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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

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

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

He was a Monk and Theologian whose writing sparked the [[Protestant Reformation]] which led to the founding of the [[Lutheran Church]] as an alternative to the [[Roman Catholic Church]].

Martin Luther was a German Monk, and Theologian whose writing sparked the [[Protestant Reformation]] which led to the founding of the [[Lutheran Church]] as an alternative to the [[Roman Catholic Church]].  

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.

 

At the monastery, Martin Luther felt plagued by the [[devil]] and began to realize how corrupt the [[Catholic church]] had become, being especially disenchanted during a trip to [[Rome]].  He began to form his own opinions about the [[Bible]].

Martin Luther founded [[Protestantism]] on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his [[Wittenberg Church]] in what is now Germany.  The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations.  Martin Luther objected and produced a list of 95 complaints to spark public debate.

Martin Luther founded [[Protestantism]] on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his [[Wittenberg Church]] in what is now Germany.  The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations.  Martin Luther objected and produced a list of 95 complaints to spark public debate.

*Thesis 86:  ''Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?''

*Thesis 86:  ''Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?''

[[Pope Leo X]] spent his time on the beauty flourishing during the [[Renaissance]], and was a patron of the great artist [[Raphael]].  Pope Leo X probably never recognized the significance of Martin Luther and his followers.  Some historians feel that if the Pope had responded more seriously, then the subsequent schism in Germany would not have occurred.  

[[Pope Leo X]] spent his time on the beauty flourishing during the [[Renaissance]], and was a patron of the great artist [[Raphael]].  Pope Leo X probably never recognized the significance of Martin Luther and his followers.  Some historians feel that if the pope had responded more seriously, then the subsequent schism in Germany would not have occurred.  

But feudal lords in Germany did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.  

But German nobles did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.  

In 1520, Pope Leo X announced the papal bull [[Exsurge Domine]], which required Luther to withdraw 41 of his 95 Theses or be [[excommunicated]].  Luther refused and was then excommunicated by the Catholic Church.

In 1520, Pope Leo X announced the papal bull [[Exsurge Domine]], which required Luther to withdraw 41 of his 95 Theses or be [[excommunicated]].  Luther refused and was then excommunicated by the Catholic Church.

It was then up to [[German]] authorities to take any legal action against Luther.  The 21-year-old Holy Roman Emperor [[Charles I|Charles V]] ordered him to stand trial before an assembly (a "[[Diet]]") of estates of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] that met in Worms, a small town in present-day Germany.  This famous assembly is therefore known as the "[[Diet of Worms]]."  The verdict (the "[[Edict of Worms]]") was "guilty".  Luther was declared an outlaw who should be arrested.  

It was then up to [[German]] authorities to take any legal action against Luther.  The 21-year-old Holy Roman Emperor [[Charles I|Charles V]] ordered him to stand trial before an assembly (a "[[Diet]]") of estates of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] that met in Worms, a small town in what is now Germany.  This famous assembly is therefore known as the "[[Diet of Worms]]."  The verdict (the "[[Edict of Worms]]") was "guilty".  Luther was declared an outlaw who should be arrested.  

   

   

But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered.  He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where [[Frederick of Saxony|Frederick the Wise]], Elector of Saxony, protected him.  Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight.  While in hiding he translated the [[New Testament]] from Greek into German in 1522.  (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the [[Old Testament]] from Hebrew to German also.)

But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered.  He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where [[Frederick of Saxony|Frederick the Wise]], Elector of Saxony, protected him.  Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight.  While in hiding he translated the [[New Testament]] from Greek into German in 1522.  (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the [[Old Testament]] from Hebrew to German also.)

Martin Luther continued to write, and taught at a German university for his financial support.  Luther's writings in defense of his religious views were often harsh and passionate.  After first reaching out to the Jews, when they did not embrace his Christianity, at one point near the end of his life he even urged the destruction of their homes and the burning of their synagogues and schools.  Historians debate the impact Luther's writings may have had on German thought leading into the Nazi Holocaust of World War II.  Luther harshly criticized many peoples in addition to Jews; a pamphlet of his in 1545, the year before he died, was entitled "Against the Roman Papacy an Institution of the Devil,".  It is also recorded that at a round table discussion he said he believed in burning witches.  Some of Luther’s writings seem quite vulgar by today's standards, but much of it was also in response to vulgar accusations against his religious views.   

Martin Luther continued to write, and taught at a German university for his financial support.  Luther's writings in defense of his religious views were often harsh and passionate.  After first reaching out to the Jews, when they did not embrace his Christianity, at one point near the end of his life he even urged the destruction of their homes and the burning of their synagogues and schools.  Historians debate the impact Luther's writings may have had on German thought leading into the Nazi Holocaust of World War II.  Luther harshly criticized many peoples in addition to Jews; a pamphlet of his in 1545, the year before he died, was entitled "Against the Roman Papacy an Institution of the Devil,".  It is also recorded that at a round table discussion he said he believed in burning witches.  Some of Luther’s writings seem quite vulgar by today's standards, but much of it was also in response to vulgar accusations against his religious views.   

Lutheranism has 70 million adherents today, which is only about 7% of the Catholic population.  But nearly all Christians, even 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 is by faith alone and belong to Protestant congregations that first sprung into being because of Luther's stand.

Lutheranism has only 70 million adherents today, which is only about 7% of the Catholic population.  But nearly all Christians, even 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 is by faith alone and belong to Protestant congregations that first sprung into being because of Luther's stand.

Luther passed away in February, 1546, having lived his latter years in poor health.  He had many children with the former nun [[Katharina von Bora]].  

Luther passed away in February, 1546, having lived his latter years in poor health.  He had many children, some of whom preceded him in death, by the former nun [[Katharina von Bora]].  

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[[Category:Religious people]]

[[Category:Religious people]]