What role did Erasmus play in the Reformation?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

As a Christian humanist, Erasmus was part of a larger movement that wanted to see a return to the original intention of Christianity, something that he and others argued the contemporary church had deviated from in favor of a more worldly position. He and Christian humanists returned to the original texts of early Christianity to study the true nature of the religion and called for reforms. It can be argued that he was taken more seriously as a role model because of his education as well as his later ordination as a priest. He became an independent scholar and traveled widely, publishing his criticism with humor and satire rather than fiery rhetoric. It was his belief that the church needed reformation, not rejection. By focusing on the philosophy of Christ, Erasmus set out standards for reforming religion in closer observance of the original scriptures and emulating Christ, as the original fathers had done. He argued that the way to bring people to the right side of religion was through education, and that people learned better with positive reinforcement than with fear of punishment. Education would make the world a better place, allowing people to read the Bible on their own to achieve an understanding of the philosophy of Christ. This had a profound influence on many reformers in Europe, particularly those who saw Erasmus as a role model who had managed to reconcile reform of religion without rejecting Catholicism.