Quotes from Martin Luther

On the Jews and their Lies

'On Jews and their Lies' - Index

The theology of Martin Luther has had a profound influence over modern day Protestant Christianity, in particular Luther's interpretation of 'Salvation by faith' which remains the driving ideological justification for the type of Christian evangelism we are so familiar with today. Luther's 'faith' however has a dark side, intolerance and the damnation of dissent and difference and this aspect of both his character and his theology are clearly revealed in one of Luther's less celebrated works 'On the Jews and their lies', justifiably believed to have contributed much to the Nazi Holocaust during the Second World War. Luther's 'salvation by faith' included a doctrine of 'damnation for not believing' and in his case this even included damnation for 'having faith' in doctrines which differed from those doctrines in which Luther had faith. While much emphasis is placed on Luther's doctrine of 'no salvation by works' in truth, an examination reveals that Luther's doctrine of 'faith' was in greater part 'salvation by faith in doctrines' and this leads directly to the modern saying by certain Christian sects that 'I am not without sin, just forgiven' (in other words 'works' and 'deeds' are not the criteria used to determination 'salvation' in this expression of the Protestant faith, but rather a person is 'saved' by 'believing doctrine' and it is this belief in correct doctrine that is emphasized by Luther and thus defines what is meant by 'faith'. For example you will hear evangelists teaching that you will be saved 'based on how you answer this question - Who was Jesus' and in the end one is saved by believing certain doctrines (thus having 'faith') and one can also 'claim to be a Christian' but nevertheless 'go to hell' for believing 'incorrect doctrines'). The totalitarian nature of Luther's doctrine of 'faith' and its stubborn insistence on correct 'doctrine' ('faith') is clearly illustrated in Luther's anti-semetic attack on the Jews. The better part of the first half of his essay concentrates on the correct doctrinal interpretation of scriptural passages, interpersed with attacks on the Jewish people for deviating from these orthodox interpretations. In the mid section of his essay Luther gives his advice on how to treat Jews, all of which was put into literal practice by the Nazis during the Holocaust, and in the final section of his essay Luther concentrates on railing at the Jews for not being Christians and for deviating from 'faith' in Christian doctrine (the true means to salvation 'by faith' in the Protestant system Luther developed - salvation by faith in correct beliefs, which explains the Protestant intolerance for deviation in doctrine and the emphasis on 'believing doctrines' which is the defining characteristic of so much protestant religion to this very day).

INDEX

Selected Quotes from 'On Jews and their lies'

Luther's Attacks on the Jews for incorrect interpretation of scripture

Luther's Advice for dealing with the Jews

Luther's Christianity and his judgment and condemnation of the Jews

Date: 2015-02-03; view: 682