Celestial Wonders in Reformation Germany

Celestial phenomena were often harnessed for use by clerics in early modern Germany. The clergy were the main intellectual leaders of communities, so their emphasis on these Wunderzeichen ('wonder-signs') would have had a significant effect on the laity. As Protestantism took hold, there was a desire among many influential theologians to underline the need for doctrinal acceptance. Divine omens or signs of apocalyptic warning were a useful way to encourage obedience and respect for clerical authority. Kurihara examines how and why interest in these events grew in this period, how the clergy exploited these beliefs and the role of sectarianism in Germany at this time.