Served up fresh for Catholics FReeper...
Posted on 08/02/2011 8:54:35 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Pope Benedict XVI is to rehabilitate Martin Luther, arguing that he did not intend to split Christianity but only to purge the Church of corrupt practices.
Pope Benedict will issue his findings on Luther (1483-1546) in September after discussing him at his annual seminar of 40 fellow theologians — known as the Ratzinger Schülerkreis — at Castelgandolfo, the papal summer residence. According to Vatican insiders the Pope will argue that Luther, who was excommunicated and condemned for heresy, was not a heretic.
Cardinal Walter Kasper, the head of the pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, said the move would help to promote ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Protestants. It is also designed to counteract the impact of July's papal statement describing the Protestant and Orthodox faiths as defective and “not proper Churches”.
The move to re-evaluate Luther is part of a drive to soften Pope Benedict's image as an arch conservative hardliner as he approaches the third anniversary of his election next month. This week it emerged that the Vatican is planning to erect a statue of Galileo, who also faced a heresy trial, to mark the 400th anniversary next year of his discovery of the telescope.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Don't feel I've put you down here, as this is a very common misconception among Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
(Sigh.)
I don’t remember transubstantiation being a major item in Luthor’s complaint against the church, although he did dispute it and the Lutheran church has a redefinition of what happens to the bread and wine that is called ‘sacramental union’ or something meaning that.
His main difficulties with the church seemed to be centered on indulgences and the works mentality of the RCC.
He disputed the claim that freedom from God’s punishment of sin could be purchased (indulgences).
Luther taught that salvation is not earned but is free gift paid for by the sacrifice of Christ. His theology challenged the papal authority by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge. This is strongly debated to this day by the RCC in that they put tradition as another major source of divine knowledge equal to the Word.
Luther opposed sacerdotalism ? have to look that one up but it considers all baptized to be holy.
He really upset the church by getting the bible translated to German rather than just Latin!! This really grew the protestant church and lead to the further translations to English, etc.
He got married too ... something the RCC should do ... maybe that will be an outcome of this !! Halleluea!!!
Sad that he apparently became an anti-semite in his later years but that was probably more a creation of the times and had nothing to do with his theology ... I hope! ;-)
I don’t remember transubstantiation being a major item in Luthor’s complaint against the church, although he did dispute it and the Lutheran church has a redefinition of what happens to the bread and wine that is called ‘sacramental union’ or something meaning that.
His main difficulties with the church seemed to be centered on indulgences and the works mentality of the RCC.
He disputed the claim that freedom from God’s punishment of sin could be purchased (indulgences).
Luther taught that salvation is not earned but is free gift paid for by the sacrifice of Christ. His theology challenged the papal authority by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge. This is strongly debated to this day by the RCC in that they put tradition as another major source of divine knowledge equal to the Word.
Luther opposed sacerdotalism ? have to look that one up but it considers all baptized to be holy.
He really upset the church by getting the bible translated to German rather than just Latin!! This really grew the protestant church and lead to the further translations to English, etc.
He got married too ... something the RCC should do ... maybe that will be an outcome of this !! Halleluea!!!
Sad that he apparently became an anti-semite in his later years but that was probably more a creation of the times and had nothing to do with his theology ... I hope! ;-)
How do you delete redundant posts?
How do you delete redundant posts?
(sorry, just felt that I needed to say that twice! ;-)
How do you delete redundant posts?
How do you delete redundant posts?
(sorry, just felt that I needed to say that twice! ;-)
:: Luthor’s attitude was a reflection of his time and was very normal for a Christian of that age ::
Might I postulate that - if it weren’t for Luther and “The Reformation”, the United States would not currently exist and continue to be under the shadow of the British Crown (in the same way that Canada is today).
Just like most of Europe during that time, Catholics included... Luther view of the Jews changed through from early in life to late in life and stubborness got the best of him late in life.. He was sinful human being, but aren’t we all...
Luther had some valid insights ... and some not-so-valid ones. Pope Benedict is an honest enough scholar to give credit where credit is due. I'm currently reading his latest book ("Jesus of Nazareth, part II"). He quotes Protestant scholars all over the place. Sometimes he agrees with them. Sometimes he strongly disagrees with them.
Thank you.. I believe James Madison was influenced by some of Luthers writings..
You'll have to research that for yourself. I do believe that the long standing cultural hatred of Jews in Europe is why they are so welcoming to Muslims over there.
Hitler had a fascinating life. I think his main motivator was his extreme hatred for his father. Hatred of Jews, German nationalism, etc. was a means to an end for him.
500 years ago the Pope wasn’t infallible.
I think the Pope would love to work with the Lutherans. But the current state of apostate synods running around makes it very hard. There are few pan Lutheran bodies which have much authority on what their members believe.
What do you mean? It’s not like the Pope has renounced Catholic teachings and thrown in his towel and become a Lutheran.
Because the pope is charitable. Lutherans? Not so much.
It has been my understanding that Luther’s bitterness against the Jewish people came in his later years. The theory is that he had expected Jewish people to be totally delighted with the declaration that Salvation came by Faith and not works, and would flock to be converted once they understood this vital doctrine.
When this didn’t happen, it challenged his cherished beliefs, and disappointed him greatly.
Of course, there is no excuse for hating the people you can’t convert!
As far as being an inspiration for Hitler, that is indeed unfortunate. But so was Wagner, and even the “Aryan” Legends of Tibet. The swastika was originally a Buddhist symbol.
Nazism was a construct of Teutonic Mythology, Communist Totalitarianism, Asian Mysticism, German Protestant Terminology, and Medieval Satanism all rolled into one.
Luther just got caught up in the mix, and since he had been dead almost 500 years, couldn’t do much about it.
Would Luther have have gotten away with antisemitism in this day and age? Probably. The Left rants against Jews and Israel and gets away with it ALL THE TIME.
Just sayin’.
The printing press was a far more fundamental development that led to the Reformation. If not for Martin Luther it would have been somebody else. The increase in literacy would have led to it.
I know, I know, I was intentionally being simplistic.
It isn’t often one sees the name Martin Luther dragged into
the public discourse. I was just wondering what prompted it.
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