ABSTRACT
Luther’s movement began as a striving for liberation; for freedom from the Papacy and the hierarchy; from useless and harmful dogmas, rites, prohibitions, and customs. The development of State Churches later led to the formation of consistories composed of theologians and lawyers appointed by the governments. The alliance with the temporal power led to the rapid spread and consolidation of the new faith, and the development of a State Church in which the decision lay with the government. Luther began to deviate from his original position under the impact of a surging radicalism denying every authority and tradition. Most of all Luther feared that the progress of rationalism would destroy the belief in the divinity of Christ. The question of Church property became urgent through the fact that many monasteries had practically dissolved, and many churches had lost their catholic character.
