Product: Luther [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]
Rating: 5.0
A Man Who Changed The World -
'Luther' traces the life of Martin Luther from his decision to become a priest (a lightning bolt struck near him during a storm), his father's disappointment that Martin didn't become a lawyer, through his disappointment with how money-focused the Catholic Church had become and his courageous stands against the hierarchy. Words such as 'integrity' and 'courage' are only partially able to describe his strength.Early on his mentor saw a need to distract Luther from excessive introspection as well as great potential in Luther and sent him to Rome carrying a legal brief, then to training to become professor of theology. Luther disputed claims that freedom from Purgatory could be purchased with indulgences or viewing so-called sacred relics, instead believing this wasn't necessary given God's love. Unfortunately, these teachings cut into the earnings of both the local secular prince and the church hierarchy. He also translated the New Testament from Latin into German, making it much more accessible to the people and weakening the power of the priesthood to say what it meant and didn't mean. (Previously others had translated his 95 Theses into German and widely distributed them via the printing press.)Eventually Luther was excommunicated and declared an outlaw; fortunately he was safeguarded by the local prince. His reforms, however, provoked insurrections - Luther left his hiding place to calm the people. He married Katharina von Bora, a former nun.