The Christian Science Monitor

On Reformation's 500th anniversary, a German town buzzes with 'Luther mania'

Tourists gather around the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany where Martin Luther is said to have bailed his 95 theses 500 years ago. It is only one display of Luther mania sweeping Germany this year.

In this pretty town on the Elbe River, where Martin Luther is said to have nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church doors on Oct. 31, 1517, a certain Luther mania has swept through as the world marks the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation.

The historic churches and buildings where Luther preached, married, and baptized his own children have been painstakingly renovated. The jubilee year has brimmed with art installations, history exhibits, books, talks, and concerts.

Some of the marketing gimmicks surely would not have pleased

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Christian Science Monitor

The Christian Science Monitor3 min read
The Monitor’s 10 Best New Books Of April
Real Americans, by Rachel Khong Rachel Khong’s dazzling second novel probes issues of class, race, genetics, and identity. Her gripping narrative encompasses several love stories, political repression, the promise and limits of science, and the rever
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readInternational Relations
Can Israel Embrace America’s Vision Of A ‘New Middle East’?
It’s decision time for Israel. And the question it faces goes beyond the immediate challenge of how to hit back against Iran’s barrage of missiles and drones last weekend. It is a choice about Israel’s future relations with its Mideast neighbors and
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
How To Stop ‘Forever Chemicals’ From Lasting, Well, Forever
Long before the Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules this month about “forever chemicals” in drinking water, officials in the state of Vermont knew there was a problem. Regulators there began looking into PFAS – shorthand for synthetic

Related Books & Audiobooks