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What was Desiderius Erasmus known for?
—1536) Desiderius Erasmus was one of the leading activists and thinkers of the European Renaissance. His main activity was to write letters to the leading statesmen, humanists, printers, and theologians of the first three and a half decades of the sixteenth century.
Who is Erasmus and what did he do?
Erasmus, in full Desiderius Erasmus, (born October 27, 1469 [1466?], Rotterdam, Holland [now in the Netherlands]—died July 12, 1536, Basel, Switzerland), Dutch humanist who was the greatest scholar of the northern Renaissance, the first editor of the New Testament, and also an important figure in patristics and …
What did Erasmus teach?
In the early 1500s, Erasmus was persuaded to teach at Cambridge and lecture in theology. It was during this time that he wrote The Praise of Folly, a satirical examination of society in general and the various abuses of the Church.
Was Erasmus Catholic?
As a Catholic priest, he was an important figure in classical scholarship who wrote in a pure Latin style. Among humanists he enjoyed the sobriquet “Prince of the Humanists”, and has been called “the crowning glory of the Christian humanists”….
| Erasmus | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christianity |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Ordained | 1492 |
What was Erasmus masterpiece?
Erasmus of Rotterdam was the dominant figure of the humanist movement and the intellectual arbiter during the last years of Christian unity. Erasmus’ writings rank him as one of the greatest scholars of his time. His masterpiece, ‘Colloquia’ – a critical text about Church abuses – appeared in 1519.
What message is Desiderius Erasmus trying to convey to his followers?
In this dialogue, Erasmus gives a clear account of his interpretation of Epicureanism. Erasmus aimed to convey a positive Christian account of Epicureanism. He had to do so carefully. His famous adversary, Luther, often accused Erasmus of being an Epicurean in an attempt to discredit his piety.
How did Erasmus want to change the church?
Erasmus did not agree, and he did not want the church to split over these debates. Throughout his life, Erasmus forged his own approach to Christianity: knowing Christ by reading the Bible. He thought that learning about Jesus’ life and teachings would strengthen people’s Christian faith and teach them how to be good.
How did Desiderius Erasmus spread his ideas?
Three main methods allowed for his ideas to be globally renowned: lecturing, collaboration with others, and the publication of his writings. Erasmus then received multiple benefices from the publications of his works and he became inspired to compose more influential works that spread rapidly across Europe.
Why was Erasmus important to the Renaissance?
Erasmus contributed to the Renaissance by revising ancient works and translating them into Greek and Latin such as the Bible. Erasmus also contributed to the Reformation by calling for reform in the Church through his various satirical works.
Why did Erasmus criticize the Catholic Church?
In one of his most famous books, The “Praise of Folly,” he mocked priests who didn’t read the Bible. He also attacked the church’s use of indulgences – when the church took money from people, granting them relief from punishment for their sins in purgatory – as a sign of the church’s greed.
Was Erasmus a Protestant?
The onset of the Protestant Reformation took Erasmus in a new direction. Although he remained a Catholic he was in sympathy with some of the Protestants’ reforming instincts. Erasmus died in Basel in Switzerland on 12 July 1536.
Why was Desiderius Erasmus important to the Reformation?
Erasmus lived against the backdrop of the growing European religious Reformation, but while he was critical of the abuses within the Catholic church and called for reform, he kept his distance from Luther and Melanchthon and continued to recognize the authority of the pope, emphasizing a middle path with a deep respect …
Why did Desiderius Erasmus dislike life in the monastery?
He disliked life in the monastery and spent the remainder of his life criticising several aspects of the rules of Religious Orders. For Erasmus, the importance of religious faith was founded upon a personal relationship with God, and good individual conduct.
What did Desiderius Erasmus write in Handbook of the Christian soldier?
In ‘ Handbook of the Christian Soldier ’ (1502) Erasmus expands this view that a great folly is to merely go through formalistic rituals without understanding the underlying spirituality behind it. In Enchiridion, he writes on the importance of reading scripture to help Christians follow the exemplary life of Christ.
Why did Erasmus give up his monastic vows?
Erasmus received a special dispensation from the Pope to give up his monastic vows. This dispensation was later made permanent by Pope Leo X, a rare privilege for the time. This new post enabled Erasmus to travel to the University of Paris, which was a centre for a new, humanist, Renaissance thinking.
How did Erasmus contribute to the Protestant Reformation?
He was both a Catholic Priest and a renowned humanist. His criticisms of church practices lay the seeds of the Protestant Reformation, though Erasmus never subscribed to the direction of Luther’s Reformation and he remained a committed Catholic throughout his life.