Egyháztörténeti Szemle 16. (2015)
2015 / 1. szám - SUMMARIES IN ENGLISH - Bűdi Regina: Influence of Comenius’ idea to Swedish and Hungarian education in the 17th century
Summaries in English 129 find a firmly established consensus to the contrary. By the 1580s authors were deeply convinced that departed souls could not possibly leave their appointed place in God’s hand or in hell, and what appeared instead was the devil in their shape. By this time, the double-thesis, motivated in large measure by polemic against purgatory, had become an established part of the immortality locus. Instead of denying uncomfortable evidence, Lutheran authors reframed the problem theologically. The emergence of the new consensus is traced through the works of Melchior Specker, Andreas Musculus, Johannes Garcaeus, Jr., Basilius Faber, Martin Mirus, David Chyträus, Sr., and others. Their interpretation of Biblical passages and use of patristic sources (esp. Homily 28 on the Gospel of Matthew by John Chrysostom) are carefully documented. Luther also exerted a major influence on the development, which is here considered as a case study in the formation of early confessional culture. While the process has a clear direction, it does not move in a straight line. Rather, the new teaching emerges from a constant interaction in the hermeneutical circle of texts and interpretations, and the new understanding also feeds back into a set of principles that shape confessional identity. Influence of Comenius’ idea to Swedish and Hungarian education in the 17th century Budi, Regina This paper discusses the influence of Comenius on Swedish and Hungarian education in the 17th century. ‘Whole Europe’s teacher’ was invited both to the Swedish Empire and to Hungary, where Comenius lived and worked for some years. The introductory passages describe not only the history and the culture of Finland, but the reform of the Swedish education by Comenius as well. After the demonstration of the historical information from the Swedish Empire, the work of bishop Gezelius will be examined, who was the employer of Comenius’ ideas. He tried to use the famous educator’s methods and improve the educational system in the Swedish Empire, including Finland. The most important aims were for all Finnish people to learn reading and writing and to know the most fundamental Christians dogmas. With the assistance of Comenius, these aims seemed to become achievable. In the following parts I discuss the Hungarian years of Comenius, which he spent in the College of Sárospatak. He was invited by Zsuzsanna Lorántffy and became one of the main education-organizers there. During this time, the College was in its prime, it founded a printing house, where numerous books were printed and the performance of the first Protestant school drama took place there. The spectacular development of the education in the College was clearly influenced by the presence of Comenius there. In spite of Comenius’ pansophistic philosophy he had creative new ideas to reform education systems and methods, therefore his influence was substantial on the Swedish Empire and Hungary in the 17th century. But this is the result of certain individuals realising and making use of the greatness of Comenius and offering their assistance to him.
