Abstract
Martin Luther=s hateful and anti-Judaic sentiments have attracted much attention especially because they have often been identified as highly influential on modern anti-Semitism. But in his early years, Luther could harbor quite different attitudes. A critical reading of his treatise ADaß Jesus Christus ein geborner Jude sei@ from 1523 will allow us to gain important insights into the delicate and yet impactful approach to toleration as it had developed throughout the Middle Ages. While Luther espoused a specific form of toleration, he cannot be identified as a defender of tolerance in the modern sense of the word. Tragically, however, despite his early attempt at reaching out to people of Jewish faith, the famous reformer quickly changed his mind and embraced a most aggressive strategy against Jews at large. This article will highlight the intricate and fragile nature of toleration as it was pursued by many medieval and early modern intellectuals and writers, and demonstrate that this ideal was highly appealing, but also subject to quick changes to the opposite.
Highlights
Any other topic has attracted so much attention from Luther and Reformation scholars as the question whether he harbored a tolerant or an intolerant attitude toward non-Christians
The Protestant Reformation is often popularly associated with the beginning of modernity, with the rise of rationality, and with freedom, at least from the Catholic Church
There is universal consensus that the Reformation represented an enormous watershed in the sixteenth century, bringing about the establishment of a new reformed Church, which in turn forced the Catholic Church to retreat, retrench, reinvigorate itself, and subsequently to endeavor its Counter-Reformation, relying heavily on the newly founded Jesuit Order (1540)
Summary
Any other topic has attracted so much attention from Luther and Reformation scholars as the question whether he harbored a tolerant or an intolerant attitude toward non-Christians. The Protestant Reformation is often popularly associated with the beginning of modernity, with the rise of rationality, and with freedom, at least from the Catholic Church. (Note 1) we have to be very careful in our modern assessment of Luther as the figurehead for an assumed wave of secularization, individual freedom, and desacralization since the early sixteenth century. (Note 2) We can hardly claim the Protestant Reformation as the basis for the rise of the modern, rationally determined state, for instance, as Matthias Pohlig argues convincingly. We would view the Reformation era today, it was certainly a time of a major paradigm shift leading us away from the Middle Ages and into modernity. (Note 1) we have to be very careful in our modern assessment of Luther as the figurehead for an assumed wave of secularization, individual freedom, and desacralization since the early sixteenth century. (Note 2) We can hardly claim the Protestant Reformation as the basis for the rise of the modern, rationally determined state, for instance, as Matthias Pohlig argues convincingly. (Note 3)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
