It was on the 10th of December in 1520 that Martin Luther, a German monk, burnt the Papal Bull in Wittenberg.

In so doing so, he sealed his ex-communication from the Roman  Catholic Church.

Martin Luther, Father of Protestantism, changed the course of western civilisation with ideas that directly influenced the Protestant Reformation. Luther challenged the Pope and the Vatican by rejecting them as an infallible religious authority. Martin Luther held that the Bible was the only truly infallible religious authority, that salvation is a gift of from God and that is received only by through true repentance and faith in Jesus the Messiah.

Martin Luther translated the Bible from Latin to German so that the common people could read it for themselves. This had a huge impact on German culture and the Church. His work influenced the English translation of the King James Bible, also.

It was at the Diet of Worms in 1521 that Luther was finally excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. He refused to accept the authority of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and was declared an outlaw as a result.

Martin Luther’s views on Jews remain hugely controversial as he stated that their houses should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money taken away and liberty removed.

In Pure Spirit

There can be no doubt that Martin Luther was a hugely important figure in world history and on religion but is his significance over stated? Are is reported views on Judaism mis-represented?