Monday, December 2, 2024

It is the 2nd of December 2024. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

A very happy Monday- I am back, rested and refreshed, in the advent/Christmas mood- another thanks to Sam Leanza Ortiz for filling in, and now we are back… and for this first day back and first show in December, we have a Monday mailbag from one of our most devoted listeners- he is a pastor in Ohio- Eric in Hudson, Ohio who asked a question and this seemed like the right time to answer it:

You see, first, it is a question about the roots of the Reformation. And I never feel more in the Reformation spirit than when the Trojans play those awful, terrible fighting Irish of Notre Dame. USC began as a Methodist school, they were initially called the “Fighting Methodists.” Also, Notre Dame and probably the Pope who roots for them can all pound sand.

Also- Eric is in Ohio… where I hear there was a big game this weekend. And Eric is a displaced Michigander in Ohio, and I’ll leave it all there for those not interested in American tackle football at the collegiate level.

Eric was wondering about the relationship of Nominalism to the Reformation- and that might seem either out-of-left-field or esoteric but it’s not. In fact, and Eric pointed this out, it was Luther’s first Catholic opponents who noted the effect of Nominalism on the church- on Luther- and on the Reformation.

And we, certainly at 1517, but generally as Christians, wonder how God has brought our family thus far- and did a somewhat obscure philosophy really lead us from there to here.

So, let me break it down: “nominalism” is, in fact, what many in the Catholic camp were concerned about; Luther played with the ideas and, well… what were those?

Nominalism means “name-ism,” and it suggests that, wait for it… we categorize and collect things based on what we call them, not because there is some unseen realm of universals. Follow me- “red” to a nominalist is simply the name for the things that give off an agreed-upon hue. There is no “universal red” out there. The “nominalists” thus “demystified” the world. And many tie this to the Reformation- everything is “atomized”/broken down/left to the individual. And you can make a hop, skip, and jump from that to the idea that the individual has to weigh claims and search for the truth even if it takes you into new territory.

But let me make a connection that is more helpful historically and for understanding the Reformation and philosophy. “Nominalism” is an interesting epistemology (how we know what we know), but I’m interested in the parallel between it and the Devotio Moderna- or “the modern Devotion” which bubbled up in Pre-Reformation Europe and symbolized another break from the past. Just because it's been done this way doesn't mean it always has to be. And maybe, just maybe- in this era of the parallel Renaissance and a new understanding of the individual- the devotion Moderna claimed that God wasn’t an impersonal first mover and that Christianity wasn’t a rigid quid-pro-quo with an exacting God.

Nominalism in the schools parallels the Devotio Moderna in the church and a general flowering of mysticism- one of the key ingredients to Luther and the Reformation. I get it when a Catholic controversialist or critic wants to lay blame on the loss of universals and the birth of the Reformation- the 15th and 16th centuries remain one of the great axial eras. Of course, one can overdo anything- and individualism born of the era of “nominalism” and the “New Devotion” led to the sad situation of an atomized and individualistic church- and that was, in my opinion, the best argument against Luther. But, it’s what makes the real question at the heart of the Reformation one of authority… who says? Who is in charge? And that is where I think we can have some fruitful conversations.

I will link, if you are interested, to my talk 2 years ago at Here We Still Stand, (Daniel van Voorhis: A Brief History of Luther’s Stand https://youtu.be/s91fti5pfi0?si=wX31ssh2d4oOYaYV) where I do a top 10 things that led to the Reformation- and some of this is in that as well. Thanks, Eric, and good luck in the land of angry Buckeyes-

The last word for today is from the daily lectionary, and I’ll take what is a long reading from 2 Peter and give you the good stuff in the middle:

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 2nd of December 2024, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who would rather you not look up the final score of Indiana-Purdue over the weekend… I’m Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who doesn’t think Nominalism ruined Western culture, but the demise of the Pac-10 might have- I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.