Did anyone see the Martin Luther biography on PBS the other day? It was great to see because I knew of the man and his 95 points that he nailed on the church doors to the Catholic establishment, (ie) Pope Henry who was selling indulgences for a free trip to Heaven, even for relatives who had died and was in Purgatory. The Pope was a lustful, deviant whose favorite trick was to have naked young boys jump out of a huge cake, apparently so that the priests could chase them around the room with wet and anxious lips. Luther, a man who was in depression for years because he could not find a satisfactory relationship with God no matter what he took upon himself in menial, dirty work and praying six hours a day seeking truth. Finally, a Priest who ran the college in Wittenberg, Germany gave him the job of teaching religious studies although Luther protested, saying the job would kill him. The priest, a funny guy, would tell Luther that God needed clever guys like him in Heaven so it would be all right to die.
This proved to be Luther's calling. The depression left and this man changed the face of religion through his many articles and books demanding change in the Holy Catholic church, telling everyone plainly that the Pope was the antichrist.
He barely saved his life but was excommunicated(He burned up the papers of excommunication) and labeled a heretic. By the way, heretics were burned at the stake or had their heads lobbed off in those days. His appeal to the secular people in power was actually what saved his life.
When he was kind, he was very kind. But when he wanted to scathingly ridicule anyone who disagreed with him he could be very nasty in pen. Ask the Jews of that time. He had no good thing to say about them other than they were demons from hell.
He was certainly a determined, brave man. I admire him for his protestantism that changed the world, even causing the Pilgrims to America to base their beliefs and freedoms upon his philosophy. I would say depending upon what camp you are in you either hate him to death or love him to death!
James |
