Martin Luther Criticism
Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a pivotal German theologian whose challenge to the Roman Catholic Church catalyzed the Protestant Reformation, reshaping religious and political landscapes across Europe. As articulated in The Progress of the Reformation, Luther's escalating conflict with papal authority significantly boosted his popularity among the general populace. His early works critiquing Roman power, discussed in The Three Great Reformation Treatises, reveal how these writings resonated with German nationals, sparking broad support for religious change. Luther’s denunciation of the sale of indulgences highlighted ecclesiastical corruption, a critique further expanded into a broader theological reformation based on the principle of "justification by faith alone."
Luther’s insistence on Scripture as the ultimate religious authority, as explored by Paul Althaus, led to his excommunication in 1521 yet simultaneously inspired the proliferation of Protestant sects and the weakening of papal hegemony. This theological shift is also examined psychoanalytically by Erik H. Erikson, who considers the emotional and psychological dynamics underpinning Luther's beliefs. Luther's translation of the Bible into German and his hymnal contributions fostered cultural cohesion and national identity, as Carter Lindberg notes, marking a significant turn towards modernity.
The Reformation, as depicted by Gerhard Ebeling, represents a historical juncture that defies easy categorization within medieval or modern periods. Moreover, Luther's theological tenets, as analyzed by Quentin Skinner, necessitated a new relationship between individuals and secular authority. His complex relationship with mysticism, covered by Heiko Augustinus Oberman, further highlights the nuanced spirituality that underpinned his reformist agenda. Despite debates about his precise impact on the transition from medieval to modern eras, Luther’s role as a transformative figure in Western history is universally acknowledged.
Contents
- Principal Works
- Biographical Information
-
Essays
-
The Progress of the Reformation
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Priestley traces Luther's increasing conflict with papal authority and the rise of his popularity with the laity.
-
The Three Great Reformation Treatises
(summary)
Below, Lindsay outlines several of Luther's early works that challenged the power of Rome, and describes the subsequent reactions by the German people.
-
Faith and Wrath
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Erikson examines Luther's writings, provides a psychoanalysis of the reformer, and describes the dynamics of his theology.
-
The Way Luther Speaks of God
(summary)
In the following excerpt from a work originally published in 1964, Ebeling describes how Luther's conception of an 'omnipresent' God shaped his faith.
-
The True Church and the Empirical Church
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Althaus explains how Luther used scriptural authority to distinguish between the 'true' Church and the exercise of ecclesiastical power.
-
The Way Luther Speaks of God
(summary)
In the excerpt below from a work originally published in 1970, Ebeling discusses the problem of historical periodization, suggesting a way to transcend the attempts of Ernst Troeltsch and Hegel to assign Luther to either the medieval or modern age.
-
The Principles of Lutheranism
(summary)
Here, Skinner describes how Luther's theological tenets ultimately required individual obedience to secular authority.
-
Simul Gemitus et Raptus: Luther and Mysticism
(summary)
Below, Oberman outlines approaches to studying Luther and mysticism, and discusses Luther's own understanding of the role of mysticism in faith.
-
The Dawn of a New Era
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Lindberg gives a brief overview of the medieval worldview and the religious practices of the day, focusing on Luther's opposition to the Church's granting of indulgences for monetary donations.
-
The Progress of the Reformation
(summary)
- Further Reading