|
30 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant and masterful work on Martin Luther's rebellion., July 2, 1999
This is a masterful dissertation about the reality of the 16th century Protestant movement that gave way to a constellation of denominations each professing their own version of the gospel. Luther heading this rebellion against the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostlic church founded by Jesus Christ makes a mark in history by his hatred and bigotry towards those who opposed him. Leaving much to be desired of a religious leader, the mentality of Martin Luther finds itself in the thinking of modern protestants like the reader before my entry who still rebelling against the Catholic church. In regards with the reader before me who is obviously distraught about reading this marvellous piece of work, I will take some time in clarifying his/her accusations and criticisms about Father O'hare work and the Catholic church. A reader from Midwest , December 1, 1998 First off, the book does not wallow in bias towards Luther because Father O'hare uses clear and concise quotes directly from Martin Luther himself. He lets the 'legendary' protestant hero speak for himself all throughout the chapters and the books only suffers from the weakness of quoting from the German version of Luther's works(which is harder to come by). Check the sources themselves if you are willing to go further than this shallow analysis that you've posted. Secondly, the book exposes the person of Martin Luther for who he really is and the topic has nothing to do with the useless tirade that you are proceeding to outline. Hence the title, "Facts About Luther" should have sunk into your conscience when you bought this book. Thirdly, Besides, which Popes in the past hast written anything or anything at all that remotely approaches the hatred of Martin Luther? I dare you to show me some evidence of this! The only thing that comes close is the few canons from the Fourth Lateran Council that imposes some bans on the Jews for the protection of Christians. Try reading the section in O'Hare's books about the Popes benevalence towards the Jews in the times of persecution and digest that material(try digging into the sources if you can). Fourthly, The Crusades were not senseless but were necessarly as a defensive measure in pushing back the rapid encroachment of Muslims on Christian soldier and the 'senseless' violence that occured is only relative in comparison with the massacres that were committed by the Muslims(who are a religion that vows commitment to the 'Jihad). This has nothing to do with the subject of the book whatsoever. Fifthly, Which popes have a record of maintaining holocausts and which holocausts are these? The only holocaust is the result of Martin Luther's rightings in the form of German Nationalism and Adolf Hitler's systematic extermination of 11million lives in Europe(along with 6million Jews). Sixthly, Which senseless inquisitions are these? Which Popes are guilty of these senseless inquisitions that you are accusing the church of? The inquisitions are seperate events which are spread out throughout the middle-ages in order to combat heresies that are quite unchristian. With the exception of the Spanish Inquistions which fell under secular control which got out of hand without the approval of the Catholic Church. Seventhly, Which senseless wars are you referring to? Remember German nationalism is a byproduct of Luther's protestant reformation and that is the cause of the senseless wars during the 20th century. The blames goes back to you. Eigthly, Which Popes are these that wrote hatred towards the Jews? I dare you to give me a sample of these writings if they exist at all! Correct Luther's words do not even compare to the writings about the Jews of the earlier popes, because the earlier popes recognized that the Jews were the people of the Old Convenant that begun on Mount Sinai. Unlike Luther who spews hatred towards the Chosen People that is quite evident in his writings which inspires the Mein Kampf and the evils that go with that tirade. Ninethly, the pope is not the Anti-Christ and I venture to task how did you come up with this conclusion? Your blind hatred and bigotry mirrors Luther in every respect. Blind followers indeed, the Catholic Church has produced the most wonderful saints that served their almighty God from--St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Athanasius, St. Francis Assisi, St. Francis de Sales, St. Dominic, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Teresa of Avila, and etc. Tenthly, What Truth are referring to? perhaps Luther's Unbiblical doctrines of Sola Scriptura and Sola Fides is the Truth that you are referring to. You are willing to worship a printing page and in doing so squeezing an infinite God into the confines of your narrow minded, "Bible Only" view that is equally worthless as your tirade. Eleventhly, the Pope is the rightful successor of the petrine office that Jesus Christ established upon Peter as the Rock(Mt. 16:18) and receives honour no different than the Patriarches of the Old testament. You modern minded liberal Git get with history and start understanding that individualism is a modern invention and that monarchies were the ruling systems in biblical times and throughout history. Twelfthly, Since when Vatican II agrees with Lutheran doctrine? I dare you to show me and the Catholic your claims for this. The Anathemas from the Council of Trent are still in place on the heretical doctrines receiving the due condemnation. In closing, Vatican II is a purely Catholic council and an ecumenical council that is infallible as Jesus Christ himself promises that the church is the "Pillar and Bulwark of Truth"(1Tim 3:15). You make yourself infallible my friend by your claims to Private Interpretation. Mr. Super Pope sucessor to Super Pope Martin Luther I. Thanks-be-to-God, Jeff Chen.
|
by Hilaire Belloc
by Walter J. Ciszek
