Martin+Luther-+Revolutionary+or+Conservative

Mitch Bugaj

"Luther was both a revolutionary and a conservative" Evaluate this statement with respect to Luther's responses to the political and social questions of his day

Martin Luther is remembered for his revolutionary actions, like his 95 thesis, but actually was very conservative in his beliefs, as he never actually wanted to have to separate from the catholic church.

How Luther was a revolutionary
 * translated the bible into the vernacular
 * posted his 95 thesis
 * claimed the pope had no divine power
 * published works on how the church was contradicting itself
 * didn't believe in transubstantiation
 * first to believe in justification by faith
 * was ex communicated for heracy
 * the edict of worms was held to decide his punishment
 * forced to go into hiding

How Luther was conservative
 * disagreed with indulgences that the catholic church began selling
 * believed that a woman's job was to bear children
 * didn't support violence against the catholic church
 * he supported the church's presence for man would be unholy without it
 * Luther kept many of the sacraments
 * Luther never wanted to have to make a separate church