The Power of the Press

This comic made me laugh, so I put it up here.

It also reminded me, however, of the increasing importance of the written word that was in common circulation (among lay/common people) during this time period. One of the big reasons Luther's ideas were able to spread and catch on so quickly was because of the invention of the printing press. Luther did not share the fate of John Hus because Church officials were not able to easily discard his ideas - they couldn't just burn one book to end the controversy.

"Wait, but Luther wanted EVERYONE to see this!"

"And everyone will!"

• Just how big of a factor was the printing press - was it a big part of the success of Lutheranism, or just a convenient tool to be used?
  

• Without the printing press, would Luther's ideas have caught on and spread as they did?

• Would we still have Lutheranism, or would it have been crushed like so many "heretical" movements before him?

• Would we have Protestants, Calvanists, Anabaptists?