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[[File:Martin Luther by Cranach-restoration.jpg|thumb|250px|Martin Luther in 1529, painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder]]

[[File:Martin Luther by Cranach-restoration.jpg|thumb|250px|Martin Luther in 1529, painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder]]

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546)  was one of the most important leaders in [[Christian]] and [[Germany|German]] history. An Augustinian monk, priest, and professor of theology, he unintentionally launched the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]].

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546)  was one of the most important leaders in [[Christian]] and [[Germany|German]] history. An Augustinian monk, priest, and professor of theology, he unintentionally launched the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]].

 

Luther was the first to break [[Roman Catholic]] unity on a large scale, ignoring the Great Schism. He was excommunicated for the [[95 Theses]] he had written in 1517 as a direct challenge to Church  practice. Furthermore, he had the backing of several German princes who resented the Italian domination of the Church.

Luther was the first to break [[Roman Catholic]] unity on a large scale, ignoring the Great Schism. He was excommunicated for the [[95 Theses]] he had written in 1517 as a direct challenge to Church  practice. Furthermore, he had the backing of several German princes who resented the Italian domination of the Church.

A tireless writer of tracts and hymns, Luther reshaped German religious culture by rejecting clerical celibacy and creating a new liturgy that emphasized congregational singing. His very popular hymns and his translation of the Bible into German helped to shape the German language.  

A tireless writer of tracts and hymns, Luther reshaped German religious culture by rejecting clerical celibacy and creating a new liturgy that emphasized congregational singing. His very popular hymns and his translation of the Bible into German helped to shape the German language.  

 

To [[Mainline]] Protestants, Luther has always been a great reformer who had a deep insight into the [[Bible]] and the true nature of the Catholic Church, not unlike the kind of conversion experience vouchsafed [[St. Paul]].<ref>[[James Atkinson]], ''Martin Luther: Prophet to the Church Catholic'', (1983) , ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, pp.43-58</ref> "Luther, and with him all the Reformers of the sixteenth century, German, Swiss, and British alike, believed that God spoke to them in the Scriptures in exactly the same way He had spoken to his prophets and apostles."<ref>''Martin Luther: Prophet to the Church Catholic'', [[James Atkinson]], Eerdmans, 1983, ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, p.143</ref>" From the [[Roman Catholic]] perspective, Luther remains a monk who overeacted to the problems of the day and caused a great deal of needless trouble, although more recently the Catholic Church and several mainline Lutheran groups have signed a joint declaration resolving several of the theological differences raised by Luther.<ref>[http://archive.elca.org/ecumenical/ecumenicaldialogue/romancatholic/jddj/index.html Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]</ref>

To [[Mainline]] Protestants, Luther has always been a great reformer who had a deep insight into the [[Bible]] and the true nature of the Catholic Church, not unlike the kind of conversion experience vouchsafed [[St. Paul]].<ref>[[James Atkinson]], ''Martin Luther: Prophet to the Church Catholic'', (1983) , ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, pp.43-58</ref> "Luther, and with him all the Reformers of the sixteenth century, German, Swiss, and British alike, believed that God spoke to them in the Scriptures in exactly the same way He had spoken to his prophets and apostles."<ref>''Martin Luther: Prophet to the Church Catholic'', [[James Atkinson]], Eerdmans, 1983, ISBN 0-8028-1260-0, p.143</ref>" From the [[Roman Catholic]] perspective, Luther remains a monk who overeacted to the problems of the day and caused a great deal of needless trouble, although more recently the Catholic Church and several mainline Lutheran groups have signed a joint declaration resolving several of the theological differences raised by Luther.<ref>[http://archive.elca.org/ecumenical/ecumenicaldialogue/romancatholic/jddj/index.html Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]</ref>