For a while now I've been interested in the social history that surrounds the divergence of Christianity. Especially the more famous occurrence that resulted in the Protestant Reformation. One of the very first questions that formed - was that the first time in history? The resulting Protestant Reformation began with disagreements in doctrine especially those surrounding the Sacrament of the Eucharist. A Sacrament in this context is a ritual believed as an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual divine grace with the Eucharist being specifically instituted by Christ at the Last Supper.
The Reformation itself is considered beginning with Martin Luther, a German Augustinian monk, posting his 95 theses on a church door at the university town of Wittenberg. However, even this wasn't the first disagreement. Over the centuries there had been many that resulted in church councils that desired simplification. However, the political context of this church battle was based on the emergence of the middle class and thriving cities in what is now known as Italy. These new medieval cities began focusing on trade allowing for the growth of towns and leisure time. Artisans and merchants, developed their own associations, such as the Guild of Merchants, to protect their interests and help fight against the feudal system. This was done in the context of Church belief and structure.
Church symbolism and ritual was the bases of society and the Guild's expanded on these beliefs. The Church doctrin that allowed for this is called the Communion of Saints and at the center of this belief is the Eucharistic ritual.
"The communion of saints, when referred to persons, is the spiritual union of the members of The Christian Church, living and the dead, those on earth, in heaven, and, for those who believe in purgatory, those also who are in that state of purification. They are all part of a single "mystical body", with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all.” Wikipedia - Communion of Saints
The Protestant Reformation resulted in the destruction of the ritual that created social unity. In the context of our history it is this event that describes the beginning of the modern era. The Catholic Church survived and did reorganize without Kings and Monarchs. This was simply called the Counter Reformation and included reforms such as actual training for priests in theological traditions and a return to spiritual life through devotions and a personal relation to Christ. It also included the creation of a system of tribunals known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition.
The Inquisition moved at the pace of government and was as widespread as it's influence. There were three distinct movements based on the Supreme orders: Catholic, Spanish, Portuguese and Roman. The Roman Inquisition was considered more bureaucratic and focussed on pre-emptive control in addition to judicial prosecution. It was out of this history that our current forms of government evolved and that specifically separated Church into state, science, and religion.
Although the ritual at the center of Church was supplanted by politics, observation, and the Bible - we find ourselves now at the apex of this modern era where none of these institutions by themselves have meaning. Interesting enough the Eucharist Ritual is about meaning and what it does to use as humans. As a ritual, it's a social activity embraced by a people and a celebrant where activities have specific meaning. In the context of this tradition the change is from bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. This ritual was defined during the previous mentioned history and has its foundations in biblical history and tradition. However, can we now understand it's meaning? Is there a necessity hidden in these acts that could help us out of a society that has become so fragmented that it's disfunctional? The most enticing question for me is - has anything really changed? The only remaining ritual with as much history and tradition is money.
