestcraft. Jesus chose for His disciples men who were humble and teachable. I believe that Zwingle was such a man. He seemed to be less influenced by the false teachings of his time. The truths that he learned also enabled him to instruct and train others. I believe that Zwingle was an important reformer of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.