Thomas Muentzer

Thomas Muentzer (or Müntzer, Münzer) (1489 or 1490–27 May 1525) was an early Reformation-era German pastor who was a rebel leader during the Peasants' War. Cf. Radical Reformation, Protestant reformers.

Muentzer's legacy

A widespread belief exists that Muentzer encouraged the peasants to revolt against the wealthy landowners based on his interpretations of apocalyptic literature, especially the struggle of good against evil as found in the Book of Revelation. Applying the victory of Revelation to his own situation, he led a group of singing peasants to their slaughter. Muentzer's struggle of "good against evil" later made him a symbolic hero for the East German state (German Democratic Republic, DDR) in the 20th century, appearing from 1975 on their 5 mark banknote. It may seem odd for the atheist DDR state to have a theologian as a hero, but it may have come about in part, according to Torkel Brekke, because Muentzer's movement and the peasants' revolt formed an important topic in Friedrich Engels' book The Peasant War in Germany, a classic defense of historical materialism. Engels describes Muentzer as a revolutionary leader who chose to use biblical language—the only language the peasants would understand. Opponents of this idea argue Thomas Muentzer was a theologian, and based his ideas around biblical themes concerning God's true servants and the battle against evil, acted as a prophet, and had little interest in revolution or in class struggle.

Related Topics:
Book of Revelation - East German - 20th century - 1975 - Atheist - Friedrich Engels - Historical materialism - Prophet - Revolution - Class struggle

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