Germany Video Response

    Martin Luther took his beliefs, study of the bible, and personal connection with God to a level that prompted an overhaul of the Catholic church and many of those who believed in it. 
    Through great research and eloquent writing, Luther wrote what he called the 95 Theses.  With the assistance of a press, Luther spread his ideas and what he saw to be the true interpretation of the bible by nailing the theses to doors.  The information could not be stopped once it was printed, certainly influencing the culture of the area through modern technology and the spread of religious views other than the Catholic church. 

(http://apwhod2010.pbworks.com/w/page/25036121/Martin%20Luther-%20Reluctant%20Revolutionary, Accessed 9/6/2012)
This is an image of the 95 Theses.  Luther wrote the 95 Theses as a response to religion and an interpretation of the Bible.  Some ideas included the differences in having 7 sacraments in the Catholic church, but only 2 sacraments mentioned in the Bible. 

    After, the 95 Theses were seen as heresy and Luther was threatened with excommunication, Luther pressed on.  Luther’s determination to spread his ideas was based in the fact that he saw struggles as a part of living a truly Christian life.  Luther chose to believe freely, which also influenced the culture of other people in the land.  The ability to believe something beyond the Catholic Church and against the leaders of the land certainly impacted the culture and religious beliefs of people.  Without Luther’s influence, they would not have made such bold moves to practice religion other than the traditions of Catholicism.  Religion and culture were closely connected, causing the issue to influence both areas of a person’s life. 
(http://www.biblepicturegallery.com/pictures/manuscripts/The%20title%20page%20of%20Luthers%20German%20translation%20of%20t%20la.htm, Accessed: 9/6/2012)
This is an example of the cover of the Bible translated into German.  Luther had the greatest German translation of the Bible.  This translation allowed German people to read the bible for themselves, rather than simply be told what the Bible said.  The German speaking people seemingly did not have a thoroughly translated Bible to study on their own before Luther's efforts.  The ability to read the bible on one's own allowed people to form their own opinions and interpretations of the Bible, supporting Luther's efforts.
 
    In regards to being politically influential, Luther was clearly impacting the political realm through his religious and cultural statements.  The leaders discussed to have had great amounts of power were royalty and clergy.  The Pope had powers which could ruin a person’s life, including excommunication.  When Luther burned his excommunication notice, he made a distinct statement of rebellion.  Standing up to the government was an action that influenced the German speaking areas because it influenced each of the aforementioned groups (political, cultural, religious) and showed that if you truly believe in something, you must stand up for it.  Through following his own beliefs and standing up for what he saw to be true, Luther gave confidence to others who opted to follow his ideas, thusly breaking free of the Catholic church.  Members of clergy even left the church and married or started new lives under the beliefs of Luther. 


    I believe that Luther was successful not only for circumstantial reasons such as distraction of higher powers, but also because of his approach to spreading his 95 Theses.  Luther used the press, which allowed his ideas to spread without hindrance.  Further, his writing and speaking style was identified as witty, sarcastic, and having used crude language.  All of those qualities are likely to capture a reader or listener’s attention, which will then cause them to seek more information.  Through bold moves and outspoken ideas, Luther influenced German speaking lands by introducing a new interpretation of Christianity.  He also displayed an ability to stand up for one’s own beliefs, providing the needed confidence for people to make their own decisions, even some aside from the church.  These qualities clearly influenced the German speaking people because of newfound freedoms and practices. 

(http://www.destination360.com/europe/germany/oktoberfest-2, Accessed : 9/6/2012)
This image was taken from a tourist site that discussed the culture of Oktoberfest.  Although it is not directly associated with this blog post, it definitely shows some of the culture found in Germany.  Culture is found in every aspect of a place through people, dress, conversation, art, food, and so on.  Luther's actions and beliefs impacted how people reacted and practiced their faith, which also impacted how culture is displayed and celebrated.  Our time in Germany will be a huge immersion into German culture, which is one part of the trip that I cannot wait for!
 
Word Count: 513 + Annotations (sorry this one was longer...)

I found the image of the Crucifixion with Turkish Soldiers (ch. 2, p. 51) to be quite interesting.  My decision to select this image came from the mere presence of crucifixion.  Raised in a Catholic home, the image struck me as strange.  This is because there were men other than Jesus on the cross.  Although I have recognized crucifixions to take place in history, I do not recall seeing an image of one before.  Also, the painting clearly has a significant amount of symbolism within it.  The scene portrays a variety of people at various stances with a background that seems to be out in open land, but with a boarder at the top.  This shows me that the artist was looking to portray many events in one image.  I am curious to find out if those portrayed in this image are of significance, or if they are simply townspeople or soldiers.  Further, I would like to know what the three crescent moons are representing as a symbol for each of the men crucified. 





(etc.usf.edu, Accessed 9/5/2012)
Charles V, pictured above, spent a great deal of time preventing attacks, causing him to lose site of the spread of new religious ideas in Germany.  I believe that everything happens for a reason, and it is clear that without the preoccupation of Charles V, Luther's advancements would have likely been unsuccessful.

The presence of this image in the book shows that the pictured crucifixion and battle was an important event in German history.  The caption of this image discusses how Charles V was distracted by the soldiers who were crucified, therefore allowing the spread of Protestantism.  Germany is a predominantly Christian country, including the celebration of Lutheranism.  I believe that the ability to spread and practice various branches of Christianity was certainly impacted by the Turks and their attack on Europe.  A major portion of our discussion in Germany will include the rise of Luther.  Without the conflict portrayed in this image, Luther may not have been able to spread his religious views as easily, therefore changing the future of the religions practiced in Germany.  This battle certainly shows a pivotal point in German history, which I am certain we will learn more about through our discussion of Luther’s religious influence.
(http://www.nonstoptravel.net/ToEuropeTours/RootsoftheReformation.htm, Accessed 9/6/2012)
This castle in Erfurt seems to be a huge tourist spot because of its influence on re-unifying Germany.  The city was a mainstay of Luther's, and many people visit because of his time and studying that occurred in the area.  I'm excited to see the old and historical buildings and castles.  I have always enjoyed architecture, but haven't seen anything older than what I can find in Chicago!  Looking at all of the pictures of Germany will simply be unreal until I can truly take in the lay of the land and history which will stand in front of me. 

In regards to the spread of religion relating to US history, there is was a civil approach taken by believers.  Many immigrants came to the Newfoundland in order to practice their religion freely.  There was not a force preventing the practice of a particular religion, though, it has remained predominately Christian.  Certainly, there have been other religious restrictions throughout history, but a war to prevent or distract from religion has not been a part of our history.

Word Count: 399 + annotations/captions