Yes and thank you for that but that does not discuss the event its self.
You would probably have to try Luther’s Works for something like that, but I will keep looking.
Yes well I am not an authority on Luther and I was hoping a Lutheran who had knowledge of this could direct me to a specific source but thank you I am aware that there are mountains of documentation on Luther and his philosophies but that is not what I was asking about.
Thank you. Does the history seem to support a singular list compiled by Luther at one time and place and then relayed or was the list compiled later as a summation of previously annunciated grievances? Is there any evidence that Luther was not the exclusive source of these theses? The reason I ask is since I started this thread I cannot find any historical reference to the events in Wittenberg until over 100 years after they are supposed to happen. So has there been any historical discussion among Lutherans that Luther was perhaps like a John Thomas Scopes, a type of spokesman for a larger group. I hope these questions makes sense and I mean no offense by asking the questions.
theopedia.com/95_Theses
That is very interesting and completely contrary to the version of events taught to me in Catholic school which was, believe it or not, very pro-Luther. He was portrayed as a bold revolutionary not a simple monk with rational grievances. I know this thread can’t go on forever but in this context I don’t see how this resulted in a total split from the Church and the formation of an entirely new Christian religion? But I will read your sources further.
Interesting that this view of Luther was promoted in a Roman Catholic school - it wouldn’t’ve happened to have been an ethnically German area, would it? I ask because the view of Luther as “bold revolutionary” has its roots in the Prussian Union, not in Lutheranism (as others have noted, we could care less about the man - it is the Confessions, as a clear reflection of Scripture, that we follow).
The very last post by Paul McCain on the second link states: *My take: The reason the 95 Theses happened to get Luther in SO much trouble is that he, without fully realizing him, put himself directly into the finances of the Roman Catholic Church and threatened the Papal fund raising department. *Interesting that this view of Luther was promoted in a Roman Catholic school - it wouldn’t’ve happened to have been an ethnically German area, would it? I ask because the view of Luther as “bold revolutionary” has its roots in the Prussian Union, not in Lutheranism (as others have noted, we could care less about the man - it is the Confessions, as a clear reflection of Scripture, that we follow).
A bit of history… To unify the various German states, the political powers of the time had to invent a single, common, national identity. Religion was a necessary aspect of German life to ‘nationalize’ and make a point of commonality. So Prussia attempted to force protestant churches under one, single, unionistic umbrella partly through force (some Lutheran pastors were defrocked, jailed and even killed), and also through nationalistic rhetoric and propaganda. Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, were all relegated to simple contributors to some great German cause, rather than representatives of their separate reformations; this meant that Calvinists and Lutherans would have to celebrate their respective Reformations on a shared day. The powers that be selected the posting of the 95 Theses (October 31). Until that time, Lutherans mostly celebrated the presentation of the Augsburg Confession (June 25).
I’ve never understood the posting of the 95 Theses to be that big of a deal - they are actually quite Roman Catholic. Some Lutherans still get rather ornery about celebrating them, and Luther himself advocated their burning.
I grew up in the southeastern US which is a scotch Irish area made up primarily of Southern Baptist some Protestants and very few Catholics or Lutherans. I don’t know who wrote my textbooks though.Interesting that this view of Luther was promoted in a Roman Catholic school - it wouldn’t’ve happened to have been an ethnically German area, would it? I ask because the view of Luther as “bold revolutionary” has its roots in the Prussian Union, not in Lutheranism (as others have noted, we could care less about the man - it is the Confessions, as a clear reflection of Scripture, that we follow).
A bit of history… To unify the various German states, the political powers of the time had to invent a single, common, national identity. Religion was a necessary aspect of German life to ‘nationalize’ and make a point of commonality. So Prussia attempted to force protestant churches under one, single, unionistic umbrella partly through force (some Lutheran pastors were defrocked, jailed and even killed), and also through nationalistic rhetoric and propaganda. Luther, Calvin and Zwingli, were all relegated to simple contributors to some great German cause, rather than representatives of their separate reformations; this meant that Calvinists and Lutherans would have to celebrate their respective Reformations on a shared day. The powers that be selected the posting of the 95 Theses (October 31). Until that time, Lutherans mostly celebrated the presentation of the Augsburg Confession (June 25).
I’ve never understood the posting of the 95 Theses to be that big of a deal - they are actually quite Roman Catholic. Some Lutherans still get rather ornery about celebrating them, and Luther himself advocated their burning.
Luther actually wrote a defense and explanation of the 95 Theses. It’s a long and detailed treatise, and is available in the English edition of Luther’s Works, which can be found in most college libraries.
I’m fairly fluent in Luther studies, and I never recall reading anyone arguing that Luther was not the sole author of the 95 Theses.
I am sorry but it was one of those web sites that you come across while browsing the internet on certain issues. Specifically it seemed to be saying that the Wittenberg episode, the physical act of nailing 95 theses to the church door, was not referred to until almost 150 years after it happened. It was not saying that there were not 95 theses just that it did not happen the way history recorded. It may be a dubious source that is why I asked my questions. Thank you all we have some very knowledgeable Lutherans here.
Interesting. Is the latter celebration common among many (or any) modern day Lutherans?
Not for me when I was Lutheran ( 35 plus years ) … at least not where I went to church.
Yes, particularly among Lutherans who are well-catechized and observe the commemorations and feast days on our calendars.
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