Analysis Of Martin Luther The Reformer By James M. Kittleson

Recognized by esteemed awards, counting a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship, and grants from the American Council of Learned Societies and the American Philosophical Society, James M. Kittleson used his talent and scholarly successes as an ardent researcher focused on Martin Luther and the Lutheran Reformation. For three decades, he was a frontrunner in the field of Reformation studies, to which he gave generously of his time and talent, serving on the editorial boards of Studies in the Reformation and the Lutheran Quarterly. Kittleson wrote “Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career” in 1986, with the primary purpose, “to tell the story of Martin Luther to readers who are not specialist in the field of Luther studies have no desire to become ensnared in the arguments of specialists (Kittleson, 1986)”. Kittleson does achieve his purpose. Kittleson starts out the book with background information detailing his reason for writing the book. The first chapter is “The Son of a Peasant”. Kittleson shows Martin Luther’s humble beings and a relationship between father and son. Hans and Margarette Luder, his parents, were of peasant descendants. However, Hans had some success as a miner. In 1484, the family moved to nearby Mansfeld. University of Erfurt, in 1501, Martin …show more content…
In 1517, Pope Leo X announced a new round of indulgences with the help of Johann Tetzel. Pope Leo X wanted “to compete directly with the crowned heads of Europe by having Rome outdo all other courts in its magnificence. His contribution would be to complete St. Peter 's Basilica, a structure that still awes visitors (Kittleson, 1986) ”. “On the eve of All Saints ' Day, Halloween 1517, a young university professor with too much to do by the name of Martin Luther posted 95 theses against the sale of indulgences (Kittleson, 1986)”. These theses question indulgences and the power of