Were We Ever Protestants? : Essays in Honour of Tarald Rasmussen

This anthology discusses different aspects of Protestantism, past and present. Professor Tarald Rasmussen has written both on medieval and modern theologians, but his primary interest has remained the reformation and 16th century church history. In stead of a traditional «Festschrift» honouring the different fields of research he has contributed to, this will be a focused anthology treating a specific theme related to Rasmussen's research profile. One of Professor Rasmussen's most recent publications, a little popularized book in Norwegian titled «What is Protestantism?», reveals a central aspect research interest, namely the Weberian interest for Protestantism's cultural significance. Despite difficulties, he finds the concept useful as a Weberian «Idealtypus» enabling research on a phenomenon combining theological, historical and sociological dimensions. Thus he employs the Protestantism as an integrative concept to trace the makeup of today's secular societies. This profiled approach is a point of departure for this anthology discussing important aspects of historiography in reformation history: Continuity and breaks surrounding the reformation, contemporary significance of reformation history research, traces of the reformation in today's society. The book relates to current discussions on Protestantism and is relevant to everyone who want to keep up to date with the latest research in the field. Table of Contents 5 List of Figures 7 A Brief Biography of Professor Tarald Rasmussen 9 Were we ever protestants? 13 Was Luther Ever a Protestant? 17 Was there a Protestant Fearlessness in Face of Death? 31 Protestants and the Uncomfortable Sainthood 53 King, Church and Religion 89 “Worse than the Papists” 107 Despot, Outlaw or King? – Funeral Sermons and the Struggle for Legitimacy in Early Modern Sweden 135 Was there a Protestant Death? 159 Living as Adam and Eve 177 Protestant Anti-Catholicism in Early Modern Germany 195 Martin Luther as Lieu de Mémoire in Early Modern Dutch Lutheranism 213 Pastoral Ideals and Public Sphere in Christiania (Oslo) in the Seventeenth Century 235 Viborg in the Hands of the Lord 259 Toleration, Anti-Catholicism and Protestantism 289 The Lutheran Ethic and the Spirit of Early Modern Science 305 Celebrating Protestantism? The Reformation Anniversaries in Norway in 1917 and 1937 327 The Church of Sweden and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe 345 Notes on the Contributors 367 Index of Names 371 Index of Places 375 Index of Subjects 377 Back cover: This anthology relates to current discussions on Protestantism - past and present - and is relevant to everyone who wants to keep up to date with the current research in the field. Based on the Weberian interest for Protestantism and its cultural significance, Protestantism can be an integrative concept to trace the makeup of today's secular societies. This profiled approach is a point of departure for this anthology discussing important aspects of historiography in reformation history: continuity and breaks surrounding the reformation, contemporary significance of reformation history research and traces of the reformation in today's society