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Bastian Greshake Tzovaras

gedankenstuecke@bookwyrm.social

Joined 4 years, 4 months ago

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Bastian Greshake Tzovaras's books

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2025 Reading Goal

64% complete! Bastian Greshake Tzovaras has read 16 of 25 books.

Andrew Drummond: Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer (2024, Verso Books)

What makes Müntzer a figure worthy of our attention in the modern era? Simply this: that his understanding of the relationship between established religion, secular authority and social injustice obliged him to stand up and fight for the overthrow of all three, despite the massive forces which were stacked against him. He had that enormous courage required to fight for a seemingly impossible future. Against those who merely attempted to reform one aspect of society - the Church - he recognised that society's very basis was corrupt and that it had to be completely replaced. In real terms, he perhaps did not achieve much; but he saw beyond the present and aimed for the future. Read his words again - their relevance has not aged:

Look: the origin of usury, theft and robbery lies with our lords and princes, who treat all creatures as their own: the fish in the water, the birds in the air, the plants on the earth everything must be theirs. And on top of that, they then proclaim God's commandments to the poor and say: God has commanded that you shall not steal. But of course that does not apply to themselves. For they oppress everyone, flaying and fleecing them all, the poor peasant, the work man and all who live. But if any poor person commits the smallest crime then he must hang. And to this Doctor Liar says: Amen. It is the lords themselves who make the poor a man their enemy. They refuse to remove the causes of rebellion, so how can it turn out well in the long run? And if these words make me a rabble-rouser - then so be it!

Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer by  (76% - 77%)

Andrew Drummond: Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer (2024, Verso Books)

When news of Ernst's attempted blockades reached Müntzer in September, he was swift to react. He regardeda these manoeuvres as an attack on God and preached against the count from the pulpit. On 22 September, he wrote a singular letter to the Mansfeld castle at Heldrungen:

The electoral official and town council of Allstedt have shown me your letter, according to which I am supposed to have called you 'a heretical scoundrel' and 'a curse upon the people'. This is quite true, for I am well aware - indeed, it is common knowledge- that you have strictly forbidden your people with a public proclamation from attending my her etical services and sermons. To this I have said - and I willa denounce you before all Christian people - that you have had the insolence to ban the holy gospel, and if (God forbid) you persist in such raging and insane bans, then from today onwards, for as long as my blood still pulses in my veins, In will name you on paper a deranged madman

Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer by  (28%)

Andrew Drummond: Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer (2024, Verso Books)

Müntzer's homelessness reinforced his belief that hea was one of the Elect. Behind all of his actions and writing was a very real desire to force through changes. He was con vinced that he was living in a time of great existential crisis for humanity, that the wrath of God would be poured out upon the world, and that he, along with the other Elect, hada to prepare the ground for this final act. But at the same time he must have felt that he was almost alone in his beliefs.

Dreadful History and Judgement of God on Thomas Müntzer by  (22%)