Review of Martin Luther

"Martin Luther" film discusses some of the most fascinating topics that were risen in the beginning of 16th century in Europe. These topics are related with the forgiveness of sins: indulgences versus free forgiveness and it is about searching for true faith: authority of Pope versus ideology of Martin Luther. Also, this movie tries to answer the questions: why Martin Luther started his movement, why people decided to support him, how Protestantism became popular in Europe, and what are the potential threats which protestants may face? This review is divided into two parts. How well the problems with indulgences and the authority of Pope were represented in the movie will be discussed in the first part. Does it show the core things of Protestantism and how does it show the potential threats of this new movement? There are two main scenes that show the problems with indulgences: first is where the priest is bargaining for price of indulgence and second where the priest forgives sins for everybody who pays coins. In the first scene, it is shown that to buy forgiveness of sins is as primitive as to buy some clothes in a shop when people are bargaining for the price. By this scene, it is well shown that the price of indulgence is variating, and the forgiveness of sins is transformed from the holiness to the business. In the second scene priest claims: "as soon as the money clinks in the chest, a soul flies up heavenly rest", thus giving forgiveness for everybody who pays money, showing that the only real prerequisite to be forgiven is to pay a coin to a priest. This scene corresponds to the historical event when Friar Tetzel - priest said: "when the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." (Lecture: The Protestant Reformation (Part I)). These two scenes precisely show the core issues of the indulgences with which protestants are going to argue. The second important issue that is shown is that the authority of Pope is standing higher than any other authority, even if the authority is Scripture Itself. Moreover, it is shown that the only right meaning of Scripture is always explained by Pope and teachers of Scripture. This problem is shown throughout the movie, for example when Martin Luther explains the word "righteousness", he is asked: where did he get that explanation? And it was explained to him, that it is not good to understand the Scripture by his own way. The peak of this issue is shown when Martin Luther is trying to debate and defend his ideas, that he was not even allowed to speak what he wants, but had to answer questions that were asked to accuse him in heresy. By these scenes and the atmosphere that is in the movie, it can be seen how high the authority of Rome and Pope was standing above others. After Martin Luther came from the debates in Rome and was successfully saved from the persecutions, the meaning of his teachings started to be represented. There are several scenes in the movie which represents the core things in Protestantism that represents very well the focus on the faith rather than on the traditions, icons, statutes, etc. Here is one of the best examples: when Martin Luther was absent, one of the priests of the Protestant church convinced people to destroy all statues, icons in the city because they do not need them and the only thing that they need is faith. People violently destroyed the images of Saint people and statues. However, when Martin Luther came, he blamed the priest and accused him in his mistakes. Afterwards he was preaching to people that faith is not enough without love. So, there are two main topics that arise from this scene. First, is that protestants are repeating the mistakes, which they were previously trying to solve. They started to use their authority to diminish others and persecute those who may have different thoughts and ideas about what Scripture says. As it is known in the upcoming historical events, different denominations were persecuting one another, Calvinist were against Anglican Church and vice versa, Protestants against Catholics, etc. (Lecture: The Protestant Reformation (Part II)). From the other hand, this scene shows the foundation of the faith. That it is not only about believing to God, how some people misunderstood, and thus were several times repeating the mistakes of their predecessors, but about the love that is going in parallel with faith. Martin Luther claims in his speech that righteousness is not enough without love. It means that according to Protestantism we need to love people, or otherwise our faith is not full. Also, his speech may be explained in the next way: even though you are right, it does not propose that you should diminish the one who is wrong, but to love him/her and to help him/her. Here it can be referred to what Jesus told about two most important commands: to love God and to love your neighbor (Mark 12:29-31). So, it is well shown in these scenes of the movie that the core things of faith are related with love, but although it was so, it is shortly and not really explicitly shown that protestants were repeatedly raising the issues against which they were fighting themselves. This movie in the best way showed the issues why protestant movement began by showing the issues with indulgences. Also, it showed how challenging it was for Martin Luther to promote his ideas, and to defend himself in front of the authorities of that time. Finally, the core ideas of Protestantism that were referring to the most important commandments in Bible about love were very well shown.