Dare to resist: Seminar about 500 years of the Peasants' War in Maichingen!

Dare to resist: Seminar about 500 years of the Peasants' War in Maichingen!

In Maichingen, a district of Böblingen, a seminar entitled “Dare to resist?!” will take place on July 13, 2025. take place. The evening begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Stephanusgemeindehaus and focuses on the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War of 1525 in Württemberg. This exciting seminar is dedicated to the uprising of farmers against unjust conditions, inspired by the Reformation. What happened back then and what lessons we can draw from it today will be discussed here.

The seminar is led by committed speakers: Lea Wegner M.A., the director of the German Peasants' War Museum in Böblingen, Dr. Beate Kobler, pastor and deanery officer in the Böblingen church district, and Petra Waschner M.A., speaker for Protestant adult education. These women bring a lot of expertise and invite participants to reflect on the current Christian faith's reactions to resistance.

The historical context

The Peasants' War, one of the central themes in historiography in recent years, was strongly linked to the Reformation. At that time, the rebellious farmers invoked the ideas of Martin Luther, who discussed the freedom of the individual in his work “On the Freedom of a Christian Man.” Many of them saw Luther's words as confirmation of their demands for more rights, which were later summarized in the famous Twelve Articles. These articles called, among other things, for the abolition of serfdom and a better life for the peasants.

Luther himself initially sympathized with the concerns of the farmers, but was of the opinion that secular matters could not be justified by biblical principles. While he preached peace and obedience to the Lord, Thomas Müntzer, another theologian of the time, called for violent resistance. However, his violent uprising ended in a tragic defeat, considered one of the turning points of the Peasants' Wars - a fact that seminar participants may discuss in detail.

What does resistance mean today?

The relevance of resistance and courageous responsibility in today's society will be a central theme of the seminar. The speakers encourage those present to actively engage with the question of how Christian faith and social justice are intertwined in the here and now. It's about courageously advocating for change and questioning where we stand as a society.

The seminar “Dare to resist?!” is therefore not only a look back at historical events, but also an important stimulus for discussions about one's own responsibility in society. Those responsible for the Böblingen Evangelical Church District cordially invite anyone interested to take part in this educational and thoughtful evening.

For further information about the seminar and the speakers, please visit the organizer's website: Böblingen Evangelical Church District. You can find further exciting insights into the historical connection between the Reformation and the Peasants' War at Evangelical newspaper and Planet knowledge.