Today we continue our look at Martin Luther’s life and teaching, focusing in particular on his objection to the medieval church practice that started the Reformation: the sale of indulgences. Luther expressed his objections to this practice the way scholars have expressed themselves through the centuries: by writing a paper. In this case, that paper was an invitation to debate the practice of selling indulgences that came to be called The 95 Theses, posted in Wittenberg on this day 496 years ago. Two looks, then, at that pivotal event in history. The first is another except from the PBS documentary Martin Luther: Reluctant Revolutionary...

Today, rather than our usual Wednesday TED Talk, two videos from the Khan Academy, a collection of educators, artists, and professionals from a variety of disciplines that construct and post videos for free for anyone who wants to watch and learn. I’ll post more on the Kahn Academy next week, but for now I want briefly to introduce these two videos as we continue our commemoration of the Reformation. The first video one sets the context for the Reformation, introducing us to Luther’s world and to Luther. The second one delves into the Reformation itself, particularly as it centered around Luther, explaining the historical context and...

Martin Luther didn’t set out the change the world. In fact, were it not for an unusually acute conscience and a remarkably tenacious personality, the world would most likely never have heard of the young lawyer and court official he had planned to be. But, of course, all that changed when, on the way back to school, he is terrified by a thunderstorm, pledges to become and monk, and follows through on the promise, taking his vows – and eventually the grace of God – very seriously. This week we commemorate the day Luther posted his 95 Theses and started what later became known as the Protestant Reformation. So each day this week I’ll...