Martin Luther

Since my senior year of high school I have been fascinated by Martin Luther. Having no religion of my own, I found it odd that I was drawn to a religious founder. However, no matter how many times I have learned about Martin Luther I have not failed to be captivated by his story. Now, after studying German in high school and college, the impact that he had on the language and the country has become ever more apparent. While the country of Germany was not in existence while Martin Luther was alive, it is because of him that Germany began to become unified as a country. By translating the bible into German, Luther gave the people occupying the Holy Roman Empire a common language to speak. I believe this decision has had more impact on Germany than Luther’s nailing of the ninety-five theses to the Wittenberg church door. Religion can only unite so many people. It may be part of a culture but it does not separate one nation from another of the same religion. Nor does it unite people of the same nation. Language gives a nation identity. Had Martin Luther instead translated Dante’s Divine Comedy, he may not have had the same impact. Luther’s use of the most widely read book allowed a national language to be created.

- Martin Luther's translated Bible.

-Martin Luther.

While I believe Martin Luther’s impact on the German language was more important that the religious repercussions that occurred because of his ninety-five theses, the effect of the theses still played an important role in the creation of the German nation. Protestantism created a rift between the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) and the Papacy. Where before the Catholic church would have played a larger role in the politics of the HRE, now the HRE had more control over its nation. This independence allowed for Germany to develop its own culture, less influenced by the catholic church than it might have been if Luther had not written his theses. The effects of the Protestant and catholic split can still be seen in modern day Germany. Different forms of architecture are used in predominantly catholic regions than those used in predominantly Protestant regions. The same can be said for religious holidays.

The effects of Luther, his ninety-five theses and his translation of the bible into German have helped make Germany what it is today.

- A depiction of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg.