By Faith Or By Force: A Seed Sown In Hatred

701 Words3 Pages
Thesis: Luther touted “Sola Scritura,” but did not play by his rule book when it came to the Jewish community. The accusatory finger that he pointed against others, using Scripture as his buttress, negatively pointed back to him. His anger, which turned into hatred, and his pride and lack of success in proselytization of the Jewish community was a seed planted in anti-Semitism, which resurrected in its full measure by the Nazi regime. How can a man who espoused “justification by faith alone” and “Sola Scriptura,” a religious icon and emissary of God, end the latter half of his life fomenting anti-Semite views? My main objective is to show Luther’s mind: his words and doctrinal arguments, in light of exegeses and eisogeses, against his enemies. I also want to show how Luther’s words were used as fuel by Adolph Hitler et al., who deemed the destruction of the Jewish people necessary, justifiable, and excusable (on account of Luther’s writings). It is important to know the entire truth about Martin Luther, not just his induction into the Reformation Hall of Fame. His obsessions and hatred possessed him, and this hatred sowed seeds of unspeakable pain in light of the dark pages of history called the Holocaust. A deeper understanding of these issues might help in avoiding the horrible mistakes made by Luther. List of sources: (For full credit at least 3 college level sources completely cited must be provided.) “Adolf Hitler, The Discovery of Antisemitism in Vienna.” Internet Jewish History Sourcebook. 31 May 2007. 25 Feb. 2009. . “Adolf Hitler’s First Antisemitic Writing, September 16, 1919.” Internet Jewish History Sourcebook. 31 May 2007. 25 Feb. 2009. . Davies, Alan. “Racism and German Protestant Theology: A Prelude to the Holocaust.” Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 450 (Jul., 1980): 20-34. JSTOR.
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