Question

questions 1 through 3 refer to the following.
\to the count of katzenellenbogen, ziegenhain, and nidda, my gracious lord.
pope leo x, in the bull in which he put me under the ban, condemned my statement that to
fight against the turk is the same thing as resisting god, who visits our sin upon us with this
rod. i still confess freely that this statement is mine. the popes and bishops called for war
against the turks in the name of christ. yet because christ taught that christians shall not
resist evil with violence or take revenge, it is against his name.
in how many wars against the turks have the bishops and clergy prevented christians from
suffering heavy losses? indeed, the king of hungary and his bishops were beaten by the turks
at varna* and more recently a german army would perhaps have fought with more success, if
it had not contained priests. if i were emperor, a king, or a prince in a campaign against the
turks, i would encourage my bishops and priests to stay at home and mind the duties of their
office, praying, fasting, saying mass, preaching, and caring for the poor, as not only holy
scripture, but their own canon law teaches and requires. to this i say amen, amen.\
*a reference to a failed christian crusade launched against the ottoman turks in 1444
martin luther, german theologian, sermon addressed to a german prince, 1528
3
mark for review
a historian interpreting the passage would most likely explain that the audience of the
sermon is an illustration of the fact that
a papal alliances with the holy roman emperors led to widespread
religious persecutions in germany
b the protestant german nobility was wary of confronting the
ottomans without catholic support
c political support from the german nobility aided in the
development of the early protestant community
d the protestant german nobility adopted pacifist attitudes during
religious disputes with their catholic and muslim opponents

Explanation:

• Option A: There is no mention of papal - Holy Roman Emperor alliances causing religious persecutions in the text. The text is about a sermon to a German prince regarding the Turks and the role of bishops/clergy, not about religious persecutions.
• Option B: The text does not discuss the Protestant German nobility being wary of confronting the Ottomans without Catholic support. The focus is on the clergy's role in preventing Christians from fighting the Turks and Luther's advice to bishops and priests.
• Option C: Martin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant movement, is addressing a German prince. This shows that political support (from the prince, who is part of the nobility) could aid in the development of the Protestant community. Luther is trying to influence the prince (a political figure) which implies that such political support is important for the Protestant cause.
• Option D: The text does not state that the Protestant German nobility adopted pacifist attitudes. Luther is more concerned with the clergy's role in not allowing Christians to fight the Turks, not the nobility's pacifism.

Answer:

C. political support from the German nobility aided in the development of the early Protestant community