Not ignorance. I make no apologies for the corruption and heresies of the worst years of the Holy Roman Empire. Nor will I cite some choice quotes from Luther in an attempt to deflect, since my intention is not to defend all things Roman (let alone Austrian).
I personally believe Luther was a scourge born of that Roman corruption. A chastisement, if you will, for an out of control institution willfully abusing the name and Holy Sacrifice of Our Lord. That’s just the way I see the myriad schisms and confusion of the Reformation. I think having Christendom shattered into over 40,000 pieces is a bad thing. A really bad thing. And I don’t think God chastises the whole for the actions of one. For it to come to this, I’m pretty sure all parties concerned had (and still have) something very serious to answer for.
I also believe Rome is approaching similar levels of corruption and heresy today, as are all Christian denominations. And it’s fairly obvious another chastisement is at hand. As Luther was the scourge in the 16th century, Islam will be a far greater scourge in the century ahead.
The good news is, we know from Matthew 16:18 how it ends. The gates of hell don’t prevail. But it’s going to be rough ride before it’s all said and done.
This post has a different tone than other of your posts and is one I appreciate and am in agreement.
Disagree about the comparison of Luther’s “scourge” to militant Islam, though. Above all, Luther remained what he was as long as he was permitted to be...a Roman Catholic.