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'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was one of the most important leaders in the history of Christianity and the history of German culture. He was the reformer and theologian who launched the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the Lutheran Church as a branch of Christianity dominant in Germany<ref> There were many different independent German-speaking countries with different rulers; collectively they were called "Germany."</ref>  and Scandinavia.  

'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18, 1546) was one of the most important leaders in the history of Christianity and the history of German culture. He was the reformer and theologian who launched the [[Protestantism|Protestant Reformation]] and founded the Lutheran Church as a branch of Christianity dominant in Germany<ref> There were many different independent German-speaking countries with different rulers; collectively they were called "Germany."</ref>  and Scandinavia.  

Previous reform movements in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] were small-scale and did not disrupt the medieval Church. Luther was the first to definitively break the unity of Roman Catholic Christendom. His Lutheran Church broke with the pope, but became subservient to the state. He reshaped German religious culture through rejection of Catholic liturgy and celibacy; he created a new Lutheran liturgy using his very popular hymns and his translation of the Bible into German helped to shape the German language. The newly invented printing press permitted the rapid diffusion of his religious tracts and hymns

Previous reform movements in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] were small-scale and did not disrupt the medieval Church. Luther was the first to definitively break the unity of Roman Catholic Christendom. His "95 Theses" in 1517 was a direct challenge to the Church, which excommunicated him. But Luther was protected by German princes who resented the Italian domination of the Church.  A tireless writer and hymn writer, Luther used the printing press to spread his tracts, which were highly influential in northen Europe. Other reformers arose--some like [[John Calvin]] with a different version of Protestantism. The Lutheran Church broke with the pope, but became subservient to the state.  

To [[Mainline]] Protestants, Luther was a great reformer --a witness to and agent of Jesus Christ who God mysteriously chose to bestow a gift of deep insight into scripture and the true nature of the Catholic church, not unlike the kind of conversion experience given to [[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:Prohpet 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.   

 

To [[Mainline]] Protestants, Luther has always been a great reformer --a witness to and agent of Jesus Christ who God mysteriously chose to bestow a gift of deep insight into scripture and the true nature of the Catholic church, not unlike the kind of conversion experience given to [[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:Prohpet 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.   

Luther's image changed over the centuries. Calvinists challenged his theology while Catholics systematically reviled his personality well into the 20th century. Lutherans saw him as an authoritative interpreter of the Word whose texts must be studied word for word, then as a prophet of God whose overall message was more important than particular writings, and finally as a hero of the German people who transcended religion.<ref> Robert Kolb, ''Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, and Hero: Images of the Reformer, 1520-1620'' (1999)</ref>   

Luther's image changed over the centuries. Calvinists challenged his theology while Catholics systematically reviled his personality well into the 20th century. Lutherans saw him as an authoritative interpreter of the Word whose texts must be studied word for word, then as a prophet of God whose overall message was more important than particular writings, and finally as a hero of the German people who transcended religion.<ref> Robert Kolb, ''Martin Luther as Prophet, Teacher, and Hero: Images of the Reformer, 1520-1620'' (1999)</ref>