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In his later years, Luther softened his views toward Jews to the point that it would be difficult to brand him as anti-Semitic at all.

Martin Luther's antisemitic pamphlet WAS written "in his later years," and never retracted by him, even in part or degree.

Martin Luther born 1483, died 1546.

On The Jews and Their Lies WRITTEN in January of 1543, and published that same year.

Got an explanation for this? I mean I assume you don't usually just make stuff up to excuse antisemites.

BTW, your claim that "Luther's views were shared by a majority of his contemporaries" is more odious soft-pedaling of antisemitism. Antisemitism may have been common, but the vituperative extremism of Luther's pamphlet, and the draconian nature of its explicit policy proposals, stand out starkly in all of Western history up to the reign of the Nazis (how republished on often cited Luther on the subject of the Jews).

It has always been my understanding that Luther softened his attitudes towards Jews shortly before he died. Both "That Jesus Was Born a Jew," and his "Letter to Bernhard, a Converted Jew" were written after "On the Jews and Their Lies," (all were published in 1523).

I never said he didn't die an antisemitic. But, the ferocious views he posted in "On The Jews and Their Lies" were an aberration rather than a consistent record of his beliefs.

Anyone who knows about Luther knows he often used the most vile, explosive and even obscene language in his writings. His language was often foul and designed to provoke a fervent response.

BTW, your claim that "Luther's views were shared by a majority of his contemporaries" is more odious soft-pedaling of antisemitism.

Not at all. It is merely a statement historical fact. Antisemitism was widespread throughout Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Luther was very much a man of his time in his antisemitic views.

It is also important to note that Luther's antisemitism was strictly a religious bigotry. He raged against those Jews who refused to become Christians. He fully expected that Jews would flock to his brand of faith. When they didn't, he exploded.

Count Schlink of Moravia handed Luther a tract written by a Jew aimed at Christians which supposedly ridiculed the Christian Faith and urged them to repent of their Christian beliefs. "On the Jews and Their Lies" was Luther's violent response.

The Nazis' antisemitism was a purely racial bigotry. They despised the Jewish race and cared not a whit whether the Jew was a practicing Jew, an atheist or a converted Christian: to them a Jew was a Jew based upon racial, not religious, heritage.