Happy Reformation Day – 499th Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (2016)
This is the 499th anniversary of Martin Luther, a Catholic monk, nailing 95 Thesis to the main north door of Castle Church at Wittenberg.
All he wanted to do was have a scholarly discussion about these 95 issues, but others made copies and distributed the list.
Who could have imagined that a simple academic practice of posting issues for scholarly discussion on a door would lead to the excommunication of Martin Luther, the Reformation, and the Counter-reformation.
I think history shows that Martin Luther would sing a tune similar to Billy Joel, “I didn’t start the fire. It was already burning…”
A Happy Reformation Day to all who celebrate this day.
And whether one agrees with the principles of the Reformation or not, it had a great influence on the establishment of the democratic republic initially set up for these United States of America, and particularly, the freedoms set forth in the Constitution.
So – Happy Halloween! or Happy Reformation Day! You make the choice.