Martin Luther - Hero or Heretic?

In my opinion, Martin Luther was a heretic. I am not saying that because it was the side that I was given in the debate, but because of all the present facts.

Although Martin Luther was seen as a hero in the eyes of many common people of the time, he used reverse psychology, and deception to place this thought into the mind of the public. People may argue that Luther started up revolts that helped free the people; however, in reality, he sent hundreds, of thousands of innocent people to slaughter. Also, after urging the peasants to revolt, he publishes a book, and gives statements about how the peasants are not being holy, not following God's plan, and that they should be killed for their actions; the actions that he started in the first place. The other, and perhaps biggest argument on why Luther is a hero, is that he freed the people from the Church's teachings by allowing them to interpret the bible by themselves. Yet, if you examine the details, and facts, you realize, that in a way he was just like the Catholic Church. This is because Luther removed parts of the New Testament that where inconsistent with his views. He also manipulated translations by adding words to the Bible in order to clarify it, or in other words, to clarify his interpretation. Another point is that he preached the correct way of gaining salvation, how to run the church, who should run the church, etc.

Now, if we look even deeper, into Luther's way of gaining salvation, we see yet another action that contrasts with his teachings. Luther is trying to put his interpretation of the bible, and the Christian faith into the community. He states that you should not use the interpretation of the bible from others, but rather use your own. He also states that there is no need for Church officials, or any other people that work solely for the Church, such as monks, and saints. Now, he is telling the public that they should not listen to the Pope’s interpretation, who is a Church official; but they should listen to St. Paul’s, who was a missionary. Why is the Pope’s interpretation incorrect were the missionary’s is the True? Shouldn't the people get to choose their own interpretation of salvation? Who is he to decide what is right and wrong?

Finally, the greatest reason why he was not a hero but rather a heretic is an undeniable fact. Martin Luther was an exact example of a heretic based on the definition of the world. A heretic was someone who disagreed or challenged Church teachings. Luther, preached his own ideas, revolted rebelled against the corruption of the church, and converted people to Lutherism, and away from Catholicism.

"The Spark for the Reformation: Indulgences" vs. "Justification by Faith"

Compare/contrast Johann Tetzel's "The Spark for the Reformation: Indulgences" withMartin Luther's "Justification by Faith" include at least one quote from each primary sourceusing MLA citation format.

John Tetzel, like all Catholics of his time, believed that God was a harsh Judge that punished people for all their sins. You are doomed no matter what you do because all humans sin; weather with actions, words, or thoughts. He also states that for every sin, no mater how small, you will spend 7 years in purgatory. Because the Church gave an evil image of God, they where able to scare the public into buying indulgences, and paying taxes to the Church to please him. He claimed that buying an indulgence results in, "an immortal soul, safe and sound into the land of paradise."

Martin Luther however, believe that God forgave all Christians if they had faith, they would earn salvation. He believes that God a loving person that does not expect you to waste your human life serving him through the Church. He sums this up in one sentence saying "I grasped that the justice of God is righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith."

"Blood alone moves the wheels of history."

"Blood alone moves the wheels of history."

- Martin Luther

I think that the quote "Blood moves the wheels of history" by Martin Luther, is stating that only through wars, does history, and society move back and forth. I agree with this quote, however not entirely. I, personally believe that wars do, in fact move society, and history, however it does not always move it forward.

In some cases, it does move forward such as when the Roman Empire spread across Europe, and thus, spreading their ideas, discoveries, and teachings. Rome had to battle against many different barbaric tribes, and much blood was shed; however, in the end life in Europe progressed, and by its side, so did history.

There are however, many cases in which wars do not move the wheels forward, but rather in reverse. For example, World War II was a devastating series of battles, and involved brutal man slaughter, and in the end, the war put back Europe's progress because of the need to build new buildings, the population had to balance out, and radioactive sites had to cool off. This was an enormous set-back in history.

Although I agree with this quote, I also do not believe that Blood ALONE moves the wheels of history. I also believe that there are other events that occur, and change history, pushing it forward, as well as pulling it back. For example, many scientific discoveries, and inventions, such as that of the space shuttle, where not violent, yet showed a progress in history. Also,there where some incorrect, and harmless discoveries, such as one that stated that cold was an element, and, when extracted from a substance, the substance would warm up. This sent history forward at the time, but brought it right back years later after the theory had been dis-proven. I would agree with one of my classmate's statments; "If I were to revise this quote I would say 'Blood and Innovation Move the Wheels of History'."