Greg, do you think it better for Luther to be criticised by Solon, or to be praised by the Nazi's?? Not everyone was anti-semetic. This was not forced upon him by his times. Do you miss the point about the demon pschosis? The fighting with the devil nightly at Wartburg (mental illness tends to worsen during isolation)? The point is this: There is nothing irrational about asserting that demons live in a tree. If one can make a rational case for it, fine. But if one makes these kinds of assertions alongside the adamant assertion that reason is a whore, then people should run like hell. When a man wishes to destroy witches and Jews AND reason all in one all-inclusive world view, that entails that the basis of his behaviour is going to be his own inner voices...it is time to run like hell.
I find it odd that you would come here to protect this man from criticism. If the purpose of studying history is to learn, this purpose is hardly served by lying, pretending, or overlooking. Do your responses attempt to appeal to reason, the faculty that Luther condemned?? If so, then you are obviously not his follower, and you can join us in criticising and commiserating in this poor man's life struggle. Elsewise, if you also condemn reason, then please do not make any appeals through that agency.
There is certainly room for praise when it comes to Luther, and there is indeed room for understanding the climate of his times. My point was that he was a man driven by personal demons. Today, we have cures or stabilizers for those demons. Many of his beliefs were irrational, racist, and dangerous, and were subsequently used by evil people to commit mass acts of murder. Like many tragic figures, there is no doubt that his efforts redressed an imbalance in society. In the long term he was both the excuse and the slayer of evil. However, it was not my intention to be an apologist for Luther. If you can find nothing good to say about him, but only wish to suppress TRUTH (which is REALITY), then let me know, and I will try to put some good stuff together.
I wonder if in 400 years people will be compiling all the silly things you have said on this thread and having a good laugh? Somehow I doubt it.
Well, that was a very telling argument! :) Let me know how it actually turns out.
EDIT: In your essay about the good side of Luther, you might start by pointing out the incredible psychological pressure of standing against the might of the Holy Catholic Church, and having your life continually at risk...and what that kind of loneliness and social isolation can do to a person's mental cohesiveness... |
