Martin Luther was a German, former monk and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation. He rejected teachings and practices of the Late Medieval Catholic Church.
(biography.com)
In class, we watched a documentary on Luther. Three things that stuck out to me were that he was is considered the first propagandist, his ideas were spread through the printing press and he was one of Europe’s best selling authors.
It stuck out to me how he is considered the first propagandist. This propaganda helped spread the printing press, which is a big event in time to remember because our class is focused on the history of journalism.
Luther changed Christianity when he began the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century Europe by creating his 95 Thesis and nailing it to a church door. He didn’t agree with the fact that freedom from God’s punishment for sin could be purchased with money. His thesis discusses this misguided power and his thoughts.
He stood up for what he believed it and got it published for the world to see. That little wave he made carried on to many people, making them question Christianity themselves. This gained him many followers and believers in the Protestant traditions. Luther and the printing press caused new ideas and thoughts that were made available to the public in ways that had never been seen before the sixteenth century.
(perkinssiversreformationmuseum.blogspot.com)
Luther would not have been able to change the world without the help of the printing press. The printing press was the like the internet during this time period. It was their fastest way of spreading important information and is the base of print journalism today.
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