Christoph Scheurl and the Leipzig Debate in 1519. Humanistic Friendship in a Maze of Theology

The Leipzig Debate of 1519, which was attended by prominent theologians Martin Luther, Andreas Karlstadt, Johann Eck, had a significant influence on the development of the Reformation movement in Germany and other European countries. The researchers of this great historical event focus mainly on studying the course of events, clarifying the positions of its participants. The article examines the «human» dimension of the Debate – attempts by the Nuremberg humanist Christoph Scheurl to reconcile the participants in the theological confrontation through friendship and direct their efforts to a stream of moderate theology and church reform. In this way, he tried to address the threat of large-scale religious and church divisions, a sharp and prolonged civil confrontation. The strategy of Scheurl’s friendship is determined by his humanistic views, on the basis of which he tried to form and support a wide range of intellectuals, opponents of orthodox scholastic theology. His efforts to create a humanitarian community (respublica literara) included the presence of like-minded people and friends in various centers and institutions of Germany that had an impact on the formation of social and religious thought. Such a community with its powerful educational and intellectual potential, according to Scheurl, was supposed to update theology and, on its basis, ensure the implementation of reforms. An important role in this process he assigned to the Nuremberg Humanist Society, the theologians of the Wittenberg University, headed by Luther. Through his participation, a friendly relationship has developed between Luther, Karlstadt and professor at Ingolstadt University Eck. During the preparation and conduct of the controversy, the humanist friendship formed by Scheurl’s mediation between them becomes a hostage to theology. Attempts by the humanist to persuade Eck to unite with the «Wittenberg friends» were unsuccessful. Humanist rhetoric, assurances of friendship and fraternity for some time served as a facade that covered deep theological disagreements. The Debate destroys the friendly relations of its participants, which in the future declare the principle of the supremacy of belief over personal relationships and other connections. Under the conditions of further religious and political split, the Nuremberg humanist made efforts to consolidate the forces of supporters of moderate reform.