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Comment on Today is also Reformation Day. Martin Luther chose Oct. 31 to release "The 95 Theses" in Wittenberg, Germany, setting in motion the biggest religious upheaval in history.

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protist@mander.xyz ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

But how do his teachings compare to others of the time, especially the Catholic Church? If you try to apply 21st Century morality to 16th Century ideas, you are bound to find ideas to consider “unconscionable.” People at large did some absolutely fucked up shit in the past, but in their times much of what they did was a societal norm

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LopensLeftArm@sh.itjust.works ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Other people also having fucked up opinions at the time also don’t justify the truly fucked up opinions and teachings of one specific person.

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- protist@mander.xyz ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  My point is that the act of trying to justify or judge the actions of a someone from 5 centuries ago is doomed to failure. The social norms and cultural context of the time absolutely matter when you’re reviewing history
  
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  - LopensLeftArm@sh.itjust.works ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    
    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.
    
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    protist@mander.xyz ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    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?
    
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    howsetheraven@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    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.
    
    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.
    
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