The 12 Articles of the German Peasants.

The 12 Articles of the German Peasants was written pertaining to the German Peasants' War in Germany in 1524. In the spring of 1524, the Upper Swabian Peasants Groups, made up of about 50 people met to discuss and talk about their views against the Swabian League. The Swabian League was an association of imperial states. After the group met a few times, they were able to come up with the 12 articles.

I find the first article to be very relevant to the way some churches function in todays society. For example, when I was in high school I went to youth group at a United Methodist Church. The head pastor at the church would come and stay for about two or three years and then the church as a whole and an organization would move the pastor on to another location.

I personally remember going through two pastors in the time I was in high school and going through youth group. I also remember the church having the option of removing a pastor from the congregation if he or she was not doing their job in such a way that was of God. The second pastor that the church was appointed fell into this category. He was not performing his duties of a pastor in a Godly way and he was taken before a board and let go from the church. I found this process to be highly interesting to me.

I personally think that some of the rules that were put against the peasants were ridiculous. For example, in article four. Article four basically stated that the peasants or the poor did not have the right to hunt and catch wild game, fowl, and fish. The peasants argued that by not hunting these animals that the animals were overpopulated and ruining the crops that they had worked so hard to grow. This reminds me of farming and hunting today.

We have hunting regulations in order to help regulate the number of wild animals. This helps grain and animal farmers become more successful in raising their animals or crop. The peasants also argued that when God created man that He gave him control of the animals on the earth, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea. This argument is found in Genesis 1:26 which states, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"

I would fully agree with this article. God created man equally, and since God created all men equal then all men are able to rule over the animals of the earth and use them as resources. It shouldn't be limited to just the rich people who have all of the power.

I think that it was very important for the peasants to sit down and come up with these twelve articles. I would have been fed up with these rules as well if I were in this society. There seems to be a pattern in human history when it comes to humans fighting for their rights as human beings. For example, the slaves back in the American Civil War time period, or the African-Americans during the civil rights movement era. There has always been a push for the deprived to get their freedom. I think that this is a very good indication that it will continue to happen in the future.

Charter of Homage and Fealty of Bernard Atton, A. D. 1110

After reading the Charter of Homage and Fealty of Bernard Atton, A. D. 1110, I have come to the conclusion that this reading was all about paying homage and fealty to the lord that was over where you lived. It was really interesting to see the process in which this went about. It is nothing like the democracy that we as Americans live in today. 

At first I did not know what homage and fealty meant, so I looked at the definitions to figure it out. homage is, respect or reverence paid or rendered. Fealty is, the obligation or the engagement to be faithful to a lord, usually sworn to by a vassal. the lord was over the people of his manor. It was customary to pay reverence and be faithful to the lord that lorded over you. 

This kind of reminds me of the president of the United States. Barack Obama is not the lord of the United states, but it is customary to pay reverence or respect to him and to be a faithful citizen of the United States. However, there is not a penalty for disliking or saying anything against the president. It also reminds me of the United States military. If you are a member of any branch in the U.S. military, you are expected to be faithful to the defend and respect our country. You are also expected to be faithful to your fellow service men and your officers. You are to do whatever they command of you. That especially reminds me of the way a lordship worked back in the medieval era.