Luther's dark side

I was talking with one of my roommates about the movie Luther the other day and he mentioned that his fiancee didn't like the guy. Based on the following list of quotes that was forwarded to me this morning, I can understand why. Keeping stuff like this in mind, Hitler's rise in Germany seems all too predictable:


Quotes from Luther on women:

"God created Adam master and lord of living creatures, but Eve spoilt all, when she persuaded him to set himself above God's will. 'Tis you women, with your tricks and artifices, that lead men into error." "The bondage of the Will," 1527

"The word and works of God is quite clear, that women were made either to be wives or prostitutes." Works 12.94

"Women...have but small and narrow chests, and broad hips, to the end that they should remain at home, sit still, keep house, and bear and bring up children."

"Even though they grow weary and wear themselves out with child-bearing, it does not matter; let them go on bearing children till they die, that is what they are there for." Works 20.84

Luther on Jews:

"If I had to baptise a Jew, I would take him to the bridge of the Elbe, hang a stone around his neck and push him over with the words 'I baptise thee in the name of Abraham'."

"Their synagogues ... should be set on fire."

"Either God must be unjust, or you, Jews, wicked and ungodly. You have been, about fifteen hundred years, a race rejected of God."

"What shall we Christians do now with this depraved and damned people of the Jews? ... I will give my faithful advice: First, that one should set fire to their synagogues. . . . Then that one should also break down and destroy their houses. . . . That one should drive them out the country."

"Their homes (Jews) should be broken down and destroyed. They ought to be put under one roof or in a stable, like Gypsies, in order that they may realize that they ... are ... but miserable captives."

"Moreover, they are nothing but thieves and robbers who daily eat no morsel and wear no thread of clothing which they have not stolen and pilfered from us by means of their accursed usury. Thus they live from day to day, together with wife and child, by theft and robbery, as arch-thieves and robbers, in the most impenitent security."

Comments

Most of the stuff regarding women was pretty much how culture regarded them during that time period. It's interesting how Luther says that the Bible is clear in this regard, but if we look at the same verses he was reading we reach a completely different conclusion. That stuff about Jews is pretty crazy. Hitler very well may have been inspired by that. In the end though, while we might think a little less of Luther, he was certainly a forerunner in the Reformation and helped start one of the best things that ever happened in Christianity.

In the end though, while we might think a little less of Luther, he was certainly a forerunner in the Reformation and helped start one of the best things that ever happened in Christianity.

Well, there was a lot going on in parallel in Europe, so if it hadn't been Luther I suspect that you would just have ended up with someone else (although I don't know if that person's views on the Jews would be any better).

There are these constant reminders of just how sinful we all are and how dependent on God's grace. Even in the Bible those that people tend to think of as some of the "greats" are shown to have done some rather nasty things (eg. King David). It seems to me to be one thing that distinguishes Christianity amongst religions.

In the end though, while we might think a little less of Luther, he was certainly a forerunner in the Reformation and helped start one of the best things that ever happened in Christianity.

Which is basically the reason that I always advocate that people be willing to examine (becoming aware of the evidence both for and against particular views). Always keep Proverb 18:17 in mind - "The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him."