Title: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants - Wikipedia
Headings: Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Contents
Context
The Peasants' War
Luther and the Peasants: Reluctant Inspiration
Luther and Müntzer: contrasts in leadership
The Twelve Articles of the Christian Union of Upper Swabia
Luther's writings
Admonition to Peace
Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants
Open Letter on the Harsh Book Against the Peasants
Aftermath: Luther and Protestantism
References
Further reading
Primary sources
Secondary sources

Content: When pressure built around these revolutionary ideas, Luther had to choose a side, and he joined with loyal burghers, the nobility, and princes. In siding with lawful authority, Luther preached peaceful progress and passive resistance in such documents as To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation in 1520. He believed that there were no circumstances under which violence should be used on behalf of the Gospel with the exception of efforts against the work of Satan. Luther and Müntzer: contrasts in leadership
Luther stated that he did “not wish the Gospel defended by force and bloodshed. The world was conquered by the Word, the Church is maintained by the Word, and the Word will also put the Church back into its own, and Antichrist, who gained his own without violence, will fall without violence”. Around the same time as Luther preached peaceful resistance, Müntzer attacked the priesthood in violent sermons, calling for the people to rise up in arms. He too cited biblical references to justify his perspective, and asked “does not Christ say, ‘I came not to send peace, but a sword’? What must you do with that sword? Only one thing if you wish to be the servants of God, and that is to drive out and destroy the evil ones who stand in the way of Gospel”.