The Reformation

and Ecumenical Unity

Everyone knows now or should that the great Reformer Martin Luther was a German Augustinian Monk who was a purifier who sought to get rid of the heresy of indulgences used as a financial tool bargaining heaven for contributions to the Vatican building fund. His 95 thesis on the Wittenburg Cathedral are pretty much main stream theology now everywhere. Fewer people know that another major reformer John Calvin was actually a French catholic attorney named Jean Cauvin who thought of becoming a priest but instead became a world renown reformer based in Strasbourg France and Geneva. John Knox studied under him in Geneva and moved back to his homeland Scotland and founded the Presbyterian church- an offshoot of Catholicism as a purifying movement of reform. John Knox was in the thick of the religious controversy surrounding Mary Queen of Scots who was a Catholic vying for the throne of all Great Britain with the English Queen Elizabeth. Mary Queen of Scotts brother was one of the Presbyterian overlords working with Knox to gain Presbyterian prominence in power plays that make the Obama-Catholic drama look tame. People actually lost their heads over these battles then-literally. On July 24, 1587 Mary Queen of Scotts was beheaded and her son James made instant King of Scotland as an infant. Later he also became King of England and is the author of the King James Bible.(compiler, translation authorizer-you know what I mean) I know that date because it is also my birthday. Sometimes over my morning coffee and bible reading I think to myself "I was born the day Mary Queen of Scotts was beheaded." God is funny.