Martin Luther Not MLK

Martin Luther not MLK

Martin Luther the Reformist

It’s sad that until my later years in high school I was unaware of the existence of a European Martin Luther only of Martin Luther King Junior. When I began to watch this film my dad walked in and asked what I was watching and I said “a youtube video on Martin Luther.” He started saying how he had a book full of his speeches that I should look at and I stopped him by saying the European Martin Luther not MLK. True, they both share some similarities like how their words could inspire hundreds and how they stayed true to their convictions. Neither took back what they thought, said or wrote. Martin Luther was more aggressive in his writings though, almost as if he intended to offend the reader. His 95 theses’ is what started this whole religious revolution.  He managed to piss off the churches as well as the Pope, so much so that because he wouldn’t take back what he wrote he was excommunicated.  Since Luther didn’t just allow himself to be handed over to the church he became a revolutionary head. He took his theses and the newly formed printing press to inform his fellow German’s, thereby liberating man’ relationship with God. For those who couldn’t read, he had woodcut printings of pictures to go along with his words. Many images showed the Pope or church alongside the devil. He was probably the first person to use propaganda. While evading arrest Fredrick the Great housed Luther for a time, which brought notice to his newly formed University. Luther’s fate was later decided by the German lords, nobles and emperors like Charles the fifth who was only nineteen at the time.

95 thesis's of Luther

They asked Luther to recant his writings but he refused. To his surprise he was not turned over to the Pope though. He lit a fire with his writings that eventually became out of control. Rebellions against the church resulted. Even though he used aggressive wording, he didn’t mean for bloodshed to result from his writings. He gave the Germans religious freedom and that idea spread far beyond Europe onto the pilgrim ships that landed in the United States. He stuck to his guns on what he believed was right and wrong, and proved that an ordinary person has the power to go against authority. 


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