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Martin Luther

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (November 10, 1483-February 18, 1546)
    Received a doctorate in philosophy (1505)
    Became a monk at the Augustine convent at Erfurt
    Studied the Bible during this period
    Ordained as a priest (1507)
    Moved to Wittenberg and became a teacher
    Became angry at the Catholic church after witnessing the extravagances of the papal court
    Wrote 95 theses on the doctrine indulgences and nailed them to the Wittenberg church gate; the general message was that priests had no right to forgive sins
    A delegation was sent to Germany and called on him to retract the theses
    Luther refused and began to circulate writings among the general population
    Excommunicated by the Pope - he burned the document in public two months later (1521)
    Charles V ordered the destruction of his works and summoned him before the sovereigns of Germany (1521)
    Held his ground there and did not retract his earlier sayings
    Kidnapped on orders of the Elector of Saxony; this was actually to protect him from harm
    Stayed at the Castle of Wartburg for a year, pretending to be a knight and translating the Bible into German
    Protestant creed established at Augsburg (1530)
    Dean of the theology faculty at Wittenberg (1533-1546)
    Wrote over 30 hymns, 450 treatises, 3000 sermons and 2600 letters

Why he might be annoying:

    His beliefs later caused the deaths of tens of thousands (though it was not he who was at fault).
    He initially studied to become a lawyer.
    He was a former monk who married a former nun.
    He is sometimes confused with Martin Luther King (who is named for him).
    He was an anti-semite.
    After being scared by a thunder storm he vowed to become a friar.
    Believing the Earth was the center of the universe, he called Copernicus a fool.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His works led to the Reformation and the establishment of the Protestant church.
    He was known for being a good public speaker with a sense of humor.
    He could relate to the common people because his parents were commoners.
    He disliked the rituals of the Catholic church, especially confession to a priest and penance.
    The loss of adherents by the Catholic church led them to some reforms.
    He risked his life and his reputation to stand up for his beliefs.
    He helped reconcile sex and Christianity by saying: 'The longing of a man for a woman is God's creation.'

Credit: Wang


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 60 Votes: 43.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 97 Votes: 50.52% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 37 Votes: 45.95% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 17 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 284 Votes: 77.46% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 76 Votes: 59.21% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 26 Votes: 34.62% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 64 Votes: 46.88% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 119 Votes: 68.07% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 63 Votes: 49.21% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 151 Votes: 53.64% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 59 Votes: 38.98% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 79 Votes: 51.90% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 169 Votes: 44.38% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 242 Votes: 41.32% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 380 Votes: 58.95% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 854 Votes: 62.88% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 280 Votes: 63.93% Annoying