Poverty and Religion in the eyes of Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists.

A couple question on the topic: 

To what extent did Protestantism contribute to a process of secularization and disenchantment? Be careful to distinguish Lutheranism and Calvinism. How did secularization/disenchantment affect Jews and the poor?

The Catholic and Protestant attitudes towards the poor and Jews are very different. The idea of charity is central to Catholicism. Charity mutually beneficial for the donor and recipient. A Catholic giving alms is performing an act of good works. Thus he will be saved. In return the poor beggar can pray for the donor. Thus the Catholic donor gets further points for salvation. (And the beggar receives money and can ease his own suffering). Protestantism changed the outlook on charity and the poor. All form of ritualism was taken out in Protestantism. (The idea of charity as a mutual relationship also). To Lutherans giving alms to the poor was a good act, however it did not score any points with God towards salvation. Lutherans believe that only a few will be saved. If one has faith he has a chance of being saved. Calvinists believe that only a small number of people will be saved. However, a good sign of salvation was wealth through work. Thus the poor and beggars were looked down upon, because they did not apply themselves. Secularization and disenchantment are present in Protestantism because all form of magic, and/or ritual were removed. People became concerned with their own personal relationship with God and what they could do to improve it. (Through good conduct and work).

Explain the transformation in attitudes toward the poor from the time of Francis of Assisi to the foundation of the Amsterdam Rasphuis in 1596. Why does begging become a crime in the sixteenth century? How did religious differences influence public policy towards the poor?

The attitude towards the poor went through a change between the time of Francis of Assisi through the foundation of Amsterdam Rasphuis in 1596. This was in part due to the Protestant reformation in Europe. Before the Reformation, Catholicism was the major religion. It was a religion that focused on individual's access to salvation. It was through good works that a Catholic could be saved. Charity to the poor was essential to being a good Catholic. Thus, Catholics looked on the poor as people who needed help. After all, Jesus Christ did come from poverty. Thus, the poor were equaled to Jesus. By helping the poor a Catholic was helping Jesus. However, with the Protestant reformation, attitudes towards the poor changed among Lutherans and Calvinists. Protestantism got rid of easy access to salvation. The idea of predestination was born where only a few would be saved. Calvinists especially focused on hard work and wealth as a sign of salvation. Thus the attitude toward the poor was altered because beggars were viewed as not hard workers. Begging soon became a crime in Protestant countries. Houses of correction were erected, where beggars were thrown in for not working. It was a crime to be a beggar. 

Explain the differences in how Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists understood the Eucharist.

 The views on the Eucharist varied among Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists. In Catholic theology transubstantiation that in the Eucharist the bread and wine changes into the substance of the body and blood of Jesus. Thomas Aquinas, a Catholic theologian in the 13^th century, examined the process of transubstantiation. He examined the process using Aristotle’s science. The Eucharist is both physically bread and wine and Christ is present in it. The Eucharist was viewed differently by Lutherans and Calvinists. Lutherans saw the Eucharist a little differently. To Lutherans the elements of bread and wine stay the same but there is a special element, that of Jesus Christ. The body an blood Christ are present together with the bread and wine. It is a sacramental union. To Calvinists the Eucharist was only a tradition. They saw the Eucharist as it was, just bread a wine nothing more.