Community Lecture Series

Religions of the World: Past and Present, Community Lecture Series 2017-2018

“Martin Luther v. ‘The Spiritualists:’ The Reformation He Could Not Stop”

David Brakke (Joe R. Engle Chair in the History of Christianity; Professor, Department of History)

Abstract: In 2017 we remember Luther the Radical – the young monk who with his 95 Theses began a religious revolution on October 31, 1517.  But it was not long before other Protestant reformers saw Luther as too conservative, as still Catholic.  On several key issues – above all, the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist – Luther argued for tradition and bitterly opposed teachers he called “spiritualists.”  Luther remained committed to the Word of God as an objective external power and decried what he saw as a subjective appeal to inner experience, a trend that he himself started.  The Reformation rapidly left its founder behind.

Admission is free and open to the public

Public parking is available at the Ohio Union South Garage