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...)
1 comment:
Very informative and insightful!
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