[nathanbedford]

The ranking problem is not between man and his God but between man and man, that is to say between man and sovereign. Both regimes always recognized that legitimacy came from God to man, the problem is the church ranked one man more "legitimate" than another man rather than created them as equal.

We still missed, intentionally so?

[maryz]

the church ranked one man more "legitimate" than another man rather than created them as equal.

The Church always recognized (in general) the legitimacy of secular authority, but insisted that this had no relation to the spiritual worth of anyone, whereas at least some strands of Protestantism (especially Calvinism) maintained that worldly and financial success proved evidence of Election.