Martin Luther inspiriert und regt zum Widerspruch an. Teil 2

Rainer Stahl retired general secretary of Martin Luther Bund (Habichtstrasse 14 A, Erlangen, Germany, D-91056)
rainer.stahl.1@gmx.de

Stahl R. Martin Luther inspiriert und regt zum Widerspruch an. Teil 2., Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2018, vol. 7, pp. 44–67.

doi: 10.24411/2308-0698-2018-00003

Language: German

The text «Martin Luther inspires and stimulates contradictions» continues the second part of the artcile based on the report read 11. April 2017 in Tscheboskary and published in the previous volume of the almanac. The author raises such questions as the Luther’s attitude to the new picture of the universe (of Copernicus), the reformer’s approach to the relation between Jews and Christians and his view on the Muslims. The author insists on careful historical understanding of Luther’s positions, especially then they are far from the modern one. In the Jewish question, Luther used to be very critical and severe, but the author emphasizes that no government followed specifically his suggestions and ideas. As to the Luther’s approach to the Muslims , in the author’s opinion, the only attractive theme is his demand to understand the other religion correctly. It’s clear that for the contemporary ethnical situation in Europe make necessary for Lutherans to re-estimate Luther. The author comes to conclusion that the only idea that should be taken today is Luther’s understanding of the Revelation as made by Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.

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Keywords: Copernicus, the universe, Judaism, Jews, Muslims, Islam, Turks, hymns, Christ, Revelation

URL: http://rcs-almanac.ru/stahl-2018-en/

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Die lutherische Kirche in der Gemeinschaft der anderen christlichen Konfessionen und der anderen Religionen

Rainer Stahl, general secretary of Martin Luther Bund (Habichtstrasse 14 A, Erlangen, Germany, D-91056)

rs@martin-luther-bund.de

Stahl R. Die lutherische Kirche in der Gemeinschaft der anderen christlichen Konfessionen und der anderen Religionen, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2014, vol. 3, pp. 42–68.

doi: 10.24411/2308-0698-2014-00004

Language: German

The article describes specifics of the Lutheran identity, mainly relying on the vision of Luther. The author emphasizes conservatism and orthodoxy of the Lutheran Church, drawing parallels between the preaching of Luther and the content of Orthodox icons. Within the Reformation the Rainer Stahl Die lutherische Kirche in der Gemeinschaft… 61 Lutheran tradion was developed, that includes strong attitute to science and education as well as availibility of faith and salvation in ordinary life. However, the relation with other religions is the most accurate for the determination of specifics of this Christian community. The author stresses differences in approaching to the Old Testament by Lutherans and Judaismbelievers. Relations with Islam formed in comprehensive historical situation, when the conquest of the Holy Roman Empire by Turkish troops was a real threat. However, Luther and his fellows devoted a lot of time translating the Quran into German and Latin, and the acquaintance with another tradition was the first step to dialog. The main thesis of the article can be reduced to an understanding of the Lutheran Church as a continuation of the Old Christian Church, that at the same time is open to dialogue (especially with the religions of the Old Testament) and development.
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Key words: Martin Luther, Lutherans, Church, Christ

URL: http://rcs-almanac.ru/rainer-2014-en/

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Martin Luther inspiriert und regt zum Widerspruch an. Teil 1

Rainer Stahl retired general secretary of Martin Luther Bund (Habichtstrasse 14 A, Erlangen. Germany, D-91056), rainer.stahl.1@gmx.de

Stahl R. Martin Luther inspiriert und regt zum Widerspruch an. Teil 1, Religiya. Tserkov’. Obshchestvo. Issledovaniya i publikatsii po teologii i religii [Religion. Church. Society: Research and publications in the field of theology and religious studies], Saint-Petersburg, 2017, vol. 6, pp. 18–43.

doi: 10.24411/2308-0698-2017-00002

Language: German

In the article «Martin Luther inspires and stimulates contradictions», that is based on the report read 11. April 2017 in Tscheboskary, Luther’s understanding of freedom is examined. With the change of his name from Luder to Luther in the publication of the 95 Theses in 1517 the reformer raised the issue of freedom. He elaborated it in «On the Freedom of a Christian» (1520) and propagated no political freedom, but existential freedom, the freedom of faith. In the social realm, a Christian according to Luther is a servant of his fellow men. Here Luther developed the idea of the «two ways of God» with humans being God’s collaborators in the field of social coexistence (left hand) and in the realm of final salvation (right hand). The article focuses on the Luther’ position for the Peasants’ War. He understood this revolutionary movement as a danger to the positions of the freedom of belief. So he called on the peasants to end the revolt and the authorities to crush it. Later he realized that as a theologian he had taken far too much position in political conflicts. The second example in the social sphere is collaboration of worldview and faith. At that time, the thesis of the center of the sun in our solar system was known, but was not generally represented. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Reformers also put their faith in the old world view of the earth’s center position. However, the author notes that Luther saw the consequences of the new world view for understanding the biblical statements.
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Key words: freedom, Gods rule, two ways of governing, kingdoms doctrine, Peasants’ war, violence, sufferings, worldview and faith, science

URL: http://rcs-almanac.ru/stahl-2017-en/

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