German Beliefs
A brief overview of the religious and philosophical history of Germany.
Pre-Christian Faiths of Germania
Ancient Germanic peoples practiced a variety of faiths depending on their location and cultural background in Europe. The majority were likely followers of Germanic paganism, in competition with Celtic polytheism to the west. The continental faith of Germanic peoples differed somewhat from the more familiar Norse Germanic paganism. Groups like the Franks and Lombards might share gods with names similar to Odin, Thor, Freyja, and more, but others were more aligned with Slavic, Roman, Celtic, or local practices.
Germanic paganism was poorly documented and misrepresented by Roman authors. This has made reconstructing their practices difficult. Rather than an organized faith, it appears to have been practiced on a community level, with many variations between tribes.
Christian Conversion and the Middle Ages
Medieval Germany slowly embraced Christianity through Roman influence. Once raiders on the outskirts of the Roman world, the Franks conquered much of Western Europe during the empire's slow decline. King Clovis I of the Merovingian dynasty famously converted to Christianity in 496. On Christmas Day, 800, the Carolingian King Charlemagne received his crown from Pope Leo III in Rome. This began a long tradition of emperors seeking the formal endorsement of the Pope. In turn, the emperors often played a direct role in the election of new Popes.
This close relationship sealed the legitimacy of the Holy Roman emperors, but it was not always harmonious. One major point of contention between secular and religious authorities was the appointment of bishops. The empire gave these prestigious positions to its nobility, a vital element of court politics. In the 11th century, however, Rome moved to consolidate its power, including the ability to appoint its own bishops. Emperor Henry IV responded by denouncing Pope Gregory VII, who in turn excommunicated him. There followed a period of civil war, antipopes, a second excommunication of Henry IV, and his failed march on Rome that ended with Catholic forces sacking the city. The conflict was resolved at the Concordat of Worms in 1122. The Investiture Controversy, as it came to be known, weakened the authority of the empire and the unity of its states.
Medieval Germany proved more tolerant to Jewish communities than many of its neighbors. Many Jewish families found stability in the region and settled there, contributing primarily to trade in the cities. In times of turmoil, however, such as during the Crusades or plague, Jewish communities experienced widespread violence. Much of Poland's Jewish population arrived there after being pushed out of their homes in Germany.
The Protestant Reformation in Germany
In 1517, Germany became the center of a new religious movement that would ripple through Europe and its colonies. Martin Luther, a theology professor and priest, published a list of criticisms of the Catholic Church, known as the Ninety-five Theses. He intended to push for reform within the Church. Instead, spread by the printing press, his criticisms became a rallying point for disaffected Catholics. Protestants, as they came to be known, soon spread across Northern Europe and branched into several sects. The Papacy, of course, was not eager to see its faithful go.
The Protestant Reformation caused massive conflicts and violence throughout Europe. In Germany, it played out primarily through the Thirty Years' War. Originally fought between the states of the Holy Roman Empire, it soon expanded to include the major European powers. Between 1618 and 1648, millions died on German soil, including mass casualties among its civilians. The end of the war broke the last pretense of imperial power; the German states chose their form of worship as part of a larger decentralization.
Philosophy and Beliefs in Modern Germany
While the Holy Roman Empire remained officially Catholic, Protestantism spread quickly across Germany. The new faith, bolstered by printing technologies, promoted literacy, encouraging a strong philosophical movement as well. Philosophers like Liebniz, Kant, Schopenhauer, Hegel, Nietzsche, and Marx all had a profound impact on European thought and politics. Many explored themes outside organized worship, but religion remained a central issue in Germany. As in the Middle Ages, times of trouble left many in search of a culprit. Growing antisemitism rose alongside economic woes in the early 20th century. Discrimination and official persecution pushed many of its Jewish citizens to leave the country. Those who remained behind were met with official discrimination and eventual mass murder under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party.
In response to these past actions, the government of Germany now works to protect worshippers of all faiths. Protestantism and Roman Catholicism still account for the majority of its population. In recent decades, the nation has seen a growing number of non-religious, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu citizens as well.
References
Bernstein, Eckhard. Culture and Customs of Germany. Greenwood Press. 2004.
Cramer, Kevin. The Thirty Years' War and German Memory in the Nineteenth Century.
Fullbrook, Mary. A Concise History of Germany. Cambridge University Press. 2004.
Music and German National Identity. Celia Applegate and Pamela Potter, eds. University of Chicago Press. 2002.
O'Connor, Liz, et al. “The Largest Ancestry Groups In The United States.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 13 Aug. 2013, www.businessinsider.com/largest-ethnic-groups-in-america-2013-8.
Sidgwick, Cecily Ullman. Home Life in Germany. MacMillan Company. 1912.
Simons, Gary F., and Charles D. Fennig. “Summary by Language Size.” Ethnologue, SIL International, www.ethnologue.com/statistics/size.
The Cambridge Companion to Modern German Culture. Eva Kolinsky and Wilfried van der Will, eds. Cambridge University Press. 2004.
“The World Factbook: Germany.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 15 May 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html.
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