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Centuries Collide

Cody Crouch: Martin Luther - The First Viral Post | Centuries Collide

January 30, 2025 | S1:E2

Cody Crouch: Martin Luther - The First Viral Post | Centuries Collide
Millions of things are posted everyday across countless platforms all in hopes of going VIRAL. In this episode learn about ‘Martin Luther’ the man behind the world's first VIRAL POST that brought about one of the biggest world-changing events of all time - The Protestant Reformation.
#AmericanHistory #Catholic #WorldHistory #History #Culture #Government #Economy #Confession/PowerofWords #inActive #CodyCrouch #Division #Documentary

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Centuries Collide | Cody Crouch: Martin Luther - The First Viral Post | Centuries Collide | January 30, 2025
  • - nowadays, everybody uses social
  • 00:01:30.657 --> 00:00:02.035
  • Media, and whether we tweet, blog, or post
  • 00:00:02.035 --> 00:00:05.004
  • Pictures, we all want to go viral, but that hasn't
  • 00:00:05.004 --> 00:00:10.376
  • Always been a good thing.
  • 00:00:10.376 --> 00:00:11.911
  • Traditionally speaking, if we look back through
  • 00:00:11.911 --> 00:00:13.613
  • History, the only things that went viral were bad
  • 00:00:13.613 --> 00:00:16.883
  • Things like pathogens, viruses, and deadly diseases.
  • 00:00:16.883 --> 00:00:20.587
  • But today, and largely thanks to social media,
  • 00:00:20.587 --> 00:00:23.490
  • The word viral has virtually been redefined.
  • 00:00:23.490 --> 00:00:27.293
  • Now, we all know the power of a single post.
  • 00:00:27.293 --> 00:00:33.466
  • It can land you millions of followers, a new
  • 00:00:33.466 --> 00:00:35.401
  • Career, celebrity status, or even
  • 00:00:35.401 --> 00:00:37.103
  • Corporate sponsorships.
  • 00:00:37.103 --> 00:00:39.739
  • - but there's one post that went viral long before
  • 00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:42.642
  • Social media or the internet ever existed,
  • 00:00:42.642 --> 00:00:45.311
  • And it's still impacting this world
  • 00:00:45.311 --> 00:00:48.181
  • This very day. buckle up is it's time for
  • 00:00:48.181 --> 00:00:51.851
  • Centuries collide.
  • 00:00:51.851 --> 00:00:52.886
  • ♪♪
  • 00:00:52.886 --> 00:00:56.356
  • Every now and then we'll see a social media post
  • 00:00:56.356 --> 00:00:58.758
  • That blows up big time and goes viral.
  • 00:00:58.758 --> 00:01:01.528
  • But what's viral today usually isn't viral tomorrow.
  • 00:01:01.528 --> 00:01:04.664
  • The effects of one post on society hasn't ever
  • 00:01:04.664 --> 00:01:07.467
  • Really made a lasting difference other than
  • 00:01:07.467 --> 00:01:09.802
  • Probably killing a few brain cells.
  • 00:01:09.802 --> 00:01:12.906
  • ♪♪
  • 00:01:12.906 --> 00:01:26.452
  • But we have seen the lasting effect of one
  • 00:01:26.452 --> 00:01:27.720
  • Particular viral post, and in fact, not only did
  • 00:01:27.720 --> 00:01:31.057
  • That post go viral globally, it's been viral
  • 00:01:31.057 --> 00:01:33.893
  • For the past 500 years.
  • 00:01:33.893 --> 00:01:39.499
  • ♪♪
  • 00:01:39.499 --> 00:01:44.904
  • If we want to see where this post originated,
  • 00:01:44.904 --> 00:01:46.306
  • We got head to the airport and then go all
  • 00:01:46.306 --> 00:01:48.074
  • The way to the source,
  • 00:01:48.074 --> 00:01:49.976
  • A little town in eastern germany that would play
  • 00:01:49.976 --> 00:01:52.045
  • Host one of the greatest shakeups in history.
  • 00:01:52.045 --> 00:01:56.149
  • [rock music]
  • 00:01:56.149 --> 00:02:16.436
  • Welcome to wittenberg germany, the home to not
  • 00:02:16.436 --> 00:02:19.205
  • Only this quaint little medieval town, but also
  • 00:02:19.205 --> 00:02:21.708
  • The most viral post of all time made by none
  • 00:02:21.708 --> 00:02:25.311
  • Other than martin luther.
  • 00:02:25.311 --> 00:02:27.113
  • [hip hop music]
  • 00:02:27.113 --> 00:02:29.882
  • Not that martin luther. this martin luther.
  • 00:02:29.882 --> 00:02:32.385
  • [choir singing somberly]
  • 00:02:32.385 --> 00:02:35.888
  • On october 31st, that's halloween,
  • 00:02:35.888 --> 00:02:38.524
  • In 1517, martin luther posted a document here in
  • 00:02:38.524 --> 00:02:42.729
  • Wittenberg that contained 95 grievances against the
  • 00:02:42.729 --> 00:02:46.466
  • Catholic church that he saw, which was the first
  • 00:02:46.466 --> 00:02:49.435
  • Domino in a chain of events that would
  • 00:02:49.435 --> 00:02:52.105
  • Literally change the world forever.
  • 00:02:52.105 --> 00:02:56.142
  • [organ music] [camera clicks]
  • 00:02:56.142 --> 00:02:59.445
  • These 95 revolutionary points were a framework of ideas.
  • 00:02:59.445 --> 00:03:04.284
  • - posted it. - that would result in the
  • 00:03:04.284 --> 00:03:06.052
  • Start of the protestant reformation and thus
  • 00:03:06.052 --> 00:03:09.289
  • Ushering in the possibility for our
  • 00:03:09.289 --> 00:03:12.191
  • Modern world.
  • 00:03:12.191 --> 00:03:13.693
  • This post was liked, shared, and subscribed to
  • 00:03:13.693 --> 00:03:17.563
  • In the most medieval way possible.
  • 00:03:17.563 --> 00:03:23.236
  • ♪♪
  • 00:03:23.236 --> 00:03:27.373
  • In the 16th century, posting looked
  • 00:03:27.373 --> 00:03:29.075
  • A lot different.
  • 00:03:29.075 --> 00:03:30.376
  • Today, let's say you're on your laptop and you
  • 00:03:30.376 --> 00:03:32.879
  • Want to post something first, you'd simply open
  • 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:35.114
  • Up a window and then you'd put it on your
  • 00:03:35.114 --> 00:03:36.716
  • Wall, right?
  • 00:03:36.716 --> 00:03:37.617
  • But martin luther, he used a door.
  • 00:03:37.617 --> 00:03:43.089
  • [0rgan music] this door!
  • 00:03:43.089 --> 00:03:45.224
  • Well, not this door.
  • 00:03:45.224 --> 00:03:46.626
  • This was way to bronze.
  • 00:03:46.626 --> 00:03:47.994
  • Nobody knows where the original door went, but
  • 00:03:47.994 --> 00:03:49.696
  • We're not going to get into that.
  • 00:03:49.696 --> 00:03:54.701
  • ♪♪
  • 00:03:54.701 --> 00:03:58.204
  • So you might be asking, a door, nails, and 95 things,
  • 00:03:58.204 --> 00:04:02.041
  • How did this change the world?
  • 00:04:02.041 --> 00:04:03.843
  • Before we get into that, we first need to
  • 00:04:03.843 --> 00:04:05.278
  • Understand the religious and political landscape
  • 00:04:05.278 --> 00:04:06.879
  • Of the time.
  • 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:09.215
  • ♪♪
  • 00:04:09.215 --> 00:04:19.926
  • - in the 1500s,
  • 00:04:19.926 --> 00:04:21.027
  • Catholicism dominated european civilization and
  • 00:04:21.027 --> 00:04:23.529
  • Corruption in the church was rampant.
  • 00:04:23.529 --> 00:04:26.432
  • Pope leo x was leaving a stain on the church that
  • 00:04:26.432 --> 00:04:29.936
  • Would last centuries.
  • 00:04:29.936 --> 00:04:32.338
  • It's nearly impossible to imagine the scope of the
  • 00:04:32.338 --> 00:04:34.574
  • Church's power, but let's try.
  • 00:04:34.574 --> 00:04:37.910
  • [pacman music]
  • 00:04:37.910 --> 00:04:39.445
  • First off, the church owned one third of all
  • 00:04:39.445 --> 00:04:41.414
  • The land in europe, which made it the most powerful
  • 00:04:41.414 --> 00:04:44.751
  • Economic force on the planet.
  • 00:04:44.751 --> 00:04:47.086
  • Not only that, but the parish priest, who was
  • 00:04:47.086 --> 00:04:49.655
  • Also controlled by the catholic church, was
  • 00:04:49.655 --> 00:04:51.524
  • Involved in every aspect of a person's life.
  • 00:04:51.524 --> 00:04:58.331
  • Everything from birth to death, baptizing, getting
  • 00:04:58.331 --> 00:05:01.634
  • Married, hearing their confessions, the last
  • 00:05:01.634 --> 00:05:05.271
  • Rites, they literally owned your soul.
  • 00:05:05.271 --> 00:05:10.443
  • [shrieking music] [gulps]
  • 00:05:10.443 --> 00:05:16.015
  • The church also provided all social services
  • 00:05:16.015 --> 00:05:19.619
  • Available at the time.
  • 00:05:19.619 --> 00:05:20.987
  • I mean, orphanages, giving alms to the poor, even
  • 00:05:20.987 --> 00:05:23.656
  • Providing education.
  • 00:05:23.656 --> 00:05:25.992
  • To top it all off, the pope claimed authority
  • 00:05:25.992 --> 00:05:29.095
  • Over every king in europe as successor to the holy
  • 00:05:29.095 --> 00:05:33.166
  • Roman emperor. this massive empire,
  • 00:05:33.166 --> 00:05:37.036
  • Deathstar and all was undone by one stubborn, chubby
  • 00:05:37.036 --> 00:05:41.874
  • Jedi monk, martin luther.
  • 00:05:41.874 --> 00:05:45.778
  • ♪♪
  • 00:05:45.778 --> 00:05:48.548
  • What's funny is luther actually never wanted
  • 00:05:48.548 --> 00:05:50.283
  • To be a monk.
  • 00:05:50.283 --> 00:05:51.517
  • He originally went to school to become a
  • 00:05:51.517 --> 00:05:52.952
  • Lawyer, but then something happened.
  • 00:05:52.952 --> 00:05:56.589
  • One day in 1505, riding his horse home from law school,
  • 00:05:56.589 --> 00:06:00.460
  • Lightning nearly strikes him.
  • 00:06:00.460 --> 00:06:02.829
  • He was so scared that in that moment he yelled out
  • 00:06:02.829 --> 00:06:05.264
  • To the heavens... - help me saint ann,
  • 00:06:05.264 --> 00:06:07.200
  • And i'll become a monk.
  • 00:06:07.200 --> 00:06:08.701
  • - well, it worked because he
  • 00:06:08.701 --> 00:06:09.969
  • Withdrew from law school, entered an augustinian
  • 00:06:09.969 --> 00:06:12.004
  • Monastery, and sent word to his family, and he was
  • 00:06:12.004 --> 00:06:14.440
  • Now a man of the cloth.
  • 00:06:14.440 --> 00:06:16.075
  • - actually, i wasn't serious about being --
  • 00:06:16.075 --> 00:06:17.343
  • [lightning crashes] i mean, yes, yes,yes, yes, yes, yes.
  • 00:06:17.343 --> 00:06:20.880
  • - five years later now fully clothed, he was
  • 00:06:20.880 --> 00:06:23.516
  • Sent to rome on a mission.
  • 00:06:23.516 --> 00:06:25.518
  • He discovered the absolute corruption of
  • 00:06:25.518 --> 00:06:28.221
  • Rome and the catholic church.
  • 00:06:28.221 --> 00:06:32.291
  • This really upset luther.
  • 00:06:32.291 --> 00:06:33.659
  • - this is so corrupt.
  • 00:06:33.659 --> 00:06:37.263
  • - he was completely devout, even
  • 00:06:37.263 --> 00:06:39.632
  • Obsessed with his own sinfulness.
  • 00:06:39.632 --> 00:06:42.068
  • This guy was constantly in confession.
  • 00:06:42.068 --> 00:06:45.438
  • You know how someone's bothering you on
  • 00:06:45.438 --> 00:06:47.039
  • Instagram, so you just block them?
  • 00:06:47.039 --> 00:06:49.809
  • That's pretty much what the catholic church did
  • 00:06:49.809 --> 00:06:51.611
  • With luther
  • 00:06:51.611 --> 00:06:52.612
  • But by sending him here. now you have to
  • 00:06:52.612 --> 00:06:55.314
  • Understand is all of this was nowheresville 500
  • 00:06:55.314 --> 00:07:01.020
  • Years ago, and luther coming here to wittenberg
  • 00:07:01.020 --> 00:07:03.956
  • Set him on his path to changing history forever.
  • 00:07:03.956 --> 00:07:08.561
  • ♪♪
  • 00:07:08.561 --> 00:07:12.064
  • - fast forward seven years to
  • 00:07:12.064 --> 00:07:13.866
  • 1517, and luther was right there at the
  • 00:07:13.866 --> 00:07:16.669
  • University of wittenberg as a 33-year-old
  • 00:07:16.669 --> 00:07:19.639
  • Professor of theology.
  • 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:21.741
  • As he walked these very streets reading the
  • 00:07:21.741 --> 00:07:25.144
  • Writings of the apostle paul, he was grappling
  • 00:07:25.144 --> 00:07:27.146
  • With a simple idea that would challenge
  • 00:07:27.146 --> 00:07:29.181
  • Everything the church had taught.
  • 00:07:29.181 --> 00:07:32.385
  • - salvation is by grace through faith.
  • 00:07:32.385 --> 00:07:36.556
  • Huh.
  • 00:07:36.556 --> 00:07:40.993
  • - one of the first challenges to
  • 00:07:40.993 --> 00:07:42.728
  • Luther's revelation of grace happened when a
  • 00:07:42.728 --> 00:07:44.697
  • Friar from rome named john tetzel came to town.
  • 00:07:44.697 --> 00:07:48.935
  • Now, friar john was an influencer of his day.
  • 00:07:48.935 --> 00:07:51.971
  • Everybody wanted what he was selling, and what
  • 00:07:51.971 --> 00:07:54.540
  • Was he selling?
  • 00:07:54.540 --> 00:07:55.474
  • - indulgences.
  • 00:07:55.474 --> 00:07:58.277
  • What's an indulgence?
  • 00:07:58.277 --> 00:07:59.579
  • I'm glad you asked.
  • 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:00.680
  • It's a get-out-of-hell-free card.
  • 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:02.515
  • A sin stain remover to end all stain removers.
  • 00:08:02.515 --> 00:08:04.951
  • When you buy an indulgence, you can
  • 00:08:04.951 --> 00:08:06.319
  • Guarantee your ticket to heaven.
  • 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:08.087
  • And right now we're offering both buy one,
  • 00:08:08.087 --> 00:08:09.589
  • Get one free.
  • 00:08:09.589 --> 00:08:10.389
  • That's right.
  • 00:08:10.389 --> 00:08:11.424
  • You may be thinking your soul is lost for all
  • 00:08:11.424 --> 00:08:12.825
  • Eternity, or you'll be in purgatory one day
  • 00:08:12.825 --> 00:08:14.794
  • Short of forever.
  • 00:08:14.794 --> 00:08:16.429
  • Well, the pope has great news.
  • 00:08:16.429 --> 00:08:18.497
  • We here in rome have created the first of its
  • 00:08:18.497 --> 00:08:20.399
  • Kind... indulgences.
  • 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:23.369
  • - no, i do not agree with this.
  • 00:08:23.369 --> 00:08:25.271
  • - get on that hotline bling and give me
  • 00:08:25.271 --> 00:08:26.739
  • A ring-a-ding-ding.
  • 00:08:26.739 --> 00:08:29.141
  • Maybe your loved one keeled over during the
  • 00:08:29.141 --> 00:08:30.810
  • Plague outbreak of 1512 -- - hello
  • 00:08:30.810 --> 00:08:33.412
  • Indulgences.
  • 00:08:33.412 --> 00:08:34.814
  • - hello.
  • 00:08:34.814 --> 00:08:36.315
  • What are you doing?
  • 00:08:36.315 --> 00:08:38.117
  • - when asked by a parishioner how an
  • 00:08:38.117 --> 00:08:39.986
  • Indulgence worked, friar john was quoted by
  • 00:08:39.986 --> 00:08:42.455
  • Saying, as soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the
  • 00:08:42.455 --> 00:08:45.191
  • Soul from purgatory springs.
  • 00:08:45.191 --> 00:08:47.493
  • What? are you crazy?
  • 00:08:47.493 --> 00:08:50.763
  • - but what's even crazier is how much
  • 00:08:50.763 --> 00:08:52.298
  • It cost.
  • 00:08:52.298 --> 00:08:54.734
  • - how much does it cost?
  • 00:08:54.734 --> 00:08:56.102
  • It only costs six months wages.
  • 00:08:56.102 --> 00:08:58.704
  • - but how did this even get on the air?
  • 00:08:58.704 --> 00:09:00.239
  • I don't understand.
  • 00:09:00.239 --> 00:09:01.407
  • I really don't. - call the number on your
  • 00:09:01.407 --> 00:09:02.808
  • Screen right now.
  • 00:09:02.808 --> 00:09:04.043
  • - oh, you will be hearing from me. hmm-mm.
  • 00:09:04.043 --> 00:09:06.145
  • - man, want to steal. - bet your life on it.
  • 00:09:06.145 --> 00:09:12.885
  • - luther didn't like seeing parishioners
  • 00:09:12.885 --> 00:09:14.453
  • Giving away money that they didn't have for a
  • 00:09:14.453 --> 00:09:17.356
  • Piece of paper that he thought to be
  • 00:09:17.356 --> 00:09:19.425
  • Totally worthless.
  • 00:09:19.425 --> 00:09:21.160
  • Luther believed that you were
  • 00:09:21.160 --> 00:09:22.528
  • Saved by grace through faith, and that an
  • 00:09:22.528 --> 00:09:25.331
  • Indulgence or any promise from the papacy was
  • 00:09:25.331 --> 00:09:28.434
  • Just a scam.
  • 00:09:28.434 --> 00:09:30.803
  • Meanwhile, johnny boy over here was slinging
  • 00:09:30.803 --> 00:09:32.405
  • Salvation slips for money, and that is what
  • 00:09:32.405 --> 00:09:35.374
  • Drove luther to post. on october 31st, 1517,
  • 00:09:35.374 --> 00:09:41.113
  • He wrote his 95 thesis against indulgences and
  • 00:09:41.113 --> 00:09:44.517
  • The catholic church.
  • 00:09:44.517 --> 00:09:46.318
  • Luther wasn't trying to alter the entire course
  • 00:09:46.318 --> 00:09:48.688
  • Of christianity with this post.
  • 00:09:48.688 --> 00:09:50.656
  • He was just trying to express his disagreement
  • 00:09:50.656 --> 00:09:52.792
  • With non-biblical theology that had
  • 00:09:52.792 --> 00:09:54.627
  • Been taught.
  • 00:09:54.627 --> 00:09:55.728
  • Imagine it like luther quote tweeted the roman
  • 00:09:55.728 --> 00:09:58.197
  • Catholic church's original tweet about
  • 00:09:58.197 --> 00:10:00.032
  • Salvation, but then added his own commentary.
  • 00:10:00.032 --> 00:10:03.269
  • - seems what i've posted has gone viral.
  • 00:10:03.269 --> 00:10:07.139
  • I wonder what that means.
  • 00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:10.409
  • - and luther eventually becoming a
  • 00:10:10.409 --> 00:10:12.511
  • Celebrity of his day who started the protestant
  • 00:10:12.511 --> 00:10:14.814
  • Reformation, which historians consider a
  • 00:10:14.814 --> 00:10:18.084
  • Really big freaking deal.
  • 00:10:18.084 --> 00:10:22.521
  • Luther's 95 theses that was posted right here was
  • 00:10:23.589 --> 00:10:26.192
  • Just the beginning.
  • 00:10:26.192 --> 00:10:28.260
  • You could say his timeline was full of
  • 00:10:28.260 --> 00:10:30.362
  • Controversial tweets against the pope and the
  • 00:10:30.362 --> 00:10:32.364
  • Roman catholic church, but he followed that up
  • 00:10:32.364 --> 00:10:34.934
  • With even more groundbreaking
  • 00:10:34.934 --> 00:10:36.368
  • Theological writings, and his fiery words set off
  • 00:10:36.368 --> 00:10:39.705
  • Religious reform all across the continent.
  • 00:10:39.705 --> 00:10:43.743
  • You see, he said some pretty radical stuff
  • 00:10:43.743 --> 00:10:46.679
  • Starting with... - we are all saved by
  • 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:49.081
  • Grace through faith.
  • 00:10:49.081 --> 00:10:52.985
  • - we need to be focused on the word of
  • 00:10:52.985 --> 00:10:54.420
  • God, not the word of man.
  • 00:10:54.420 --> 00:10:57.123
  • I demand a priesthood of all believers.
  • 00:10:57.123 --> 00:11:01.060
  • This pope leo guy has got it coming to him.
  • 00:11:01.060 --> 00:11:04.463
  • So to wrap up class four today, indulgences
  • 00:11:04.463 --> 00:11:07.967
  • Are a scam.
  • 00:11:07.967 --> 00:11:11.403
  • Are there any questions?
  • 00:11:11.403 --> 00:11:14.173
  • - he was trying to tear down the
  • 00:11:14.173 --> 00:11:15.341
  • Religious walls that the catholic church had been
  • 00:11:15.341 --> 00:11:17.977
  • Building for centuries.
  • 00:11:17.977 --> 00:11:19.512
  • So from 1517 to 1520, the pope responded by
  • 00:11:19.512 --> 00:11:23.916
  • Deploying a series of certified papal theologians
  • 00:11:23.916 --> 00:11:26.752
  • To try and stop the spread luther's
  • 00:11:26.752 --> 00:11:29.054
  • Radical post.
  • 00:11:29.054 --> 00:11:31.023
  • Well, that did not work.
  • 00:11:31.023 --> 00:11:33.058
  • This only sparked more resistance and defiance
  • 00:11:33.058 --> 00:11:35.895
  • From luther, which meant more writings, more
  • 00:11:35.895 --> 00:11:37.997
  • Arguments, and of course, way more followers.
  • 00:11:37.997 --> 00:11:44.670
  • ♪♪
  • 00:11:44.670 --> 00:11:47.873
  • Now, you know that luther's post went viral,
  • 00:11:47.873 --> 00:11:50.075
  • But i'm not entirely sure how. that's why we're
  • 00:11:50.075 --> 00:11:52.144
  • Here at the wittenberg kartoffelhous meeting
  • 00:11:52.144 --> 00:11:54.346
  • Up with historian inken wohlbrand to find out.
  • 00:11:54.346 --> 00:11:58.184
  • First off, what should i get?
  • 00:11:58.284 --> 00:12:00.219
  • - you definitely have to taste
  • 00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:01.453
  • The schnitzel.
  • 00:12:01.453 --> 00:12:02.321
  • You will not be disappointed.
  • 00:12:02.321 --> 00:12:05.157
  • - so we know that there were other
  • 00:12:05.991 --> 00:12:07.793
  • Reformers previous to martin luther.
  • 00:12:07.793 --> 00:12:10.896
  • - yes.
  • 00:12:10.896 --> 00:12:11.997
  • - why would martin luther prove successful over
  • 00:12:11.997 --> 00:12:13.899
  • Everybody else?
  • 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:16.068
  • - i think there are several factors really,
  • 00:12:16.068 --> 00:12:18.871
  • But one of them surely is that because of this new
  • 00:12:18.871 --> 00:12:23.542
  • Technology of the printing press, he had
  • 00:12:23.542 --> 00:12:26.111
  • The chance to spread his thoughts, his ideas widely
  • 00:12:26.111 --> 00:12:31.250
  • Whereas others before him, like young --
  • 00:12:31.250 --> 00:12:33.719
  • - they had no way to --
  • 00:12:33.719 --> 00:12:34.954
  • - 100 years before, you could really only could write
  • 00:12:34.954 --> 00:12:37.823
  • By hand and send out letters.
  • 00:12:37.823 --> 00:12:39.792
  • And the custom was when somebody was judged as a
  • 00:12:39.792 --> 00:12:42.862
  • Heretic, he was burned and his writings were
  • 00:12:42.862 --> 00:12:45.764
  • Burned, and then everything was out.
  • 00:12:45.764 --> 00:12:48.567
  • But with martin luther,
  • 00:12:48.567 --> 00:12:51.103
  • It was reprinted and sent out again,
  • 00:12:51.103 --> 00:12:54.473
  • And a friend of martin luther at one time said
  • 00:12:54.473 --> 00:12:56.742
  • If martin luther writes something and it gets
  • 00:12:56.742 --> 00:12:59.345
  • Printed, in two weeks everybody in germany will
  • 00:12:59.345 --> 00:13:02.982
  • Know it; in four weeks, it'll be around europe.
  • 00:13:02.982 --> 00:13:05.551
  • - wow. - yeah.
  • 00:13:05.551 --> 00:13:07.019
  • - so the printing press was really significant
  • 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:09.922
  • In the spread of his message.
  • 00:13:09.922 --> 00:13:11.123
  • - definitely.
  • 00:13:11.123 --> 00:13:12.191
  • Without the printing technology,
  • 00:13:12.191 --> 00:13:13.859
  • I think martin luther would have had the same
  • 00:13:13.859 --> 00:13:16.195
  • Fate as jan hus 100 years before, having a process
  • 00:13:16.195 --> 00:13:20.266
  • As a heretic being burned and the matter is
  • 00:13:20.266 --> 00:13:23.802
  • Finished and probably the vatican and rome thought
  • 00:13:23.802 --> 00:13:27.673
  • It would go that way.
  • 00:13:27.673 --> 00:13:31.710
  • - thank you, cody. it was my pleasure.
  • 00:13:32.611 --> 00:13:35.381
  • - wow. if it weren't for the printing press,
  • 00:13:35.481 --> 00:13:37.549
  • It's possible that none of this would've gone viral
  • 00:13:37.549 --> 00:13:40.653
  • The way it did. the printing press really was
  • 00:13:40.653 --> 00:13:43.422
  • Martin luther's social media platform.
  • 00:13:43.422 --> 00:13:48.794
  • The catholic church had a big issue with
  • 00:13:49.728 --> 00:13:51.397
  • Everything luther believed.
  • 00:13:51.397 --> 00:13:53.165
  • No one ever likes to hear, we don't need you anymore.
  • 00:13:53.165 --> 00:13:56.502
  • And that's exactly what luther was saying to the
  • 00:13:56.502 --> 00:13:59.004
  • Most powerful economic and political force in
  • 00:13:59.004 --> 00:14:00.940
  • Europe. obviously they didn't like that.
  • 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:04.643
  • So the pope tried to force luther into
  • 00:14:04.643 --> 00:14:07.012
  • Recanting his thesis.
  • 00:14:07.012 --> 00:14:10.382
  • He did this first by sending a bunch of papal
  • 00:14:10.382 --> 00:14:12.484
  • Goons to bully luther.
  • 00:14:12.484 --> 00:14:16.155
  • But when that didn't work,
  • 00:14:16.155 --> 00:14:17.589
  • He finally sent luther a letter saying,
  • 00:14:17.589 --> 00:14:19.425
  • If you don't recant, you'll be excommunicated.
  • 00:14:19.425 --> 00:14:22.561
  • Excommunicated!
  • 00:14:22.561 --> 00:14:24.096
  • Banished from the church forever!
  • 00:14:24.096 --> 00:14:27.366
  • - so the pope sends luther this letter outlining his
  • 00:14:27.366 --> 00:14:31.904
  • Excommunication, and luther takes that letter
  • 00:14:31.904 --> 00:14:35.307
  • And what does he do with it? he burns it
  • 00:14:35.307 --> 00:14:40.079
  • Right over there by the tree like a boss.
  • 00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:44.516
  • This is luther's oak where he famously and
  • 00:14:45.484 --> 00:14:47.886
  • Defiantly torched that letter from the pope.
  • 00:14:47.886 --> 00:14:50.723
  • It's crazy to think that this tree was alive back
  • 00:14:50.723 --> 00:14:53.592
  • When luther wrote his original post.
  • 00:14:53.592 --> 00:14:56.595
  • This tree is a good example of really the
  • 00:14:56.595 --> 00:14:58.697
  • Whole protestant experience.
  • 00:14:58.697 --> 00:15:01.000
  • It started with luther back when this tree was a
  • 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:04.770
  • Lot smaller, and just like this tree has grown over
  • 00:15:04.770 --> 00:15:07.706
  • The past 500 years, so too has the teachings of
  • 00:15:07.706 --> 00:15:11.410
  • The reformation branching off into many different
  • 00:15:11.410 --> 00:15:13.912
  • Denominations, but they're all rooted right
  • 00:15:13.912 --> 00:15:16.915
  • Back here in wittenberg.
  • 00:15:16.915 --> 00:15:19.251
  • Denominations were another unintended consequence of
  • 00:15:19.251 --> 00:15:22.154
  • Luther's viral post.
  • 00:15:22.154 --> 00:15:24.123
  • Luther never wanted to leave the church.
  • 00:15:24.123 --> 00:15:26.091
  • He just had a very vocal theological disagreement,
  • 00:15:26.091 --> 00:15:29.428
  • One that pope leo the tenth did not want to hear.
  • 00:15:29.428 --> 00:15:34.733
  • Then in 1521, there was this whole big ordeal
  • 00:15:34.733 --> 00:15:37.770
  • Called the reichstag of worms or the diet of
  • 00:15:37.770 --> 00:15:41.507
  • Worms, which actually had nothing to do
  • 00:15:41.507 --> 00:15:43.308
  • With diets or worms.
  • 00:15:43.308 --> 00:15:45.544
  • It was an imperial assembly called by the
  • 00:15:45.544 --> 00:15:47.246
  • Holy roman empire where luther was called to
  • 00:15:47.246 --> 00:15:49.815
  • Recant 41 of the most controversial parts of
  • 00:15:49.815 --> 00:15:52.451
  • His 95 thesis.
  • 00:15:52.451 --> 00:15:55.087
  • - welcome to the diet of wooooorms!
  • 00:15:55.087 --> 00:16:01.827
  • You! martin luther are on trial for what you said
  • 00:16:01.827 --> 00:16:06.665
  • Frankly about all of us. here on the pope's orders,
  • 00:16:06.665 --> 00:16:12.604
  • I demand you recant. recant!
  • 00:16:12.604 --> 00:16:17.976
  • - and luther famously said...
  • 00:16:17.976 --> 00:16:19.845
  • - unless i'm convinced by the testimony
  • 00:16:19.845 --> 00:16:22.147
  • Of the scriptures or by clear reason
  • 00:16:22.147 --> 00:16:25.517
  • For i do not trust either in the pope or in
  • 00:16:25.517 --> 00:16:29.388
  • Counsels alone, since it is well known that they
  • 00:16:29.388 --> 00:16:32.191
  • Have often aired and contradicted themselves.
  • 00:16:32.191 --> 00:16:34.893
  • I am bound by the scriptures i have quoted
  • 00:16:34.893 --> 00:16:39.331
  • And my conscience is captive to the word of god.
  • 00:16:39.331 --> 00:16:43.535
  • I cannot and will not recant anything since it
  • 00:16:43.535 --> 00:16:50.008
  • Is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.
  • 00:16:50.008 --> 00:16:54.413
  • - may god help you.
  • 00:16:54.413 --> 00:16:58.283
  • You are hereby excommunicated!
  • 00:16:58.283 --> 00:17:05.891
  • - now, that sounds like a guy i want to follow,
  • 00:17:05.891 --> 00:17:08.594
  • And apparently everybody else in europe did too.
  • 00:17:08.594 --> 00:17:11.497
  • That really made the pope angry.
  • 00:17:11.497 --> 00:17:14.032
  • In fact, he's ready to burn luther as a heretic,
  • 00:17:14.032 --> 00:17:17.236
  • But instead of getting burned,
  • 00:17:17.236 --> 00:17:18.770
  • He just got roasted.
  • 00:17:18.770 --> 00:17:20.239
  • - vincent?
  • 00:17:20.239 --> 00:17:21.607
  • - yes, your magnificent.
  • 00:17:21.607 --> 00:17:22.975
  • - what is this?
  • 00:17:22.975 --> 00:17:24.343
  • What are these 95 things against the catholic church?
  • 00:17:24.343 --> 00:17:28.480
  • Who is that fat man?
  • 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:30.782
  • - well, that is luther sir.
  • 00:17:30.782 --> 00:17:33.785
  • - lex luther?
  • 00:17:33.785 --> 00:17:35.420
  • - no, his name is martin luther, sir.
  • 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:38.490
  • He is quite popular.
  • 00:17:38.490 --> 00:17:41.660
  • - not as popular as me.
  • 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:43.795
  • - no, no, no, sir.
  • 00:17:43.795 --> 00:17:45.464
  • No one is as popular as you, sir.
  • 00:17:45.464 --> 00:17:52.337
  • - popular.
  • 00:17:52.337 --> 00:17:54.039
  • Let's make sure of it.
  • 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.608
  • Roast the man!
  • 00:17:56.608 --> 00:17:58.544
  • - yes. yes, sir.
  • 00:17:58.544 --> 00:18:00.045
  • And to which level would you like him roasted?
  • 00:18:00.045 --> 00:18:03.415
  • - well done.
  • 00:18:03.415 --> 00:18:05.717
  • - yes, sir.
  • 00:18:05.717 --> 00:18:07.619
  • - luther's theological contemporaries wrote
  • 00:18:08.587 --> 00:18:10.989
  • Responses dissenting with his theology,
  • 00:18:10.989 --> 00:18:13.792
  • And he was eventually excommunicated from the
  • 00:18:13.792 --> 00:18:16.595
  • Catholic church, but that didn't stop him.
  • 00:18:16.595 --> 00:18:19.965
  • He kept teaching and writing.
  • 00:18:19.965 --> 00:18:23.035
  • His post was depicted in more than just pamphlets
  • 00:18:23.035 --> 00:18:25.604
  • Either but cartoons, books, drawings,
  • 00:18:25.604 --> 00:18:28.774
  • And posters.
  • 00:18:28.774 --> 00:18:39.418
  • Luther also writes some of the most
  • 00:18:40.219 --> 00:18:41.853
  • Famous hymns of all time.
  • 00:18:41.853 --> 00:18:43.455
  • He's a very skilled musician who loves
  • 00:18:43.455 --> 00:18:44.890
  • Singing in the church.
  • 00:18:44.890 --> 00:18:47.659
  • [organ music]
  • 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:50.729
  • He wrote songs to not only be performed by the
  • 00:18:50.729 --> 00:18:52.798
  • Choir, but by the congregation as well.
  • 00:18:52.798 --> 00:18:55.601
  • If you dance and sing in your church today,
  • 00:18:55.601 --> 00:18:57.669
  • You most likely owe that to our boy luther.
  • 00:18:57.669 --> 00:19:00.038
  • Also, if you've ever sung "a mighty fortress is
  • 00:19:00.038 --> 00:19:02.641
  • Our god", you've sung a martin luther original.
  • 00:19:02.641 --> 00:19:05.811
  • - on the top of the charts this week,
  • 00:19:05.811 --> 00:19:07.679
  • It's martin luther.
  • 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:13.585
  • - as we travel to warburg, germany,
  • 00:19:14.386 --> 00:19:15.988
  • We need to fully understand the scope
  • 00:19:15.988 --> 00:19:17.689
  • And significance of the reformation.
  • 00:19:17.689 --> 00:19:19.725
  • So what better way than to facetime the guy who
  • 00:19:19.725 --> 00:19:21.927
  • Literally wrote the book on martin luther,
  • 00:19:21.927 --> 00:19:24.096
  • Mr. eric metaxas. hey eric, how are you?
  • 00:19:24.096 --> 00:19:26.665
  • Thanks for being with us today.
  • 00:19:26.665 --> 00:19:28.267
  • - what's on your mind? where are you?
  • 00:19:28.267 --> 00:19:30.335
  • - we're actually on the train right now
  • 00:19:30.335 --> 00:19:32.070
  • Going to warburg.
  • 00:19:32.070 --> 00:19:33.472
  • - that's like my favorite part of the world.
  • 00:19:33.472 --> 00:19:35.007
  • I'm a little jealous.
  • 00:19:35.007 --> 00:19:36.408
  • - so i have a few questions.
  • 00:19:36.408 --> 00:19:37.843
  • What was luther's original intent with
  • 00:19:37.843 --> 00:19:40.779
  • Posting his thesis?
  • 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:42.447
  • - people think that he posted this document like
  • 00:19:42.447 --> 00:19:44.316
  • The magna carta or something like that.
  • 00:19:44.316 --> 00:19:46.184
  • The castle church door was the bulletin board
  • 00:19:46.184 --> 00:19:48.687
  • For the area.
  • 00:19:48.687 --> 00:19:50.188
  • So if you were going to put up,
  • 00:19:50.188 --> 00:19:51.657
  • You want to give guitar lessons or your cat is
  • 00:19:51.657 --> 00:19:53.592
  • Missing, like you would staple it up on the
  • 00:19:53.592 --> 00:19:55.794
  • Bulletin board. that's all it was.
  • 00:19:55.794 --> 00:19:58.030
  • It was an announcement for an upcoming debate.
  • 00:19:58.030 --> 00:20:01.033
  • He just wanted german theologians who speak
  • 00:20:01.033 --> 00:20:03.568
  • Latin and who are going to participate in a
  • 00:20:03.568 --> 00:20:05.671
  • Debate to read about this debate. and guess what?
  • 00:20:05.671 --> 00:20:08.373
  • Somebody translated it into german.
  • 00:20:08.373 --> 00:20:10.075
  • Uh-oh, now everybody can read it.
  • 00:20:10.075 --> 00:20:11.576
  • And it just went insane because no one had ever
  • 00:20:11.576 --> 00:20:15.447
  • Dared to say these things.
  • 00:20:15.447 --> 00:20:17.282
  • And let me just tell you, luther was not happy
  • 00:20:17.282 --> 00:20:20.152
  • That it went viral.
  • 00:20:20.152 --> 00:20:21.286
  • It's like when you hit reply to all on an email,
  • 00:20:21.286 --> 00:20:23.889
  • You go, oh no. this was meant for one person.
  • 00:20:23.889 --> 00:20:26.925
  • So it went super viral.
  • 00:20:26.925 --> 00:20:29.094
  • Pretty soon it was all over europe and there was
  • 00:20:29.094 --> 00:20:30.829
  • No getting the cat back in the bag.
  • 00:20:30.829 --> 00:20:33.732
  • - that is crazy.
  • 00:20:33.732 --> 00:20:35.600
  • I read in your book about the two main
  • 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:38.737
  • Theological outcomes.
  • 00:20:38.737 --> 00:20:40.138
  • Tell us about those.
  • 00:20:40.138 --> 00:20:41.406
  • - one is sola scriptura and the other is sola fide.
  • 00:20:41.406 --> 00:20:45.077
  • Sola scriptura just means the bible only.
  • 00:20:45.077 --> 00:20:48.547
  • And luther realized that the church had gotten
  • 00:20:48.547 --> 00:20:50.849
  • Into a dangerous position where they were saying,
  • 00:20:50.849 --> 00:20:53.385
  • We decide what's true.
  • 00:20:53.385 --> 00:20:55.454
  • And luther says, i have to be super clear that
  • 00:20:55.454 --> 00:20:59.191
  • What the scripture says, if there is any daylight
  • 00:20:59.191 --> 00:21:02.828
  • Between what the scripture says and
  • 00:21:02.828 --> 00:21:04.763
  • What the church leadership says,
  • 00:21:04.763 --> 00:21:06.264
  • I've got to go with the scripture.
  • 00:21:06.264 --> 00:21:08.800
  • And sola fide means faith only because part of the
  • 00:21:08.800 --> 00:21:12.104
  • Argument luther was making that the scripture
  • 00:21:12.104 --> 00:21:13.939
  • Says that it is only our faith in what jesus did
  • 00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:18.577
  • That can save us, not what we do.
  • 00:21:18.577 --> 00:21:21.980
  • And so he said, we've got to make this point very
  • 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.982
  • Clearly so people are not tempted to save
  • 00:21:23.982 --> 00:21:26.351
  • Themselves by works.
  • 00:21:26.351 --> 00:21:27.686
  • So that's where you get sola fide.
  • 00:21:27.686 --> 00:21:29.788
  • I'm going to go back to work now.
  • 00:21:29.788 --> 00:21:31.256
  • I'm jealous that you're on the train.
  • 00:21:31.256 --> 00:21:32.557
  • Have a great trip.
  • 00:21:32.557 --> 00:21:41.533
  • - these two theological outcomes, solo scriptura
  • 00:21:42.567 --> 00:21:46.171
  • And soul fide flip the world upside down.
  • 00:21:46.171 --> 00:21:49.608
  • Luther didn't even have to ask people
  • 00:21:49.608 --> 00:21:51.777
  • To like, share or subscribe.
  • 00:21:51.777 --> 00:21:53.645
  • The content was revolutionary.
  • 00:21:53.645 --> 00:21:56.248
  • It caught on like a wildfire.
  • 00:21:56.248 --> 00:21:58.450
  • Denominations started breaking off.
  • 00:21:58.450 --> 00:22:00.385
  • In fact, do you belong to the church today?
  • 00:22:00.385 --> 00:22:03.655
  • And you aren't either roman catholic or orthodox.
  • 00:22:03.655 --> 00:22:06.792
  • You probably owe your faith tradition
  • 00:22:06.792 --> 00:22:08.593
  • To the reformation.
  • 00:22:08.593 --> 00:22:16.535
  • If you read your bible today,
  • 00:22:17.235 --> 00:22:18.770
  • It's all because luther spent time right here,
  • 00:22:18.770 --> 00:22:20.772
  • Wartburg castle.
  • 00:22:20.772 --> 00:22:29.815
  • When the pope wanted him dead,
  • 00:22:29.815 --> 00:22:31.249
  • He hid out in the castle, living under the
  • 00:22:31.249 --> 00:22:33.518
  • Protection of prince frederick.
  • 00:22:33.518 --> 00:22:40.592
  • In this room,
  • 00:22:41.026 --> 00:22:42.160
  • He completed one of the most significant works of
  • 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:44.229
  • His life, translating the entire bible from latin
  • 00:22:44.229 --> 00:22:47.599
  • To german, so that everybody in germany
  • 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.367
  • Could understand.
  • 00:22:49.367 --> 00:22:52.103
  • In fact, his translation of scripture had an
  • 00:22:52.103 --> 00:22:55.106
  • Impact on the german language itself leading
  • 00:22:55.106 --> 00:22:57.876
  • To standardizations that still exist today.
  • 00:22:57.876 --> 00:23:05.283
  • When luther posted his thesis at wittenberg,
  • 00:23:06.284 --> 00:23:08.920
  • He lit the fire that started the reformation.
  • 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:11.756
  • But what he did here at warburg poured
  • 00:23:11.756 --> 00:23:14.392
  • Gasoline on the flames.
  • 00:23:14.392 --> 00:23:17.095
  • Now, we can't leave here without addressing some
  • 00:23:17.095 --> 00:23:20.699
  • Of the other posts that came from within these
  • 00:23:20.699 --> 00:23:22.868
  • Walls, posts that sparked hate and division,
  • 00:23:22.868 --> 00:23:27.472
  • Even as recently as the 20th century.
  • 00:23:27.472 --> 00:23:31.109
  • Toward the end of his life, luther wrote a lot of
  • 00:23:31.109 --> 00:23:33.345
  • Anti-semitic things that hitler would eventually
  • 00:23:33.345 --> 00:23:35.780
  • Use to justify the holocaust.
  • 00:23:35.780 --> 00:23:39.117
  • A tragic example of how one person's post can
  • 00:23:39.117 --> 00:23:42.787
  • Go viral in a really horrible way.
  • 00:23:42.787 --> 00:23:48.827
  • The letters, writings, and teachings that came
  • 00:23:48.927 --> 00:23:51.329
  • From within these walls fortified the foundation
  • 00:23:51.329 --> 00:23:54.366
  • Of the protestant movement.
  • 00:23:54.366 --> 00:23:56.468
  • And like this castle, his writings,
  • 00:23:56.468 --> 00:23:58.737
  • Whether good or bad, still stand today.
  • 00:23:58.737 --> 00:24:01.740
  • Luther's work here literally paved the way
  • 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:04.976
  • For the modern world.
  • 00:24:04.976 --> 00:24:17.822
  • Finally, one of the lasting effects the
  • 00:24:18.757 --> 00:24:21.159
  • Protestant reformation can really be found
  • 00:24:21.159 --> 00:24:23.929
  • Right there in the words themselves,
  • 00:24:23.929 --> 00:24:25.997
  • Protest and reform.
  • 00:24:25.997 --> 00:24:34.372
  • As we look at everything from the magna carta to
  • 00:24:35.407 --> 00:24:37.642
  • The american revolution,
  • 00:24:37.642 --> 00:24:38.910
  • More recently, the civil rights movement,
  • 00:24:38.910 --> 00:24:41.146
  • Those were all protests that demanded a reform,
  • 00:24:41.146 --> 00:24:45.684
  • A brand new concept that all started
  • 00:24:45.684 --> 00:24:48.753
  • With martin luther.
  • 00:24:48.753 --> 00:24:50.655
  • ♪♪
  • 00:24:50.655 --> 00:25:04.202
  • It is crazy to think what the world
  • 00:25:04.202 --> 00:25:05.937
  • Might look like if luther wouldn't have stood up
  • 00:25:05.937 --> 00:25:08.406
  • For what he believed and laid his life on the line.
  • 00:25:08.406 --> 00:25:11.476
  • The effects of that one post are immeasurable.
  • 00:25:11.476 --> 00:25:20.185
  • Now, i'm no modern day martin luther and i
  • 00:25:21.152 --> 00:25:23.688
  • Certainly don't have 95 ideas about anything
  • 00:25:23.688 --> 00:25:26.291
  • Other than probably star wars.
  • 00:25:26.291 --> 00:25:29.294
  • And maybe you don't either,
  • 00:25:29.294 --> 00:25:30.662
  • But maybe it doesn't take 95 ideas.
  • 00:25:30.662 --> 00:25:33.331
  • What if it only takes one?
  • 00:25:33.331 --> 00:25:35.367
  • So the next time you go to post the whatever,
  • 00:25:35.367 --> 00:25:37.636
  • Wherever, think about martin luther.
  • 00:25:37.636 --> 00:25:40.005
  • Think about the way he used his platform to post
  • 00:25:40.005 --> 00:25:42.273
  • Something revolutionary, and then think about how
  • 00:25:42.273 --> 00:25:45.276
  • You and i can work to change the world
  • 00:25:45.276 --> 00:25:48.013
  • One post at a time.
  • 00:25:48.013 --> 00:25:48.013