Browse Topics

Tools

Editor's choice

Berlin noise: July’s hottest concerts

Talking Vernissage: Fashionistas Descending

In Focus: Get the story behind the story

English theatre in Germany: The summer edition

Her-stories and she-roes: Of struggle and success

Across the border: The best stories from Greece to Norway

Dancing in Deutschland: German Festivals in 2009

Expat Voices: Pia Lappalainen on living in Germany

The Klassical Junkie: Melodious Munich

Internaxx Stock Market

Index	Last	Var.(%)
BEL 20	2040.86	0.14
DAX	4708.21	-0.22
IBEX 30	9707.8	0.67
CAC 40	3119.51	0.10
FTSE 100	4236.28	0.05
AEX	253.7	0.40
DJIA	8280.74	-2.63
Nasdaq	1796.52	-2.67
FTSE MIB	18942.22	0.07
TSX Composite	10283.1	0.36
ASX	3826.6	-1.25
Hang seng	18203.4	0.14
Straits Times		0.00
ISEQ 20	433.47	0.71

You are here: Home

Leisure

Travel & Tourism

In Martin Luther's footsteps

Travel & Tourism

28/07/2003In Martin Luther's footsteps

He didn't like the Pope, the Turks or the Jews - and didn't think much of the rest of us. Catriona Lyons charts the misanthropic path of Europe's religious revolutionary.

On hitting the Martin Luther trail, I discovered that the man who launched the Protestant Reformation when he nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg was not without blemish.

In particular, I learned that the Great Reformer, who translated the New Testament from Greek into particularly eloquent German and helped shape today's language, had an anti-Semitic streak. He felt the greatest threats to Christianity were the Pope (understandable, given the corruption in Rome at the time), a Turkish invasion (they made it to Vienna twice) and Judaism (perhaps a little narrow-minded). Luther's anti-semitism reflected the general feeling of the Middle Ages. However his writings were used four centuries later by the Nazis to try and justify their own ideology. I also found that for all his anti-authoritarian rhetoric, Luther was no friend of the common man. The social unrest that emerged in Germany in the 16th century, due partly to Luther's defiance of the Church, led to the Peasants War of 1524-25. But a document by Luther entitled Against the Rapacious, Murderous Peasant Hordes helped to defend the existing social order and put down the revolt. By criticising the Church, Luther wanted to strengthen it rather than see it disintegrate. Luther also heralded the media age. Due to the printing press, Luther's writings got a fast and widespread distribution, particularly as Wittenberg was for a short time at the heart of the printing industry. Hitting the Martin Luther trail One of the most important things to know before you start on the Luther trail is that there are two Wittenbergs. Wittenberge (silent 'e') is a grey little town wholly unconnected to Luther, but with friendly tourist office staff who try not to laugh too hard when they tell you you're in the wrong town and you've just completely wasted your day.

1 2 3 4 Next >

< Previous article Next article >

Print | Send to a friend | React

General rating:

Rate article: Add my rating

0 reactions to this article

Leisure essentials

Leisure forums

participate in the forums

Leisure expert Q&A

ask your question

Leisure A-Z listings

find the business you need

Discussion Forums: Expat Get-Togethers
English Literary Meeting in Berlin!, by Tiphaine
Learning the language
English speaker looking for German lessons, by germankati
Relationships
Interest and impress any girl you want to, by godyy
Family
Theatre workshop for children ages 10-12 in Berlin, by alerner
Sporting Events - Watching
Super Bowl in Leipzig, by SigiX
participate in the forums

most popular articles

New Members

lilswat ›

doppika ›

kassia12 ›

tomandkateburrowsfamily ›

Inside Expatica: The ABCs of the German school system

Trying to size up the education system is one of the hardest things facing those embarking on a foreign posting. We set out what you should know about German schools and daycare.

How to move to Germany legally: visas and citizenship

Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German visa and citizenship system.

Taking your pet on assignment

When moving abroad, the owner must make an informed decision as to whether their pet is up to the trip. Here’s an overview of the factors involved.

Looking for work in Germany: The in depth version

Moving to Germany but still searching for a job? Check out Expatica’s comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of employment in Germany, including information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.