“Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders.”

October 31 is Reformation Day.  493 years ago today Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Three and one-half years later, in 1521, Luther was called before the Diet of Worms and asked whether he stood by the contents of his writings.  Luther responded:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other.  God help me.  Amen.”

Recently scholars have come to the view that, while Luther said the rest of this quote, he did not say: “Here I stand.  I can do no other.”  (In German:  “Hier stehe ich.  Ich kann nicht anders.”)  But whether or not he said those exact words, they are what he meant and what he did.  And they are the example he gives us to this day.  (Here and here.)

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Update (10/31/10 2:05 pm):  In today’s Parade magazine, Eric Konigsberg writes about “Lessons From the Great Pumpkin”:

“The true genius of the Great Pumpkin may be the way it sends up other holiday parables by having a character seek a deeper meaning in the sole holiday that has no real lesson to teach. Is there any other day we celebrate that is as empty of moral or historical significance?”

As Charlie Brown might say, “Good Grief!”

Comments

[sue]

Also there are alot of church scholars who are not sure he nailed the 95 Thesis to the church door. At least we know the door that is there presently is not the original door. But that doesn't matter. It is what Luther was proposing for debate and what it led to. He didn't want to have a schism. He wanted to reform the Catholic church from within. And look where it all led.