Martin Luther; Reluctant Revolutionary

Although Martin Luther had no intention of creating a revolution, he did; this revolution, not intentionally sought, would change the culture, political ideas, and religious views of generations to come.  These influences he created in his time would last for years and turn Martin Luther into an important figure in German-speaking lands, as well as elsewhere in the world. 

Martin Luther saw the Church and its definition of salvation and was outraged; he criticized the Pope and the Papacy; Luther wanted to know what salvation really meant and set out to figure it out.  He studied the Bible and attacked the very heart of the Papacy: the system of sacraments (it was through this system that a person got to Heaven according to the Church).  The Church believed there were seven sacraments whereas Luther saw only two: The Lords Supper and Baptism.  Luther wrote his ideas in his book and claimed the other five sacraments were created by the Church and needed to be cast aside.  These ideas of Luther’s’ attacked the Church and they set out to first end Luther’s writings and then silence Luther. 

Since Martin Luther’s object was not to create a social, political, and religious revolution with his ideas, it made him that much more successful.  Luther only wanted to purify the Church, not set about the creation of new religions.  In launching the revolution, Luther changed the culture of Europeans that followed the Church as his ideas spread.  They saw the same light that Luther saw and that changed how they viewed religion which changed how the politics were done.  Before the Church had major influences on both politics and culture, but after Luther’s ideas spread, the populations and communities saw how things could be run differently, and set about changing things.  Martin Luther was a great revolutionary in these three aspects, partly because, again, he did not try to be but rather just opened people’s eyes.   It is because of this that he is important to German-speaking lands; he changed how things ran and ‘got the ball rolling’ for countries to step out from being under the Holy Roman Empire. 

A statue of Martin Luther outside in Dresden; one of many memorials to Luther due to his big influence on Germany and German culture.

Martin Luther's response after he was told in Worms he could recant and live freely.  He was told to recant because they wanted everyone to see that he no longer believed in his works and so the public should stop believing in them as well. 

Martin Luther's Bible that was translated while he was in hiding due to his works.

Hagen Schulze's Germany: A New History

Near the end of chapter two, “Transitions,” after Hagen Shulze talks about Luther and the reformation there is a part about the wars that spread after years of peace (peace that was only around due to ruthless leaders waiting around for the right time to strike). The wars that resulted due to ambitious leaders wanting to take control spread way beyond the borders, to all the great nations around as they tried to restore the Catholic unity that used to exists.  Eventually peace was made with the Peace of Westphalia, which had been negotiated at Münster and Osnabrück. 

The peace treaties ended the conflicts and became a European settlement. This was, in effect, a European constitution.  These treaties look like they would be the beginnings of the European Union.  The leaders set out to form a way that each nation could stay true to its roots and remain its own country with its own ideas but also form a way that they could get along and try to avoid conflicts.  Their agreements established the rights of the states and every other state recognized, followed, and respected these rights. 

In their agreements they also dealt with the religion aspects.  It created a weak and fragmented center that was the Hold Roman Empire, partly because the Holy Roman Empire was so weak and tired after the long war it had been fighting.  It was now the soft center of the law that held the empire together.  These agreements show that after years of fighting it is possible to come together to work in unison for the betterment of the states and their people.  The treaties also showed that despite different religious and political beliefs and systems, different states could come together and work well without fighting and being at war for everything they wanted. 

A drawing of the leaders negotiating the Peace of Westphalia. It shows that many leaders with many different ideas can come together to work towards a common goal.

A map of Europe in 1648, with the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire outlined in blue.

Why did I choose Germany?

Why would I choose to go to Germany of all places over my winter break?  Why not go to some place like Australia that would be warm during that season?  I have been to Germany twice and loved it, although, it is hard for me to remember those trips while I was just a little kid.  I now have the opportunity to go to Germany with some friends, gain insight and new experiences, learn things about this country I never knew, and also revisit past places I have been to.  It was just too good an opportunity to pass up in my opinion.  Along with all that, I get college credit for taking a trip to Europe. 

For the past five years now I have been learning to speak the German language and also learn about the culture.  Besides learning things about Germany while I am there that I could not learn in a classroom, I will be able to now experience a little of the culture I have been learning about and try to speak the language with some of the locals.  Out of all the places I could have gone, Germany not only seemed the most practical to me but the most fun, partially because I am biased due to my past five years of German education and hearing about Germany my entire life (my grandparents on my father’s side moved to the United States from Germany) and will now be able to view the amazing sights that only Germany can offer, such as the ones below.

At North Central I am continuing my education of the German language, history, and culture.  I intend to get a German minor and a degree in international business.  Studying abroad will be a useful tool on my resume for future job opportunities.  Studying in Germany is even more useful while German is my minor and Germany is, of course, international so that helps with my major. 

While in Germany I not only hope to enrich my current knowledge of the German culture and language, but perhaps gain a new view point as well.  Although I have been out of the country a few times previously to this trip, none of those trips were anything like this one.  I will be living in Germany for three weeks with the intent to gain new insights.  I keep hearing from people that have been on trips like these before that they experience some kind of change in them after experiencing a new way of living.  I do not believe that one short trip out of the country will change my outlook on life completely but I am expecting some sort of change, even if it is just opening my eyes to new things such as new experiences.  

 

Why Germany?

There are a multitude of D-Term trips offered at NCC and I chose to go to Germany.  Why?  Well half my family is German, I've been there a couple times and loved it (although I was very young and the trips are hard to remember), I was supposed to go back last Spring but the volcano in Iceland erupted canceling the trip and therefore I want to go all the more, I'm majoring in international business and getting a minor in German.  I've taken German in school for 5 years now and frequently speak German with my parents, sisters, grandma, and friends that speak German as well.  I'm very excited to go back to Germany (at an age where it's much easier to remember the trip) and experience part of the culture I have been learning about for years and try my best to speak with some of the locals in their own language.