Martin Luther, a German speaking monk, was by no means a saint, at least not by our modern day high standards. Today he would be nailed to a proverbial cross for daring to cross the authority and expressing his judeophobic and misogynistic bigoted views. For all we know, he might’ve also been repressive enough to bash uncommon sexual preferences and non-binary genders.
As a layperson in a traditionally protestant, Lutheran nation, Finland, I can’t say that these negative traits are discussed. Even it seems that the Church has forgotten the meaning of what Luther stood for back in the day. Today’s journalists and columnists try to whitewash Martin Luther and present him as a modern day SJW or a humanist, that would’ve aided the poor refugees out of his Christian virtue.
The reality is much darker. Luther gave birth to literacy and expressing of independent thought which in the day was unheard of. He was a divergent. A thorn on authority’s side, to this day tyrants and leader curse the name that set the world ablaze. Burning the shackles of ignorance and paving way to ever destructive nemesis of nationalism. A national, language based identity. It was only a new reason to wage war.
We should embrace the dark past, however we shouldn’t in fear repeat the mistakes past generations have made. The printing press, yesterday’s internet, has empowered mankind. Changes in technology will bring change in mindsets. Now 500 years later, we repeating a similar pattern of revolution Martin Luther set afoot. Whether the change will be for better or for worse depends on our action. European statesmen cover in fear as their global exploits crumble under dissent.
In case of the Catalonian independence, our political representatives lack the courage and historical prowess to connect our own 100 years ago achieved independence from the Czarist Russian launched in a civil war to the current plea for recognition. Only one Finnsh MP, Mikko Kärnä, has issued has an encouraging and welcoming statement about the events in Catalonia, where people democratically expressed their opinion to veer towards independence. If the EU is the Catholic church of yore, and Juncker, who infamously said there can be no democratic decisions against the EU, is the Pope, have we once again reached the peak authority and need to rebel against tyranny? You can't buy yourselves out of the sins you have committed. The ghost of Martin Luther will haunt totalitarian sycophants who refuse to debate. Nightmare scenario ahead.