question about Martin Luther

[icedragon101]

Recently I ran accross a book that was supposedly about Martin Luther, but it was weird the author was saying stuff about his child and his motives that seemed to inaccurate. Does any one know where I might find something about Luther's childhood and his motives for becoming a minister. I thought it had to do something with a promise he made to St Anne.

If you know of any On-line luther books in english that would be helpful. Thank-you

[ProfessorMom]

Sure.

There is a wealth of information at this site.
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-luther.html

This page is specifically about his childhood.
http://www.luther.de/en/geburt.html

[Alphadux]

I've heard it said that apart from Jesus of Nazareth, Martin Luther has had the most books written about him...or something like that. So, you should certainly be able to find something.

[Studeclunker]

I suppose that Dr. Luther's words being twisted and used (especially during WWII) to justify things he would have never condoned, puts him in company with the Lord. One must be aware though. Martin Luther was only the third in a line of reformers. He was the one who finally freed the Church from the stranglehold of the Papacy. Hess preceeded him and I can never remember Hess' predecessor. Our hymnal in the nineteenth century used to have a picture of three men. One was lighting a fire, the second (Hess) was lifting out a brand, or torch and stepping away, and the third (Martin Luther) was holding the torch high and running with it. An apt picture of the reformation.

Another figure we must never forget is the duke that protected Luther. My predeliction for forgetting names is so embarrassing. Somingthing the wise (we should never forget, and what do I do?:o ). According to Wikipedia, Frederick the wise. Ulrich Von Sickingen and Knight, Franz Von Sickingen offered protection as well. It was because of these powerful people's protection, that Luther was able to prosper. Elsewise, he would probably have suffered the same fate as Hess, to be burnt at the stake as a heretic. By the by, Hess in German, means goose. Hence the saying, "your goose is cooked."

[CaliforniaJosiah]

The book I read about Luther is entitled, "Here I Stand" by Roland Bainton.

[filosofer]

Martin Luther was only the third in a line of reformers. He was the one who finally freed the Church from the stranglehold of the Papacy. Hess preceeded him and I can never remember Hess' predecessor.

[size=3]
The first in the line was Wycliffe, and the one you mentioned is J. Hus, who was martyred in 1415.


[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Another figure we must never forget is the duke that protected Luther. My predeliction for forgetting names is so embarrassing. Somingthing the wise (we should never forget, and what do I do?:o ). According to Wikipedia, Frederick the wise. Ulrich Von Sickingen and Knight, Franz Von Sickingen offered protection as well. It was because of these powerful people's protection, that Luther was able to prosper. Elsewise, he would probably have suffered the same fate as Hess, to be burnt at the stake as a heretic. By the by, Hess in German, means goose. Hence the saying, "your goose is cooked."


And perhaps most importantly, the printing press had been invented between the time of Hus and Luther, which allowed widespread distribution of his writings.

In Christ's love,
filo

[synger]

Wycliffe and Huss were definitely very instrumental as pre-Reformation reformers. In fact, Luther was accused of being a Hussite at one point. In addition, Peter Waldo (the Waldensians) in France and Savonarola in Italy has similar ideas about the excesses of the Roman church and the need for reform.

One of the easiest books I've read about the Reformation, in general, is The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Reformation and Protestantism (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Reformation-Protestantism/dp/0028642708). I've found it very useful as we've been preparing our adult Sunday School class about various denominations, their history, and their distinctive doctrines.

For a more scholarly look at Luther's life and work, in the context of the medieval mindset, a more challenging book is Luther: Man between God and the Devil. (http://www.amazon.com/Luther-Man-Between-God-Devil/dp/0300103131/sr=1-6/qid=1171241738/ref=sr_1_6/104-6322659-2643915?ie=UTF8&s=books) I found it at my library, and it's a confusing but interesting read. It looks at the many theories of historians about Luther and his work, and offers some of the writer's own.

Not only had the pre-reformers helped pave the way, but there was an upswing in the idea of a national identity (we are "Germans" rather than just "Saxons") and some countries like France and England had national kings rather than just regional dukes. In addition, the rise of the Renaissance and the re-discovery of classic Greek literature led to a new emphasis on lay scholarship and on the individual rather than just the whole of society.

These are all generalizations, of course, but it is interesting to see the sorts of things that made Luther the right man at the right time in history. Most great social and religious movements have many precursors that pave the way, but need the right spark at the right time to really start the fire going.