The Reformation roots of an independent press

World ^ | June 7, 2014 | Marvin Olasky

[2ndDivisionVet]

Martin Luther’s emphasis on literacy helped make modern day journalism possible.

Rise of the Corruption Story

Unnatural Acts

In America, we expect journalists to have some independence from government and other leading power centers. We are not surprised to glance at the morning newspaper or television news show and see exposure of wrongdoing. We assume that the press has a responsibility to print bad news as well as good. And yet, that which seems ordinary to us is unusual in the history of the world, and even in much of the world today.

How did the unnatural act of independent journalism come to seem so natural? To begin answering that question, we need to go back, back beyond the start of American journalism, back even before Gutenberg. Journalism—information and analysis concerning recent events, published in multiple copies or disseminated beyond the immediate reach of the speaker’s voice—is many centuries old. Journalistic products emerged in many lands and in many varieties, but they most often promoted the official story of governmental power and wisdom: “If you obey, we will take care of you.” (A more modern way of saying the same might be, “Depend on us to establish the proper environment for your life.”) Official, state-allied religion often received protection also. Published news was what authorities wanted people to know.

Throughout the many centuries before printing, official story publications came and went....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Seven page article.

In Central Ideas in the Development of American Journalism: A Narrative History, WORLD editor in chief Marvin Olasky traces the influences on the U.S. press from 16th century Europe through the early 20th century. The book, which was first published in 1990, is based on a journalism history class Marvin taught at the University of Texas in the 1980s.

In the excerpt, Marvin looks to the Protestant Reformation as the source of modern journalism’s independence from government control. —Mickey McLean

[Diogenesis]

This “press” are WHORES, state-run whores,
and DNC-bought PR reps without integrity, who
have ruined the definition of journalism to now include
bought stories, and the shielding of REAL stories
by endless fixation on next week’s possible weather.

[gasport]

If the elite media suppress or denigrate a story, it’s probably true.

[RichInOC]

Martin Luther’s emphasis on literacy helped make modern day journalism possible.

Of which I assume Father Martin and his contemporaries have long since repented.

[wonkowasright]

Rubbish.

Martin Luther complained to many people were going to college, wanted to destroy the funding sources that made it possible for so many to go, wanted to not let anyone get an education unless the local magistrate said it was a good idea.

He complained that anyone could read the bible but not everyone could study theology. He said he wanted to reverse that and let anyone study theology prior to letting them read the bible.

After he was thrown out he went so far as to declare that monagamy was absurd and that the Church was wrong because it said a man couldn’t sleep with his wifes niece.

None of which anyone would know unless they actually read his writings instead of the mythology around him.

Why anyone would call him “our leader” or the father of our reformation is beyond me.

[chajin]

To all the non-Lutherans here, you’re welcome :-)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Grew up ALC and LCA (depending on where we moved to) with 8th grade spent in a LCMS parochial school. Was adopted through Lutheran Social Services, as was my sister.

[2ndDivisionVet]

You didn’t even hit on his anti-Semitism or marrying a former nun. Not the best effort I’ve ever seen.

[wonkowasright]

My fingers were tired.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"In America, we expect journalists to have some independence from government and other leading power centers."

*Snort* What a line.

[what's up]

Bookmark

[jocon307]

I think we need Martin Luther to come back and slap our MSM “journalists” around. Or maybe he could nail some real news to their faces!

[boatbums]

Quite a lot of condemnation with ZERO corroborating sources. Perhaps you need to read some objective ones for a change?

[wonkowasright]

All of these I read in the Writings of Martin Luther at my local Lutheran Church. A person reading Luther would find them too.

Open Letter to the Christian Nobility and his infamous sermon The Estate of Marriage

Will cover most of these points if not all.

[boatbums]

All of these I read in the Writings of Martin Luther at my local Lutheran Church. A person reading Luther would find them too.

They sure don't sound like quotes from Luther. More like someone's interpretation of some things he might have said, without context. A great site to look up obscure quotes of Martin Luther as well as to study what he really might have said rather than what someone thinks he did can be found HERE.

[wonkowasright]

Just a bit from his 1519 Sermon "The Estate of Marriage" available in Luthers Works as published by the Lutherans. I was in the local church library and pulled the index to see what Luther taught on Marriage, given the current crisis on Marriage, at the time I was LCMS Lutheran. I was stunned with what I read.

This sermon preached in church is a real stunner. His purpose is to further clarify, as he says, what he was teaching prior to this and now he can teach it openly.

The part here is frankly one of the tamer parts. I know such things don't sound like what you think Luther would say, but he said it and never retracted it. And a whole lot more.

I once wrote down some advice concerning such persons for those who hear confession. It related to those cases where a husband or wife comes and wants to learn what he should do: his spouse is unable to fulfil the conjugal duty, yet he cannot get along without it because he finds that God's ordinance to multiply is still in force within him. Here they have accused me of teaching that when a husband is unable to satisfy his wife's sexual desire she should run to somebody else. Let the topsy-turvy liars spread their lies. The words of Christ and his apostles were turned upside down; should they not also turn my words topsy-turvy? To whose detriment it will be they shall surely find out.

What I said was this: if a woman who is fit for marriage has a husband who is not, and she is unable openly to take unto herself another and unwilling, too, to do anything dishonourable since the pope in such a case demands without cause abundant testimony and evidence, she should say to her husband, “Look, my dear husband, you are unable to fulfil your conjugal duty toward me; you have cheated me out of my maidenhood and even imperilled my honour and my soul's salvation; in the sight of God there is no real marriage between us. Grant me the privilege of contracting a secret marriage with your brother or closest relative, and you retain the title of husband so that your property will not fall to strangers. Consent to being betrayed voluntarily by me, as you have betrayed me without my consent”.

I stated further that the husband is obligated to consent to such an arrangement and thus to provide for her the conjugal duty and children, and that if he refuses to do so she should secretly flee from him to some other country and there contract a marriage. I gave this advice at a time when I was still timid. However, I should like now to give sounder advice in the matter, and take a firmer grip on the wool of a man who thus makes a fool of his wife. The same principle would apply if the circumstances were reversed, although this happens less frequently in the case of wives than of husbands. It will not do to lead one's fellow-man around by the nose so wantonly in matters of such great import involving his body, goods, honour, and salvation. He has to be told to make it right.