Luther

Martin Luther, a image of him which I saw as more becoming and less rigged.  Said to be done by a friend of his to show him as "thoughtful and serious." Found From:http://www.korcula.net/history/mmarelic/luther.htm

Martin Luther has been a name I have known since I was a little girl growing up in a Christan school.  My high school was a private Lutheran founded school in Aurora.  Therefore, we would have a discussion about his impact on Christianity at least once if not more per year.  Before seeing this video, I knew that his impact has greatly affect my view of my own faith, but now I know how much his theology affected the German people and the German nation.  His words brought about more than I could have understood by just looking through the strictly religious part of his impact. I never really connected the impact he had on the German culture distinctly, but now I understand that his words and actions changed a nation.

Luther brought about a sense of empowerment into not only Christians, but specifically to the Germans.  Not only did he inspire people to read the Bible and understand Christianity as thing for themselves and gave them the way to do it (by translating the Bible into German), but he challenged Germany to be a place of their own, a nation.  He did not just inspire the everyday person, but those in power in Germany as well.  He works brought about a change focusing on not only Germany's religion, but showing what the money they are taxed is being used for.  Therefore, he empowered the people to do things which they would have never have done without the strength and zealousness that Luther showed was within the German people, by becoming himself, an example.



Fredrick the wise helped Luther's words go out into the nation of Germany and fueled the empowerment Luther was giving to the people.  His life was not easy, but it was an impaction for the German people to start a revolution against the catholic church.  Even with his mistakes and strong language which was extreme. His impact is still evident in the German history.

University of Wittenberg (modern day), absolutely beautiful.  I think it is amazing to see places like this which have remained beautiful and have a history which has affected the world.  This is were the revolution began. Found from:http://www.library.yale.edu/oacis/oacis_easb.html

Listening and watching this video, he helped make the German nation into an independent place free from control of the Pope and his actions gave the German nation something meaningful to unite upon.  From the chapter I saw such segregation among the different cities because of how they each had their different languages, laws, and government, but now they went on to becoming their own nation. 

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History

(This map shows the expansion and change in German lands from 800-1400AD.  I found this interesting because of how small Poland is today compared to this picture.  I find it extremely interesting that a nation with, form my understanding little sense of nationality as Germans at this time expanded to the point where they are today. Found from: http://maps.nationmaster.com/country/gm)

In reading the first two chapters of our book, I found a string that followed as history was being made.  There seemed to be nothing excursively German for most of the German history.  There was not a sense of unity amongst the various people that we know today as Germans. Their sense of belonging was restricted to small towns and cities, but there was no sense of them being part of the larger nation or country.  The "Holy Roman Empire of the German nation" was a mix of different people, whom the rest of the world refereed to as Germans.  However, they were a vast mix of various people groups.  I find this difficult to picture and understand.  I found it interesting that all of these people were doing well until the church began to split and caused problems with the understanding of who was right.  Therefore, it seemed to me that the "German nation" was doing well until the church decided that it needed to split.


The split of the church lead to confusion and disorder amongst the German nation.  This split seemed to be the start of a spiral into how the German people understand the world.  Their uncertainty to follow the authority of a man spread throughout the nation and inspired those who would stand against the church and judge the Bible, and its teachings for themselves instead of how they were told by the church.  From my understanding of this chapter,  during these 200 or so years, the church was divided many times and much of it within the "German nation."  They were at the heart of rebellions and change within the church, therefore, it was difficult for them to trust authority figures. 

(This image was called Bale's dance of death. I found it interesting becuase that is how the German people seemed to feel about the Pope's and the Empire since there was so much death during the time of their reign in the 1400s.  Such as the Black Death, starvation, and rebellions. Found from: http://www.dodedans.com/Exhibit/Image.php?lang=e&navn=basel-03)
From the confusion of authority, I think that this culture is a mix of different people groups trying to be united with nothing to be united on.  However, though different from America, it is similar in the fact that there different people groups living in the same area.  Throughout reading the chapter it seemed that these different people wanted to be their own, but either liked the Roman ideas too much or just did not care to try to make a difference in creating their own nation.  However, becuase of how the German nation started as a variety of different people this may lead them to have a better understanding of how to live with a variety of people within one location with different ideals and  world views.  Many times as Americans, I do not think we understand how to do this, but their history is built on living amongst others with different laws and views. 

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Reasons for studying in Germany

When I was in jr high my teacher told me that my last name was German, and though I had always known that I had German heritage it spark an interest in me about Germany and its culture.  Since then I have wanted to visit the two major sides of my heritage, Irish and German.  The summer before my senior year of high school I had the chance to be in Ireland and experience their culture.  It was a great experience, and I have wanted to go Germany ever since I got back.  However, knowing that travel is expensive and after I am married this coming spring I will not likely have the chance to see a piece of my heritage for myself ever again.  Therefore, not only will this experience fulfill a general education requirement, but a dream which without this trip may have never been able to see reality.  

(though not book I am talking about, I watched this movie about the same time in my life and learned a lot about what that story really was about)

Besides that Germany is part my heritage, I want to see it for the history which I have learned about it school and books. When I was little my dad used to read me a book about a little girl in World War II whose family hid Jews in their home.  Though the story made most Germans look like "bad guys," it also showed how there were still Germans at that time who held the sanctity of life above the unjust laws of the government.  Though I cannot find the book or remember its name. I remember that story as one of my favorites and would make dad read it to me almost every night for a year.

(this image of the Berlin wall reminds me of my paper I wrote and the freedom I understand that many people felt at the end)

Knowing my interest in Germany, especially the World War II era, in Jr High I wrote about the Berlin Wall and the how it effect the relationships of families and friends.  To this day, I remember writing that paper and deeply enjoying reading and learning about the Berlin wall and the struggles people endured living with it up.  Now, I will be able to see the remaining pieces of the wall for myself.

Overall, I want to see places which I have only imagined and scene in pictures.  This experience is truly a dream coming to life for me. 


(Word Count 422)

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