I recently dialoged with Ben (also known as raumzeitmc2) on the Catholic Answers forums. He's been busy posting all sorts of Luther tidbits over on DA's blog, to which DA responds, "More fascinating inquiries . . . you just keep comin' up with 'em! You should put a book together." What was fascinating? It was the assertion that Luther's father was a murderer, via this from Google books. For a response to this outdated research, see: Was Luther's Father a Murderer?
Another commenter, Jerry, has been bedazzled by the old PBS web page, 10 things you did not know about Luther. Jerry let's us know it stated, "Luther thoroughly approved even advocated drinking heavily. When a young man wrote to him complaining of despair at the prospect of going to hell, Luther wrote back advising him to go and get drunk. That, he said, was what he did when he felt despair." For a response see, PBS Presents “Facts” That Luther Advocated Drunkenness and Promiscuity.
It appears some of the "Luther" battle between Catholic apologists Matthew Bellisario and DA as documented by DA has been removed, although some of the comment boxes seem to be extant, minus DA's insights. Yes I know, I should be ashamed at having set this clash of the titans in motion, but unless you watched it live, the rerun has been edited. Well, it was interesting, that's for sure. Over on Matthew's blog, we find the following comment: "As a protestant Matthew I believe your conclusions were right on in regards to Luther. No need to apologize. James is apparently a bully and somewhat jerkish."
I very briefly got involved with this discussion last week: New Luther’s Works and a New Work on Luther? posted by an ex-Lutheran turned Catholic named David Schütz. He makes some interesting comments:
"I am usually a bit coy about Catholic books about Luther. There have been many good scholary works done (as a youngster I bought and still prize this one by Peter Manns), but polemical works by people who have never known Luther “from the inside” (as it were) usually tend to get the poor old fellow wrong one way or another."
A commenter on this post stated, "Peruse, James Swan’s site and see how much he treats things out of context..." By all means, please do so!
Another commenter, Jerry, has been bedazzled by the old PBS web page, 10 things you did not know about Luther. Jerry let's us know it stated, "Luther thoroughly approved even advocated drinking heavily. When a young man wrote to him complaining of despair at the prospect of going to hell, Luther wrote back advising him to go and get drunk. That, he said, was what he did when he felt despair." For a response see, PBS Presents “Facts” That Luther Advocated Drunkenness and Promiscuity.
It appears some of the "Luther" battle between Catholic apologists Matthew Bellisario and DA as documented by DA has been removed, although some of the comment boxes seem to be extant, minus DA's insights. Yes I know, I should be ashamed at having set this clash of the titans in motion, but unless you watched it live, the rerun has been edited. Well, it was interesting, that's for sure. Over on Matthew's blog, we find the following comment: "As a protestant Matthew I believe your conclusions were right on in regards to Luther. No need to apologize. James is apparently a bully and somewhat jerkish."
I very briefly got involved with this discussion last week: New Luther’s Works and a New Work on Luther? posted by an ex-Lutheran turned Catholic named David Schütz. He makes some interesting comments:
"I am usually a bit coy about Catholic books about Luther. There have been many good scholary works done (as a youngster I bought and still prize this one by Peter Manns), but polemical works by people who have never known Luther “from the inside” (as it were) usually tend to get the poor old fellow wrong one way or another."
A commenter on this post stated, "Peruse, James Swan’s site and see how much he treats things out of context..." By all means, please do so!
Imagine the hell storm if Luther had uttered these words.
ReplyDelete"1956: "Such deep longing for God -- and ... repulsed -- empty -- no faith -- no love -- no zeal. (Saving) souls holds no attraction -- Heaven means nothing -- pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything."
1959: "If there be no God -- there can be no soul -- if there is no Soul then Jesus -- You also are not true."
"I utter words of community prayers -- and try my utmost to get out of every word the sweetness it has to give -- but my prayer of union is not there any longer -- I no longer pray."
"I spoke as if my very heart was in love with God -- tender, personal love," she wrote to one adviser. "If you were (there), you would have said, 'What hypocrisy.'"
Mother Theresa
-James is apparently a bully and somewhat jerkish.-
ReplyDeleteThat's better than being jerky and somewhat bullish.