#7 PBS Doc. Martin Luther, in Review
The PBS documentary on Martin Luther (documentary) appears to be a good introduction to Martin Luther (Luther). The (documentary) offers insights from scholars who are well informed. The (documentary) counteracts some of the misunderstood aspects of the reformation such as the nailing of the 95 theses onto the door of a church in Wittenberg. The (documentary) properly points out that the 95 theses were in Latin which was not something that common people could read. Furthermore the 95 theses were not nailed to the door necessarily as an act of defiance against the church since the door was considered a bulletin board as the (documentary) points out. This distinction is important because it clarifies the intentions of (Luther). The 95 theses being in Latin and it being posted on a bulletin board is quite different than nailing an insult to the church on an ornately carved door where all could see it and be shocked by it. Some books on (Luther) fail to realize this distinction such as The Legacy of Martin Luther. (R. C. Sproul and Stephen J. Nichols)
After (Luther) nailed his 95 theses to the door something abnormal happens, that is the 95 theses are translated and mass printed in German for all to read. This may not have been Luther’s intention, but it aroused the anger of the Pope. After realizing how much (Luther) wrote and published in German after this incident it makes me wonder if Luther may have known what printer published the 95 theses in German. Furthermore could (Luther) actually be a part of the plan that published his 95 theses in German, perhaps he even wrote it himself. I ask this because Wittenberg was not a very large area, and there probably weren’t more than 2-3 printers in the area at the time. Also, how many of those printers could have known Latin well enough to translate his works? Or did some rich person translate (Luther’s) 95 theses and pay a printer to publish them? The answer to this question may be lost to time but none the less it is a question worth asking.
To indulge in the issue of the 95 theses just a bit longer, why was the Catholic Church upset by the 95 theses? The foundations of this issue rest in authority; and where the church got it. Originally the Catholic Church had authority by the consensus of the community. That is saying since most of us agree this one thing then it must be right while the minority belief would be wrong. This can be seen in the earlier parts of the Church such as with the writing of the Nicene Creed. The creed was written by consensus. The seal of approval was given to it by the Pope. By the time that (Luther) wrote his 95 theses the times had changed in two major ways. One, the Catholic Church did not derive authority by consensus but by its authority demanding a consensus. Two, the western world was coming into modernity. All aspects of life were starting to be defined by individualistic means rather than communally. The catholic church caused this shift by the shift in how it derived its authority. If the pope and individual commanded all authority than his subordinates could demand authority as individuals who were a part of the Church. If this was not the case Luther could have never thought of the issues the church faced from an individualistic perspective. These two issues came to a head when the Catholic Church started offering indulgences and saying that the church gave the indulgences authority. This was corruption but more importantly it emphasized the individualistic nature of our relationship with God, and our lack of authority in the relationship that had been usurped by the Catholic Church. (Luther) was a product of the times in that sense the (documentary) points out that (Luther) said “here I stand I can do no other” the (documentary) emphases that (Luther) was essentially saying that his conscience was his own highest authority. If the Catholic Church had still emphasized that its authority was from consensus rather than the other way around (Luther) would have been found wrong.
Other than the issues with the individualistic nature of the Churches authority at the time of (Luther) couldn’t the Catholic Church still impose a belief on someone causing them to be under Catholic law? This is an issue to be discussed since (Luther) went against the common law of the time. Ask yourself, if I believe something is a sin, is it one? If you were to believe that taking a picture of yourself is a sin such as the Amish, do would it be a sin against God or yourself or both if you purposely took a picture of yourself? It would be a sin against yourself because you are going against your conscience, but would it be a sin against God. A sin against God could be classified as anything that diminishes your relationship with God. Therefore, sinning against yourself does not necessarily make something a sin against God but it most likely will harm your relationship with God making it a sin against God. Common Belief at the time of (Luther) was that what was and was not a sin was determined by the Church. that brings into question could another individual make something a sin for you? If the Catholic church said that something was a sin such as priests getting married, this is something everyone would believe making it true. but only because everyone believes it. The Church had lost its communal authority. Therefore, a belief that priests could marry such as Luther believed could be true if the bible said it. It no longer mattered what the Catholic Church said unless it changed the ultimate power of each individual their own mind.
The (Documentary) is quite good in that it raised these questions and more in my mind. The reformation had many foreshadowing’s of the coming enlightenment period of history. Towards the end of Luther’s life he became a victim of his own beliefs he came to think that he was right about everything and his fellow reformers knew nothing, regardless of the case it is strange to note the parallels between his stance on others opinions later in life and those of the Catholic Church to his opinions. All in all, the (Documentary) is pretty good with no major faults other than missing much of (Luther’s) later life and the decoupling of his life from the life of the reformation.
Works Cited
Martin Luther. Dir. Steve Boettcher Mike Trinklein. Perf. PBS. 2017. Youtube.
R. C. Sproul and Stephen J. Nichols. The legacy of Martin Luther. n.d.
