the act of trying to justify or judge the actions of a someone from 5 centuries ago is doomed to failure.
Sorry, but that’s horseshit. Teaching something like this:
If I had to baptize a Jew, I would take him to the bridge of the Elbe, hang a stone round his neck and push him over with the words I baptize thee in the name of Abraham.
is an objectively reprehensible stance regardless of the cultural context. The rejection of morality, conscience, and Christian teaching by an ordained priest is absolutely worthy of judgment, and the fact that he lived 500 years ago doesn’t change that a bit.
It’s reprehensible now, and with the information we have on hand. If his entire worldview was shaped around hating jews, which wasn’t uncommon among gentiles, then that statement is understandable coming from him at that time.
You need to separate yourself from being a 21st century, moral (at least in this case, I don’t know you), and critically thinking human being that can look in hindsight with centuries of lessons learned.
You just can’t do that because it will never hold up to today’s standards. In 500 years, putting cheese on bread might be seen as taboo, but you would think that’s ridiculous today. It doesn’t matter how serious or silly the topic is, the point is that it will never compare fairly.
Ok, so you think Martin Luther was “a piece of shit.” So now what? Are you saying the impact he had on western civilization should be ignored? Do you want to erase him from history? What are you trying to accomplish?
How the hell did you get any of that out of what I said? His impact on Western civilization can’t be ignored, he fractured the Western Church and people should be made aware of the terrible views he espoused so history can rightly regard him as the miserable asshole he was rather than some force for good mythology has made him out to be.
No, I’m not angry, it’s been five centuries since Luther pulled his egotistical bullshit, I’ve had time to cope. Plus, I’m not a Western Christian anyway, so at the end of the day it’s still not my circus and not my monkeys.
I am passionate though, because so many of the problems in Western Christianity today lie squarely or predominantly at Luther’s feet.
The social norms and cultural context of the time absolutely matter when you’re reviewing history
Sorry, but that’s horseshit. Teaching something like this:
is an objectively reprehensible stance regardless of the cultural context. The rejection of morality, conscience, and Christian teaching by an ordained priest is absolutely worthy of judgment, and the fact that he lived 500 years ago doesn’t change that a bit.
It’s reprehensible now, and with the information we have on hand. If his entire worldview was shaped around hating jews, which wasn’t uncommon among gentiles, then that statement is understandable coming from him at that time.
You need to separate yourself from being a 21st century, moral (at least in this case, I don’t know you), and critically thinking human being that can look in hindsight with centuries of lessons learned.
You just can’t do that because it will never hold up to today’s standards. In 500 years, putting cheese on bread might be seen as taboo, but you would think that’s ridiculous today. It doesn’t matter how serious or silly the topic is, the point is that it will never compare fairly.
Ok, so you think Martin Luther was “a piece of shit.” So now what? Are you saying the impact he had on western civilization should be ignored? Do you want to erase him from history? What are you trying to accomplish?
How the hell did you get any of that out of what I said? His impact on Western civilization can’t be ignored, he fractured the Western Church and people should be made aware of the terrible views he espoused so history can rightly regard him as the miserable asshole he was rather than some force for good mythology has made him out to be.
You sound angry. Are you angry?
No, I’m not angry, it’s been five centuries since Luther pulled his egotistical bullshit, I’ve had time to cope. Plus, I’m not a Western Christian anyway, so at the end of the day it’s still not my circus and not my monkeys.
I am passionate though, because so many of the problems in Western Christianity today lie squarely or predominantly at Luther’s feet.
You really need to cut the shit with the “pretend to be cool and aloof” routine. Shit’s embarrassing.