Influența amenințării otomane asupra teologiei iminenței Parusiei în timpul Reformei

The Influence of the Ottoman Threat on the Theology of the Imminent Parousia during the Reformation

Abstract

Martin Luther’ slogan ”Better Turks than papists” captures his understanding of the significance of the Reformation. In light of the Reformer’s views concerning the Turkish threat, one could argue that the Era of Reformation has to be understood not simply as one more historical period of outstanding importance, but as the final divinely ordained step of church reform before the onset of the end of the world and the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. The study argues that if the “Turkish menace” is to be evaluated from “God’s viewpoint”, as a punishment for the sins of (the) Europe/ans, then the war against the Turks should be viewed as a total mistake because it would have meant to fight against God Himself. The study also argues that, unlike Luther, Calvin and Erasmus were much balanced in theirs views concerning the Ottoman invasion and conquest of Europe.