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'''Martin Luther''' (1483-1546) was the leader of the German [[Reformation]].

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483-February 18,1546) was the leader of the German [[Reformation]].

In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm.  A bolt of [[lightning]] struck the ground near him.  Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a [[monk]] if he survived the storm.  He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.

In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm.  A bolt of [[lightning]] struck the ground near him.  Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a [[monk]] if he survived the storm.  He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.

Charles V did all he could to stop this knew Christian religion we now call Lutheranism.  In 1544, Charles V even sent armies against the German princes.  But the Peace of Augsburg in 1555 gave each German ruler the right to choose the religion for his state.  The princes in southern Germany selected Roman Catholicism, but the princes in northern Germany chose Lutheranism.  After World War II, when Germany split into West and East Germany, the West German part contained the predominantly Roman Catholic regions and the East German part consisted of the mostly Lutheran regions.

Charles V did all he could to stop this knew Christian religion we now call Lutheranism.  In 1544, Charles V even sent armies against the German princes.  But the Peace of Augsburg in 1555 gave each German ruler the right to choose the religion for his state.  The princes in southern Germany selected Roman Catholicism, but the princes in northern Germany chose Lutheranism.  After World War II, when Germany split into West and East Germany, the West German part contained the predominantly Roman Catholic regions and the East German part consisted of the mostly Lutheran regions.

Martin Luther continued to write, and taught at a German university for his financial support.  He wrote extremely harsh things about the pope and about Jewish people, even urging the destruction of their homes and the burning of synagogues and schools.  Historians debate today whether Luther's anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) writings were responsible, directly or indirectly, for the Holocaust by the Germans in World War II.  Luther harshly criticized many peoples in addition to Jews; a pamphlet of his in 1545 was entitled "Against the Roman Papacy an Institution of the Devil," and he urged burning witches to death.  Some of Luther’s writings seem quite vulgar by today's standards.  Luther was in poor health for several years before he died, in 1546.

Martin Luther continued to write, and taught at a German university for his financial support.  He wrote extremely harsh things about the pope and about Jewish people, even urging the destruction of their homes and the burning of synagogues and schools.  Historians debate today whether Luther's anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) writings were responsible, directly or indirectly, for the Holocaust by the Germans in World War II.  Luther harshly criticized many peoples in addition to Jews; a pamphlet of his in 1545 was entitled "Against the Roman Papacy an Institution of the Devil," and he urged burning witches to death.  Some of Luther’s writings seem quite vulgar by today's standards.   

 

Lutheranism has only 70 million adherents today, which is only about 7% of the Catholic population.  But nearly all Christians, including Catholics, have sung a famous hymn written by Luther:  "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."  Moreover, hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide agree with Luther that justification or salvation is by faith alone.

Lutheranism has only 70 million adherents today, which is only about 7% of the Catholic population.  But nearly all Christians, including Catholics, have sung a famous hymn written by Luther:  "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."  Moreover, hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide agree with Luther that justification or salvation is by faith alone.

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[[Category:Religious people]]

[[Category:Religious people]]