Question

What are Martin Luther's views on begging?

Answer 1

Martin Luther used the term ''penance'' to explain the impact the action of giving, which produces an impact on the person which in turns change to beggars.

This situation is implicative during the initial days of the Reformation, where Martin Luther started explaining his views against the act of almsgiving. In order to give charity to save oneself, due to which there was the creation of professional beggars, who perceived the benefit of the well-meaning burgher.

He wrote ''There are lots of people wandering throughout the country nowadays, whom I will call Squire Filth,'' who ''have an excellent time with other people's properties.'' Not only the act of charity boost these ''criminals,'' but also due to these acts, it took off support and consideration from actually needy people, who do not beg.

In 1520, Luther asked for the growth of a poor in each town, in support to this, he asked people to give aids to church and there should be residents participation, and at the same time, there should be the practice of keeping a record of the town's poor. This proposal was met with excitement in many German towns, which picked up poor-relief mandates to put Luther's thoughts into practice. By 1531, there were such ordinances in both Protestant and Roman Catholic towns in many areas of Europe.